Window to the World Communications, Inc.
$120,000 in support of eighteen economics education segments on Chicago Tonight.

Window To The World Communications, Inc. provides distinctive television and radio programming for diverse audiences in Chicago and the nation through WTTW Channel 11, classical radio station 98.7WFMT and the WFMT Radio Network. WTTW broadcasts around-the-clock, seven days a week, producing the most hours of original local programming of any public television station in America.

The nightly news and information series Chicago Tonight, celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2009, provides in-depth news analysis and coverage of stories important to Chicagoans, in areas such as business and finance, government and politics, education, science and technology, and the arts and culture. The series, which reaches 100,000 regular viewers each evening, airs at 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday (with two repeat broadcasts overnight), and following the show, streaming videos of every segment on the program are available on WTTW’s website.

WTTW will produce eighteen special The Economy and You (working title) segments on Chicago Tonight centered on educating viewers about the economy and financial markets. Segments will provide thoughtful, significant analysis of critical topics through news coverage and panel discussions. Chicago Tonight will feature the universities supported by CME Trust/CME Group Foundation for expertise and varied opinion on the subjects discussed.

University of Illinois at Chicago
College of Business Administration
$250,000 in support of the International Center for Futures and Derivatives

In 2006, the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Business Administration established an International Center for Futures and Derivatives (ICFD) with a one-year CME Trust grant. The 2008-2009 school year marks the third grant-year for CME Trust and UIC.

The mission of ICFD is to:

• Foster research and innovation in futures and derivatives
• Leverage existing connections between UIC, China and the financial exchanges in Chicago
• Promote understanding of derivatives and futures in risk management and economic growth
• Attract and prepare students for careers in futures and derivatives

ICFD’s activities clearly illustrate this focus. Among an impressive list of activities, an annual international conference for researchers and financial firms in China and seminars between academic and financial professionals surrounding Chinese financial markets marked two groundbreaking events. In addition, visiting scholars from Peking and Renmin Universities were hosted for advanced research on futures and options.

Plans call for development of new courses in electronic trading and pricing methodologies for futures and derivatives, joint sponsorship of two conferences with the Cass Business School of London University in London and Chicago. ICFD will hire two new faculty with research and teaching expertise in futures and derivatives.