02/11/2026
After a short winter hibernation, the Epstein Community Foundation (ECF) is waking up from its deep sleep with some exciting (and slightly overdue) news.
We are incredibly proud to announce the recipients of our 2025 Charitable Grants Program!
These grants would not be possible without the generosity, energy, and dedication of everyone who supports ECF initiatives. Whether it be through the Virtual 5K, Giving Tuesday, or our annual Golf Outing from the end of Summer, every registration, sponsorship, donation, and shared moment helped us bring these $5,000 grants to those organizations doing meaningful, mission-aligned work across the Chicagoland area.
To our employees, partners, sponsors, volunteers, and community members: thank you for showing up, giving back, and believing in the power of community. These grants are a direct reflection of your time, energy, and commitment.
Meet our 2025 ECF Grant Recipients:
https://lnkd.in/dxqjcg3D
Project SYNCERE prepares underrepresented students from Chicago’s South and West Sides to pursue and succeed in STEM careers through hands-on engineering education and mentorship. ECF’s grant supports the ENpowered Games, a citywide middle school engineering competition that builds confidence, teamwork, and real-world problem-solving skills.
https://lnkd.in/gHuiamkY
The Chicago State Foundation supports Chicago State University’s Pre-Freshman Program in Engineering and Science (PREP), an award-winning initiative that expands access to STEM education for underserved middle and high school students. ECF’s grant helps PREP continue delivering rigorous, hands-on learning experiences and mentorship that prepare students for college-level STEM coursework and future careers.
https://lnkd.in/eBdxBSN
Chicago Engineers’ Foundation inspires and supports future engineers through scholarships, mentoring, and career development programs for high school and college students across Chicago. ECF’s grant supports the Student Success Program, providing mentoring, networking, and professional development that help students persist in engineering programs and successfully transition into the workforce.
https://www.sparkshop.org/
Science & Entrepreneurship Exchange (d/b/a SparkShop) brings immersive, hands-on engineering education into 4th and 5th grade classrooms across Chicago, reaching students at a critical stage in their academic development. With ECF’s support, SparkShop will deliver Civil and Industrial Engineering curriculum kits to hundreds of students, helping students see themselves as future engineers, designers, and problem-solvers.
We look forward to seeing the incredible work these organizations will continue to do. Thank you again to everyone who continues to support, participate, and believe in ECF; we can’t wait to see what we will accomplish together this year!
