$1 Million Gift from Baskin Family Foundation Renames Space at National Public Housing Museum
The National Public Housing Museum in Chicago has received a $1 million gift from the Baskin Family Foundation. The museum will rename its public space, known as the Living Room since opening in 2025, to the Shelly Baskin Living Room in honor of Sheldon 'Shelly' Baskin, an influential affordable housing developer and philanthropist. Baskin was recognized for his philosophy of combining social good with business success. Through partnerships across sectors, he helped create thousands of homes for seniors and working families. The museum serves as a cultural institution dedicated to public housing history while acting as a civic incubator promoting housing justice through programs and community engagement. The Baskin Family Foundation emphasized Shelly's legacy in affordable housing development and his belief that doing good is among life’s greatest achievements. The renamed space will be officially dedicated during an invitation-only event later this fall.
Topics: civic engagement donation museum public housing