2015 Believe in Kids Annual Dinner Recap

Thank you to everyone who supported our annual Believe in Kids Dinner (BIK). Thanks to your support and generosity, this was our most successful BIK to date! We netted more than $400,000, and 100% of those funds raised will directly support our children, families, and programs.

We are especially proud to recognize:

• Presenting Sponsor Northern Trust, Celebrating its 125th anniversary, Northern Trust has made a lasting impact on the communities it serves worldwide. Since 1889, Northern Trust has advanced a culture of caring, investing in social welfare initiatives that provide low- and moderate-income families with critical resources, including housing, food, employment, and health care. In the last five years alone, Northern Trust has contributed more than $70 million to support non-profit and non-governmental organizations.
• Spirit of Youth Award Winner Roger Shores, Roger Shores, Senior Executive of The Marmon Group, has served on Chicago Youth Centers’ Board of Directors since 2008. As the most recent Board Chairman, he led the organization’s recent impact study and was instrumental in the development of Chicago Youth Centers’ strategic plan. He is passionately committed and his leadership embodies Chicago Youth Centers’ mission, vision, pillars, and values. His legacy will be felt for years to come. It is only fitting that he will be recognized this year as the organization celebrates its vision and the bright future ahead. The Spirit of Youth Award is Chicago Youth Centers’ highest honor. It is awarded to those who have demonstrated a commitment to the children of Chicago Youth Centers and the greater Chicago community.

For more pictures from BIK, visit our Flickr page.

Where Possibility Lives: Overcoming the Aspiration Gap

The Board and staff at Chicago Youth Centers were proud to be featured authors in Voices for Children’s 2015 Illinois Kids Count report, which compiles data to assess the well-being of children throughout the state. The goal of this report is to give lawmakers a better understanding of challenges facing children and families, and to advocate on behalf of children living in poverty. I was also honored to be a panelist with some of my peers at a luncheon hosted by Voices for Children this spring. In both the essay and my comments at the luncheon, I reflected on the difficulties surrounding our kids--difficulties that are not as apparent, but significant when considering our goal to put these kids on a path to success. I knew I had to address the aspiration gap faced by too many children today. For so many children living in poverty, they can’t even imagine what exists beyond their backyard. They don’t know about educational or professional opportunities, and they aren’t given the tools or opportunities to aspire for more.

Chicago Youth Centers gives our kids the chance to aspire. We equalize access to opportunities and resources so children have the tools to succeed and the confidence to dream. Supporters like you enable us to engage in this critical work, and we cannot thank you enough for believing in our kids.

I hope you enjoy this year’s essay, which you can read here. I also hope that, together, we continue to aspire to build a better future for our children, our families, and our city.

Thank you for your dedication and investment,

Barbara Mosacchio President and CEO

The Bronze Ball Recap

 

On June 26th, CYC's Bronze Ball celebrated the 90-year legacy of the Elliott Donnelley Youth Center (EDYC) and history of our Bronzeville Community with live music, art, and food and drinks from local restaurants--not to mention an epic dance performance by our EDYC teens.

We want to give a big thank you to everyone who supported this significant occasion. With your help, generosity and commitment, we raised more than $53,000 net to support the work of EDYC and CYC's Summer Enrichment Program.

We'd especially like to thank our Honorary Chairs, the Donnelley Family, the Jesse Owens Family, and Alderman Pat Dowell; our generous sponsors; and the chair of the Bronze Ball, Amy Weiss Narea. We're also incredibly grateful to the foundations that have supported EDYC: The Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, The Kemper Educational and Charitable Fund, and National Recreation Foundation, among others. Thank you!

To see many more photos of the celebration visit our Flickr album.