Enrich. Empower. Connect.
Harold “Hal” Eisenberg was a visionary and a leader, a teacher and a mentor. To carry on his legacy, the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation has developed education programs that provide students with invaluable exposure to the real world of real estate.
Our programs connect aspiring students to seasoned professionals and hands-on experiences designed to launch their career paths.
Spend quality time with a mentor! Our Mentor Program offers students the opportunity to meet one-on-one with an industry leader for a full business day. We also offer virtual mini-mentorships, a temporary adaptation created in response to COVID-19 social distancing precautions.
Our team of over 100 volunteer mentors and career counselors are industry leaders from a variety of real estate disciplines. They are conscientious individuals who want to give back by teaching the prodigy of the next generation and, by extension, creating a healthier industry and society.
Mentors are asked to provide insights to students as they conduct their usual business activities so that students can experience the real working world through the eyes and mind of a seasoned professional.
Since the program’s inception in 2000, the Foundation has scheduled more than 1,600 mentorships and counseling sessions, averaging 1-2 pairings each week.
Please contact us for further information about the Mentor Program:
Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation Mentor Program
Al Klairmont
Mentor Program Founder and Chairman
773-736-4100 x24
info@eisenbergfoundation.org
The Real Bright Summit is a week-long virtual event that welcomes 700+ students from across the nation to participate in a robust itinerary of programs featuring industry leaders from across all sectors of the real estate industry. FREE to students, this week-long virtual experience provides access to 20+ events including conversations with industry leaders, networking, career readiness events, a career fair, and more. Industry diversity is a key priority of the REAL Bright Summit. We strive to open doors to opportunity and success for all students through inclusive and interactive programs.
Our most recent REAL Bright Summit featured 700+ students from 90+ universities, 600+ real estate industry leaders, 110+ speakers, 20+ companies/organizations to our Career Fair, and reached viewers from across the nation (and globe!). The Summit highlight was our REAL Bright Night, a large culmination event for industry leaders, students, and friends featuring keynote speakers Penny Pritzker and Sam Zell.
The benefits of the REAL Bright Summit are two-fold: dedicated college and graduate students are provided invaluable exposure to the industry’s leading figures, and companies are exposed to some of the best new talent. View the schedule of events and featured speakers from 2021 here.
A special thanks to our 2022 Real Bright Summit Sponsor.
This annual competition challenges student teams to act as individual development companies by creating plans for a significant site in the Chicago area. The teams, along with their advisors, determine what should be built and provide a full analysis explaining their plan as well as the effects it would have on the community. The winning plan is the most economically viable and most complementary to the unique uses of the surrounding site.
The Real Estate Challenge commences early in the year and culminates in April when the student teams’ presentations are judged by a panel of professionals. The winning team is presented with a scholarship of up to $5,000 for their university and is recognized at the Foundation’s Annual Dinner and through its media outlets. Learn more about the program and see past winners here.
The Scholar Program is so much more than a scholarship. Over the course of ten months, the experience provides 6 exceptional real estate students with the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with real estate innovators for a deep dive into the working world of real estate. The program includes partnering with a “super mentor,” mentorship and career counseling sessions, access to industry events, and so much more. It culminates with a scavenger hunt at the ICSC Las Vegas convention and a scholarship of up to $5,000 per Scholar.
Each year, the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation awards multiple scholarships, totaling over $40,000 annually, to deserving real estate students throughout the Midwest. Our scholarship award winners are chosen based on academic performance, commitment to service, and dedication to pursuing a career in the real estate industry. The Foundation has awarded over $300,000 in scholarships since its inception.
When Harold Eisenberg passed away in 1999, his family created a $100,000 endowment in his name at the University of Illinois of Urbana-Champaign, Harold’s alma mater. The endowment was established to continue Harold’s legacy of promoting education and growth in the field of real estate. In addition to the endowment, each year the Foundation works closely with Professor Roger Cannaday and other university staff members to identify promising real estate students in need of financial assistance. Working together, we select annual scholarship award winners.
Each year, the Foundation identifies up to five exceptional undergraduate and graduate students and honors them with the distinction of being a “Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation Real Estate Scholars.” Their six-month experience culminates with a scholarship of up to $5,000 per student. Learn more about the Scholars Program.
This annual program challenges student teams to act as individual development companies by creating plans for a significant site in the Chicago area. The winning team is presented with a scholarship of up to $5,000 for their university. Learn more about the Real Estate Challenge.
If you have questions about our scholarships, please email us at info@eisenbergfoundation.org.
A resource for current and aspiring real estate students to view industry leaders on a variety of current topics from career advice to events and programs at the Foundation.
We are dedicated to connecting students with industry leaders and opportunities that could define their career. Please find a current list of available jobs in real estate.
Employers, to post a job please email us at info@eisenbergfoundation.org with the job information.
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