Chicago HOPES for Kids

Looking for ways to support Chicago youth this summer? We're accepting snack donations to fuel our young learners' energy and joy for our Summer 2026 semester! 🚀

🍎 Granola bars, fruit snacks, wholesome treats—all welcome!

🌟 View our Amazon wish list here: https://ow.ly/7ezR50YwzaC and have snacks shipped directly to our office!

Interested in scheduling an in-person drop-off at our central office? Please email us at [email protected]🌟

Every contribution counts. 🤝💙 Thank you for helping us build a brighter future for our students!

🌟 Thank you, supporters! 🌟

We can't believe it's been almost two weeks since Seeds of HOPE! We had such an amazing night, coming together with our community to celebrate the impact of HOPES.

Thanks to your support, we are thrilled to share that this year's event was a record-breaking success and together we raised over $165,000 for HOPES after-school programs! 🎉 🎉 🎉

This funding will directly support children across the city who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, creating opportunities for students to build their literacy skills, develop their confidence, and discover a love of learning 📚🌟

We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who joined us for your incredible generosity, as well as a special thanks to those who made the event possible:

🌟 Our Gala Committee, Associate Board, Executive Board, and the entire HOPES team
🌟 Our generous event sponsors for their support and belief in our mission
🌟 Wildman BT for hosting us in their beautiful space
🌟 Tamale Spaceship & Yum Dum Truck for their fabulous food truck fare
🌟 GSH Casino Parties, DJ Rick, and Myles Teague for providing our entertainment
🌟 Our incredible prize donors for setting up the night's big wins

Thank you all for making this year's event such a tremendous success!

Meet our amazing Social Work Interns! 💙

This year, they have been an invaluable part of the Chicago Hopes community, bringing compassion, dedication, and heart to everything they do. Through their meaningful work with our students, they have helped create supportive spaces where young people feel seen, heard, and empowered to succeed.

From building trusting relationships and offering encouragement to helping students navigate challenges, their impact has extended far beyond the classroom. Their commitment to our mission has helped foster hope, connection, and growth for so many students.

We are incredibly grateful for the time, energy, and care they have shared with our organization. Thank you for all you have done to support our students and strengthen the Chicago Hopes community—we couldn't do this work without you! ✨

✨HOPES Zoo Trip Recap✨

This year’s 8th Annual Zoo Trip was one for the books — full of sunshine, music, and moments that reminded us why this tradition matters.

Our zoo trip is a beloved way to celebrate the end of the HOPES school year, and everyone showed up ready for adventure! Kids sprinted toward their favorite animals, families connected with resources, and the whole space buzzed with joy!

Huge love to our incredible partners who made this day unforgettable:
🦁 The for your continued partnership and the unforgettable experiences you help create year after year

🤝 Our tabling partners-VOCEL, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, and Playsmart Literacy- who turned resource‑sharing into hands‑on fun with games, activities, and meaningful conversations

🦹‍♀️Chicago Costume Company for providing character costume that brought extra magic and excitement

🙌 Our Zoo Volunteers-HOPES Staff, On-site team members, board members, Engtal, and community volunteers-whose energy, kindness, and dedication powered the entire day

📸 Our photographer, , for capturing every smile, moment, and memory so beautifully

And to our students and families — your happiness, curiosity, and resilience are the heartbeat of this tradition. You inspire everything we do!

This year’s zoo trip was a powerful reminder of what happens when community, compassion, and celebration come together for our students and families. Can’t wait to celebrate together next year! 🦒💙

🎲✨ 2 days until Seeds of HOPE 2026! ✨🎲
➡️ bit.ly/Seeds2026

This night is absolutely packed with chances to win big, and for that we have to thank our incredible Prize Donors! We are so grateful to each of you for your generous contributions and support.

Our guests are in for some truly fantastic surprises... 🎁🎁🎁

Thank you so much to:
Albanese Candy
American Writers Museum
Avondale Bowl
Boka Restaurant Group
Chicago Fire
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago White Sox
Chicago Children's Museum
Crying Tiger Chicago
Cuddle Bunny: Club, Care & Community
Doughnut Vault
Escape Factor Chicago
Field Museum
First Ascent
Garrett Popcorn Shops
House of Blues Chicago
Jenny Ruland
Lou Malnati's
Lynfred Winery
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Marriott Theatre
Museum of Illusions Chicago
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
Revolution Brewing
SOPHY Hotel
The Dinner Detective
The Joffrey Ballet
The Kahn Family
The Kimpton Gray Hotel
The Pikarski Family
UChicago Arts
Three Cities Social Club
Zanie’s Chicago

🌟👟Marathon Monday: Runner Spotlight 👟🌟

Meet Haleigh, a preschool teacher with a massive heart and a big running goal! Haleigh joins our 2026 Chicago Marathon team all the way from Queens, NYC. As an early childhood educator, she sees firsthand how critical classroom, home, and community resources are for students. After witnessing her own students face housing insecurity, she chose to run for Chicago HOPES for Kids to ensure every child gets the support they need to discover a love of learning.

For Haleigh, running is a powerful tool for mental health, stress relief, and joy. Chicago will mark her 5th marathon on her journey to conquering all six Abbott World Marathon Majors! She will be tackling the course alongside her sister, Paige. Whenever the miles get tough, they will be repeating their favorite mantra: "Slay the day, rep the steps!"

"I truly believe so strongly in their mission to help support and empower students who are at risk or experiencing homelessness.”

We are incredibly proud to have Haleigh’s bright energy and dedication on our team. Welcome to the hustle, Haleigh!

Want to learn more about joining our 2026 Bank of America Marathon Team? Check out our
HOPES Hustlers page: https://ow.ly/LAFB50Z6mH9

🎲✨ 4 days until Seeds of HOPE 2026! ✨🎲
➡️ bit.ly/Seeds2026

We are so grateful for the continued support of Gordon & Pikarski Attorneys at Law, one of our long-time gala sponsors!

As Literacy Champion Sponsors, their gift of $2,500 will help make Seeds of HOPE Casino Night possible, in turn helping us raise critical funds for our after-school programs across the city.

Thank you so much to the entire team at Gordon & Pikarski! Your generosity over the years has made such an impact 🌟

🌺 This semester, Chicago HOPES for Kids proudly celebrated Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month through stories that sparked curiosity, connection, and meaningful conversations in our classrooms. Our students explored themes of family, identity, courage, and culture while discovering new perspectives through reading together. 📚✨

Some books honoring AAPI heritage in our curriculum included:
-Jenny Mei is Sad by Tracy Subisak
-Minh and the Magic Grains of Rice by Do Nguyet Ha
-The Boy and the Bindi by Vivek Shraya
-Natsumi! by Susan Lendroth
-Usha and the Big Digger by Amitha Jagannath Knight
-Amy Wu and the Patchwork Dragon by Kay Zhang
-Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
-Ten Blocks to the Big Wok by Ying-Hwa Hu

At HOPES, we are proud to celebrate all cultures and create spaces where every student feels seen, valued, and encouraged to share their story. Learning from one another is one of the many ways we continue building a strong and supportive community together. 🌏❤️

🎲✨ One week until Seeds of HOPE 2026! ✨🎲
➡️ bit.ly/Seeds2026

As we count down to the big night, we want to say a tremendous thank you to Deloitte one of our wonderful returning gala sponsors!

As Literacy Champion Sponsors, their gift of $2,500 will help make Seeds of HOPE Casino Night possible, in turn helping us raise critical funds for our after-school programs across the city.

Thank you so much, Deloitte, for all your support! We can’t wait to see some of your team at the event 🌟