Investing in People,
Science & Community.

When Captain Jim Lovell first set foot in the Adler Planetarium, he was not yet an American hero and astronaut — he was a young boy excited to learn about rockets. What he found there — an irresistible call to explore space — would change the course of his life, and consequently the lives of many others.

In the wake of Captain Lovell's passing in the summer of 2025, the Adler established the Lovell Legacy Fund to honor his more than 80 years of commitment to the planetarium and to the field of space science. Captain Lovell served on the Adler's board of trustees, donated numerous space artifacts — including the Gemini 12 spacecraft he and Buzz Aldrin flew in 1966 — and helped design the Mission Moon exhibition.

Since its establishment in Fall 2025, the endowment has grown to more than $3 million — a testament to the lasting impact Captain Lovell had on all who looked up and dared to wonder.

The Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation operates on two parallel missions: funding breakthrough gastrointestinal cancer research and catapulting the careers of aspiring commercial real estate professionals through real-world educational opportunities.

For more than 25 years, the Foundation has partnered with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University to advance cancer medicine and increase survivorship. To date, the Foundation has committed more than $3 million to fund breakthrough GI cancer research and awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to students pursuing careers in commercial real estate.

Thomas Lovell, Founder and Managing Partner of NorthStar Finance, serves as Chairman of the Cancer Research Committee for the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation — a role that reflects NorthStar's commitment to advancing medical research and supporting the Chicago real estate community that Harold Eisenberg helped build over his remarkable career.

Founded in 1930 as the first planetarium in the Western Hemisphere, the Adler Planetarium has spent nearly a century connecting people, communities, and institutions through the wonder of space science. Located on the Museum Campus along the Lake Michigan shoreline, the Adler serves hundreds of thousands of visitors annually through immersive dome theater shows, hands-on exhibits, and public education programs.

The Adler's mission-driven programs extend far beyond its walls — reaching students across the Midwest through STEM education initiatives, community science events, and digital experiences. The planetarium's historic collection of astronomical instruments and space artifacts, including those donated by Captain James Lovell, represents one of the most significant repositories of space science heritage in the country.

NorthStar Finance is proud to support the Adler's mission of inspiring curiosity and advancing scientific literacy in the next generation of leaders, scientists, and innovators.