CYC Announces Sid & Sondra Epstein Believe In Kids Scholarship Recipient

The Sid & Sondra Epstein Believe in Kids Scholarship Award was established in 2013 to promote student success and to help them achieve their dreams.  CYC is honored to present the 2014 Award to Jeffrey Bowen. Once a shy young man, Jeffrey joined CYC in 2009 after his friends encouraged him to attend the ABC Polk Bros. Youth Center in North Lawndale. Since then, Jeffrey has become a strong youth leader, serving as President of the ABC Polk Brothers Teen Council and representative for the center’s local Advisory Board. Through the positive influence of CYC and the loving encouragement of his grandfather, Leroy Myles, Jeffery has blossomed into a dedicated student and compassionate role model for other children and teens. Jeffery was a standout candidate for this award, and we are proud to recognize his accomplishments at this year’s Believe in Kids dinner on April 23.

In the fall, Jeffrey will head to Columbia College as the first in his family to pursue an undergraduate degree. With the support of this $5,000 scholarship, he hopes to be the next big film director. We wish him the best of luck for the future and all the success on his journey!

EY Steps Up for Kids Once Again

EY recently held a recruitment event at DePaul University that also offered DePaul students the opportunity to participate in a community engagement activity benefiting Chicago Youth Centers (CYC).  For the past 57 years, CYC has provided assistance to youth in underserved Chicago communities, including offering children the opportunity to attend summer camp. At the recruitment event, DePaul students packed camp necessities into duffle bags that will be presented to 120 children attending s Camp Rosenthal this summer.

“CYC is one of the few youth organizations in Chicago to still have a fully operational camp as part of our mission,” said Charlie Pikul, Assurance Business Development Executive and CYC corporate board member. “We believe getting our children away from the city and providing activities that help develop important skills for success is life-changing.”

Charlie and Scott Merrow, CYC Senior Vice President of Program Development and Operations, spoke on behalf of the organization at the event. Special thanks to Katy Elliott and Molly Cook for helping to coordinate the community engagement activity.

Experian

Thank you once again to the Experian Team! On Thursday, February 27^th, Experian Employees, Paulan Maravilla and David Shubert, dropped off a whole car-load of wonderful brand-new board games, school supplies and sporting equipment.  These donations were distributed among CYC Centers- Elliott Donnelley Youth Center,  Fellowship House, Rebecca Crown and ABC/Polk Bros, Camp Rosenthal, CYC-21^st Century Programs and the ESI Program.  CYC thanks Experian and CYC Board Members Judy Macior and Rick Erwin for their ongoing support, their stellar corporate citizenship,  and for making such a difference for CYC Kids!