Two of Chicago’s top anchor institutions collaborated to help people and businesses through the pandemic and to provide for those facing the prospect of homelessness, joblessness and economic despair in its aftermath. “We must work together because by helping the small business community recover, we can create jobs so that unemployed individuals can rebuild their lives.”

Third of a three year grant ($15K in 2018; $25K in 2019; $35K in 2020) Almost Home Kids provides transitional care in a home-like setting to children with complicated health needs (cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, etc.), training for their families and respite care. This grant funds AHK’s Medical Education Program (current and expansion) which teaches community based care for children who are medically complex to medical students, residents, fellows and practicing doctors in the community. The primary goal is to prepare tomorrow’s medical community with the knowledge, skills and attitude to allow them to competently serve a vulnerable population.

CASA Kane County is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that serves the best interests of abused and neglected children. CASA recruits, trains and supervises community volunteers who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates and Guardian ad Litem for children who are in court by no fault of their own. This grant supports the expenses associated with volunteer recruiting, 45 hour/8 week training classes, background checks, and continuing education.

The mission of Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center is to unite public, private and community partners to ensure the safety and well being of abused children. They have served over 42,000 children impacted by sexual abuse through family advocacy, case coordination, forensic interviews, trauma therapy and education training free of charge. This grant supports evidence informed training to professionals, parents, caregivers, youth serving organizations, first responders and community members on recognizing, reporting, responding to and preventing child sexual abuse.

Chicago Lights builds brighter futures for Chicago’s youth and adults, many of whom are struggling to flourish under the stress of poverty and violence, by providing mentoring, social services, academic support, career development and arts education. This grant supports Chicago Lights service model changes needed in light of the current pandemic including computer equipment to address inadequate technical capacity, offline versions of games, books and learning materials, replacement for clothing donations (not allowed due to public health restrictions), etc.

Children’s Home + Aid is a leading child and family service agency in Illinois. Its programs and services focus on child abuse prevention, healthy child development, and strengthening families. Grant recognizes that, in response to the Covid 19 Pandemic, the organization cancelled fundraising events while continuing to support the most vulnerable in our community.

The mission of this organization is to transform the lives of disadvantaged infants, children and teens suffering from physical deformities caused by birth defects, accidents, abuse or disease through the gift of reconstructive surgery and related healthcare services. This grant supports uncovered expenses associated with fiscal year 2020 Surgery Weekends at UCM Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago

GiGi’s Playhouse changes lives through consistent delivery of free education, therapeutic-based and career development programs for individuals with Down syndrome, their families and the community. The grant supports a new/pilot program for children with Down syndrome ages 6-12 in greater Hoffman Estates area. GiGi’s Kitchen Kids is designed to emphasize the importance of health and wellness through nutrition education, kitchen safety, food preparation, social activities and a shared meal/snack. GiGi’s Kitchen Kids will build participants’ self-esteem and self-confidence as they learn about their own nutrition and wellness.

Green City Market (GCM) was founded on a mission to improve the health of local communities. This grant support emergency funding needs relative to the Covid 19 pandemic including the development of a virtual market place connecting Chicago’s consumers to local, sustainable growers; development of the GCM app; additional aggregation and food delivery costs, etc.

Eating and drinking places in Illinois lost 31,000 jobs in November alone, the most of any state in the country. It’s expected that a minimum of 20% of restaurants will never reopen in Illinois. As the restaurant industry continues to be impacted by the lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) has developed the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund to provide financial support to restaurant workers in need.

The Angel Harvey Family Health Center of the Infant Welfare Society has a history of leading innovative community based preventative healthcare, designed from the beginning to specifically provide Chicago’s most vulnerable families and communities with access to affordable health care. Grant supports occupational therapy, speech therapy and social skills groups for children and families experiencing developmental delays.

The mission of JOURNEYS is to individually assess and serve the homeless and those at-risk of becoming homeless, while broadening community awareness and involvement with the homeless. The Hope Center provides services including long term case management, mental health support, legal referrals, access to a clothing closet, food pantry, laundry and shower facilities. Of the nearly 800 clients served annually, more than half were women and children – 223 of whom are survivors of domestic violence.

Kids Above All P90 program places youth in foster care who have experienced sexual abuse and are reacting to that trauma with inappopriate behaviors. Grant support expansion of Kids Above All targeted recruitment campaigns to identify, attract and retain foster parents who have the skills to enhance the well-being of the children. Additional funding supports immediate needs created by the Covid 19 pandemic – masks, gloves and disinfecting wipes for case managers; printers and scanners for supervisors working from home; P90 at home kits

The organization’s mission is to reduce childhood obesity through healthy eating and active living initiatives, innovative strategies and community partnerships. Building on the previous funding, this grant expands community outreach and the purchase of additional stationary bikes for use in schools for the students use and learning.

The mission of the Northern Illinois Food Bank is to lead the northern Illinois community in solving hunger by providing nutritious meals to those in need through innovative programs and partners. The School Pantry Program provides access to nutritious food for families with school age children in convenient and familiar settings. With fourteen school and campus based pantries, students are nourished to reach their full potential.

Oak-Leyden Developmental Services provides opportunities to over 1,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Oak-Leyden offers an extensive range of services and programs for children who demonstrate a delay in one or more areas of development. They also offer music classes and drop-in programs for all children in the community.

Operation Warm provides warmth, confidence and hope to children in need through the gift of brand new winter coats. This grant supports the seventh year of the Lake County, Illinois Operation Warm event in which approximately 2,500 children in Lake County received a much needed new winter coat.

The Foundation’s mission is to create barrier-free and universally accessible outdoor play spaces and gardens in DuPage County. Through the cognitive, social and physical value of play, the Foundation promotes a spirit of inclusion and enhances quality of life. This donation supports the Fun Run In Color even in Wheaton, a fundraiser for Play for all Playground and Garden Foundation.

St. Coletta’s Kennedy school supports students with intellectual and developmental disabilities. During the pandemic, the Kennedy School, like other schools, moved to on-line learning. This grant supports the purchase of iPads and licensing needed for e-Learning for students who do not have technology at home

TWTC’s mission is to provide women with a continuum of care, recovery tools, and parenting skills to maintain a sober lifestyle as they rebuild their lives and their futures and mend the bonds with their families. The population of homeless mothers served by TWTC is growing. The grant supports a program which ensures that all of the incoming children have their basic necessities met (food, clothing, shelter, health, safety).