With grant support from the Chicago Blackhawks Community Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, we continue to develop our College Bound and Beyond program.

Supporting Youth Toward College and Beyond

SOS Children’s Villages Illinois is a proud recipient of a $100,000 grant from the Chicago Blackhawks Community Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, to further our College Bound and Beyond Program.

The College Bound and Beyond Program involves a care team of Foster Parents, educators, and community members that work together to see that each child successfully matriculates to the next grade level. The goal of the program is to provide comprehensive support through every level of learning, including post-college support, and ensure every young person’s potential is maximized. Learn more about what this looks like in action, here.

With the partnership of the Chicago Blackhawks Community Fund, we are able to envision and realize continued growth for the College Bound and Beyond program. This support markedly enhances our ability to nurture the educational development of the youth in our care.

Shining the Spotlight on Our Heroes

As grantees of the Chicago Blackhawks Community Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund, we were recently invited to attend a Blackhawks “Spotlight” game. This is an occasion where we, and other grant recipients in attendance, were able to host a table to provide information and outreach about our work. It is a wonderful opportunity for building community and fostering awareness with other impactful and mission-driven organizations in Chicago.

In addition to the “Spotlight” game, two of our very own Foster Parents were featured this month at another Blackhawks home game. At SOS Illinois our full-time, professional Foster Parents are our heroes. They selflessly and steadfastly care for up to six children. Foster Parents are hugely important not only to the success and implementation of the College Bound and Beyond program, but to the SOS Illinois mission and model of care.

Tony and Carmen, two of our exceptional and unassuming Foster Parents, were featured on the jumbotron during the “Everyday Heroes” feature, sponsored by Jockey. As the segment played, fans seated around them recognized the two, applauding and commending them. They even received acknowledgment and accolades from certain individual fans who took the time to show appreciation for what they do.

Tony and Carmen truly deserve every commendation. As Tony says in the video piece, they are wholly dedicated to their work and the SOS Illinois mission:

“We took on the commitment to do what we do today, together, to help these children that need our help. This is why we do it, and we’re going to continue to do it as long as we can.”