Success! Believe in Kids Annual Dinner
Chicago Youth Centers’ (CYC) Believe in Kids Annual Dinner, held on May 2, was an overwhelming success! Thanks to the support of our generous sponsors and donors, we raised more than $439,000 to provide children from some of Chicago’s most underserved communities with effective high-quality programs, from early childhood education to college and career readiness.
Check out the photos from our event!
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The inspiring event, chaired by Charlie and Bobbie Denison, and presented in conjunction with CareerBuilder, was a celebration of the power of character, determination and hope. Speaking before a crowd of nearly 400 guests, keynote speaker, author and Walgreens’ Chief Diversity Officer and Divisional Vice President, Steve Pemberton, illustrated the importance of how one moment of someone’s kindness can affect and forever impact a child looking for inspiration. His moving personal story parallels the lives of many of the children we serve, and his words were a reminder of how important the work we are doing is. His message was well received as evidenced by the standing ovation he received from the visibly moved crowd.
The event was also the setting for the premier of CYC’s new video. The video tells the story of Paul Morgan, a CYC Fellowship House alumnus, currently a Senior Research Instructor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and the positive impact that CYC has had on him.
In addition to the video, highlights of the program included the presentation of the Sid and Sondra Epstein Believe in Kids Scholarship to Gabriela Torres, as well as the Spirit of Youth Award to Raymond James and Patrick T. DeLacey.
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CYC is grateful for the generosity of the following donors and sponsors and thanks them for Believing in Kids:
| Presenting Sponsors: | |
| CareerBuilder | Mr. and Mrs. Charles G. Denison |
| Leading Sponsors: | |
| Mr. and Mrs. Francis Beidler III/ | Mr. Jacob A. Beidler and Ms. Deborah A. Witzberg |
| Sidney Epstein and Sondra Berman Epstein | Experian |
| Supporting Sponsors: | |
| Abbott | Chicago Tribune |
| Crown Family Philanthropies | Ernst & Young LLP |
| Mr. and Mrs. Paul Finnegan | ITW |
| Mr. and Mrs. William Kelley, Jr./Hillshire Brands Company | PricewaterhouseCoopers |
| Raymond James | Roger Shores and Cynthia Lyons |
| Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP | Mr. and Mrs. Edward A. Wiertel, Jr. |
| Partnering Sponsors: | |
| Altair Advisers, LLC/Steven B. Weinstein | Dixie Adams and Rick Erwin |
| Baxter International | BMO Harris Bank |
| Jane and Ken Barna | Bryan Cave LLP |
| Beth and John Corvino | Patricia L. Crumley and Eugene DeRamus |
| Mr. and Mrs. Patrick T. DeLacey | Fortune Brands Home & Securities Inc. |
| Goldman Sachs & Co. | Iris and martin Gradman |
| Laurus Strategies | Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson LLP/Anna Wermuth |
| Miller Shakman & Beem/Daniel M. Feeney | Molex |
| Morgan Stanley | Northern Trust Corporation |
| Perkins Coie LLP | Diana and Bruce Rauner |
| Benjamin J. Rosenthal Foundation | RR Donnelley/Ken O’Brien |
| Mr. John A. Sivright | Roger and Susan Stone Family Foundation |
| Don and Liz Thompson | True Partners Consulting |
| Winston & Strawn LLP/Patrick M. Hardiman | Wintrust Financial Corporation |
Special thanks to CYC’s Board Chair, Roger Shores, for his leadership and to the Believe in Kids Annual Dinner Planning Committee, chaired by Cynthia Lyons
| Dixie Adams | Jacob A. Beidler | Beth B. Corvino |
| Brian Donahue | Daniel M. Feeney | William J. Kelley, Jr. |
| Cynthia Lyons | Hilary Bishop Scott |
Check out the photos from our event!
What We Do
HERE'S WHY ... Young people are most at risk for delinquent behaviors during the after-school hours of 2:00 to 6:00 pm. This is compounded in neighborhoods where poverty, drugs, violence, and under-performing schools are the norm. The good news is that these underserved children experience the greatest gains in academic performance and social and life skills development when they participate in after-school programs that are fully implemented and they attend regularly. That's why we're here--and have been for more than half a century. HERE'S HOW ... CYC welcomes at-risk, low-income youth ages 3-18 into eight neighborhood-based centers and a residential camp where they receive one-on-one and small group guidance from well-trained, caring adults. Our centers and unique camp are oases of encouragement and support for these children. Three core programs reinforce their strengths, support academic success, and help them envision a positive future:
CYC also offers College and Career Readiness, Mentoring Children of Prisoners, Environmental Education, Educational Support for Wards of the State, and Crisis Intervention. EMPHASIZING THE POSITIVE ... Five content areas are reinforced through a Positive Youth Development model: Academic Achievement -- College and Career Readiness Life Skills -- Health and Wellness -- Arts and Culture
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We invest in youth in underserved Chicago neighborhoods to help them discover and realize their full potential--from early childhood education to and through college.