Children First Fund

Choose to Change (C2C), a violence prevention program created by Youth Advocate Programs, Inc. and Brightpoint, is having a powerful impact on hundreds of Chicago Public Schools students through wraparound services, mentoring, and cognitive-based therapy. New research from the University of Chicago Crime Lab confirms that C2C significantly reduces the likelihood of arrests - and these positive outcomes last for up to three years after completing the program. We're deeply grateful to our philanthropic partners for their continued support in growing and sustaining this evidence-based intervention for CPS students! Please reach out for more information on ways to support this critical program.

Last week, CPS STEM celebrated the fourth annual Reimagining STEM event, powered by Chicago Fire FC, at the Fire Pitch! This unique event brought together the excitement of soccer and other sports with engaging, hands-on STEM activities. A huge thanks to Home Run Inn for generously donating over 1,000 slices of pizza!

?? 10 million books and counting! Today, CPS celebrated a huge milestone with Bernie's Book Bank—10 million books delivered to CPS students! ?? CEO Pedro Martinez joined Founder Brian Floriani, Alderperson Debra Silverstein, and Principal Otis Dunson III at Armstrong Elementary School to mark the occasion by surprising three first-grade classrooms with books—including the 10 millionth book! Thanks to Bernie’s Book Bank, CPS students are building personal libraries full of fun, culturally-relevant books that they’re excited to read and share with their friends!

Big thank you to Burlington Stores, Inc. for supporting Piccolo School of Excellence through AdoptAClassroom.org! To celebrate the opening of Burlington's new Humboldt Park store, the school received a generous $5,000 voucher for teachers to stock up on essential school supplies through AdoptAClassroom.org. Thank you for investing in our classrooms and our students’ success! #BurlingtonEmpowersStudents

CFF is thrilled to announce a grant from the Motorola Solutions Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions, to support the Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA)! This two-year program equips high school juniors and seniors with the skills and knowledge to pursue careers in public safety. Thank you, Motorola Solutions Foundation, for investing in the next generation of first responders. #MotorolaSolutionsFoundation #MotoSolutionsCares

Nash Elementary School unveiled their brand-new Media Learning Center—a vibrant space for learning, creativity, and exploration! ?? This incredible transformation was made possible by the partnership between Nash and Friends of Coonley through CFF’s Sponsor-a-School program. From fresh carpet and paint to new books, learning kits, and the latest technology, the space makes learning more accessible for Nash students! A huge thank you to the staff, parents, and supporters from both schools who worked tirelessly to make this dream a reality. Now in its third year, this partnership unites two CPS school communities from different sides of the city around the shared goal of providing quality education to the next generation of Chicagoans. Learn more about our Sponsor-a-School program here: https://lnkd.in/gHD5sbh5

Exciting week as the Chicago Police and Firefighter Training Academy (CPFTA) welcomes its new class of trainees! CPFTA offers a two-year program designed for high school students passionate about careers in public safety, law enforcement, criminal justice, and fire science. Each year, the program recruits and trains up to 125 high school juniors and seniors, building a pipeline of future leaders for Chicago’s police and fire departments. A big thank you to the #MotorolaSolutionsFoundation, the philanthropic arm of Motorola Solutions, for supporting CPFTA, dedicated to empowering the next generation of public safety professionals. #MotoSolutionsCares

A huge thank you to the Chicago Fire FC for donating tickets to send the soccer teams from Kenwood and Juarez High Schools and their coaches to watch the Fire’s 2-1 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Saturday! It was Hispanic Heritage Night at Soldier Field, making the experience even more memorable for these young athletes. The Juarez team also took the opportunity to honor the memory of their team captain, Juan Sebastian Salgado, who tragically lost his life this summer while offering a teammate a ride after practice. His legacy continues to inspire his teammates both on and off the field.

Salesforce is empowering schools to keep pace with innovation! We’re thrilled to continue our partnership with Salesforce, whose generous donation is expanding opportunities through the Chicago Roadmap, a Chicago Public Schools and City Colleges of Chicago partnership guiding students to and through college. Through Roadmap, CPS students benefit from transitional coursework and IT Model Pathways, preparing them for careers in technology fields. Salesforce’s support also benefits Early College STEM High Schools, equipping students to become adaptable, skilled problem-solvers for the future. Thank you, Salesforce, for your incredible support of education! ??

Huge thanks to the Gene Haas Foundation! Robotics students from 11 CPS schools across the city had the amazing opportunity to attend the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), the largest trade show in the Western Hemisphere. They explored cutting-edge technologies transforming the manufacturing industry and showcased their own projects to industry experts. The Foundation also helped launch this season's FIRST LEGO League at IMTS, where students on teams from 29 schools kicked off their year of hands-on STEM learning through friendly competition in team-based robotics and coding challenges.