Two Naperville Women, One 1996 Newspaper Story, and a Pro Bono Speakers Bureau That's Turning 30

Thirty years ago, a newspaper story sparked by a Naperville journalist turned a small, home-based list of volunteer speakers into a speakers bureau that today spans seven cities. Now the woman who built it, Ginny Richardson, calls Naperville home herself.

Richardson compiled a short list of professionals willing to address local clubs and organizations for free. The idea took off after Naperville resident Mary Kaufold, then a reporter for the Chicago Tribune, wrote about the project in a piece headlined "Cheap Talk for Area Groups." The phones didn't stop after that.

Three decades later, FreeSpeakers.org has fielded 1,355 speaking requests across its seven cities in the past 12 months, including 468 in the Chicago area. More than 450 volunteer guest speakers now cover topics ranging from history and finance to health and entertainment, all donating their time to libraries, Rotary clubs, chambers of commerce and other budget-limited community groups.

"What began as a local Chicago speakers bureau has grown far beyond what we imagined in those early days," Richardson said. "The heart of the bureau remains the same: It's a gift to the community. We're incredibly grateful to our speakers, whose generosity has let us reach thousands of groups over the last 30 years."

The bureau now operates in Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and Orange County, Dallas-Fort Worth, Phoenix, Milwaukee and Indianapolis.

"That volunteer spirit is the whole point," Richardson said. "There's no cost to any group that requests a speaker, regardless of budget."

"To our speakers, thank you for an amazing 30 years. Your voices have educated, inspired and connected clubs and groups across the country. We look forward to many more years of connecting groups with great speakers."

As Free Speakers enters its fourth decade, the bureau continues to recruit new volunteer speakers and welcomes inquiries from Naperville-area community groups looking for free educational and entertaining programming.

Learn more or request a speaker at chicago.freespeakers.org/.