Children First Fund

06/05/2026

Thank you, Google.org, for supporting this year’s Chicago Public Schools Computer Science Inclusion Showcase! This event celebrates our students with disabilities in computer science classes, robotics clubs, and esports, creating a welcoming and joyful pathway to STEM.

This event directly reflects our core CPS priority: to ensure the rightful presence of every student with disabilities so they can fully engage in rigorous, grade-level instruction in the general education classroom, accessing the same opportunities as their peers.

To expand on this commitment, this year's event grew to include Unified Robotics teams, bringing students with disabilities and their general education peers together to collaborate. As one of our Unified Robotics student panelists shared during the event:

"Being on the robotics team makes me feel proud."

Elementary scholars demonstrated their skills coding Sphero Indi robots and BeeBots while high school teams from Lindblom, Lincoln Park, and Hancock wowed the crowd by showcasing their massive, ball-launching robots.

We are deeply grateful to Google.org for funding this critical work. We also want to thank our research partners at the University of Florida for training our teachers in Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to make computer science accessible for all, as well as Amazon.com and the CME Group Foundation for supporting the CPS robotics lending library that equips our classrooms with devices.

Thank you for helping us build a more inclusive future!

06/01/2026

Since March, 482 students across Chicago Public Schools have been building healthy habits, training, and working toward an incredible goal.

On May 17th, approximately 80 of those students and their coaches celebrated that journey by running their final mile at the Life Time Chicago Spring Half Marathon!

Huge thanks to our amazing CFF partner, Life Time Foundation, for providing this exciting new opportunity. Your commitment to the health and well-being of our students makes milestones like this possible!

Shoutout to the amazing student runners and coaches from across the city representing: Greeley, Ogden, Volta, Logan Square, Mollison, Sadlowski, Kellman, Casals, Carnegie, and Cullen elementary schools.

We are so proud of your dedication and hard work! 🏅

05/29/2026

Fourteen outstanding Chicago Public Schools students were awarded the second annual Admiral Lisa Franchetti ROTC Scholarship this May. Funded through a generous annual gift from Rahm Emanuel and Amy Rule, these $10,000 scholarships recognize exceptional JROTC leadership, academic excellence, and a steadfast commitment to future military service.

Named in honor of Vice Admiral Lisa M. Franchetti—the first female Chief of Naval Operations—this award continues to open doors for a new generation of young leaders committed to serving something greater than themselves.

At CFF, we believe that a student's financial situation should never stand between them and their dreams, and we are grateful to partner with donors who share this vision. We are proud to collaborate with the philanthropic community and the CPS Office of College and Career Success to ensure this critical support reaches our scholars so they can seamlessly continue their chosen pathways in college.

A special shout-out and thank you to Rickover Naval Academy HS for hosting this celebration and the CPS Department of JROTC leadership and instructors for all of your support and dedication.

05/21/2026

This past weekend, Lollapalooza showed us what meaningful corporate partnership in public education looks like—sustainable, long-term investments that prioritize equity and directly impact students across Chicago's communities.

At the All-City Performing Arts (ACPA) showcase, we celebrated a historic milestone: a transformative $1.7 million donation from our ongoing partner, Lollapalooza. As one of the largest gifts Chicago Public Schools has ever received for arts programming, this contribution brings the festival’s total support for CPS arts to an incredible $3.9 million since 2021.

In partnership with Ingenuity, this latest investment builds on a comprehensive approach to arts access across the district by expanding classroom arts programs during the school day and securing a $634,000 commitment over five years to restore and revitalize the historic after-school ACPA program.

When world-class organizations step up to support public education through collaborative investment like this, it delivers a deep, measurable impact.

We extend our deepest gratitude to the CPS Arts Department for organizing a phenomenal showcase that highlighted our students' incredible talents. Thank you as well to CPS Board of Education President Sean Harden and Chief Education Officer Dr. Karime Asaf for delivering inspiring remarks on our collective mission, and to Lollapalooza Executive Producer Tim “Tuba” Smith for joining us on stage to present the check.

We are incredibly grateful to work alongside partners who ensure a student's zip code never defines their access to high-quality artistic training and performance opportunities.

05/21/2026

05/19/2026

A transformative $1.7 million investment is coming to arts education in Chicago Public Schools.

CFF is incredibly grateful to partner with Lollapalooza and Ingenuity to ensure this funding has the greatest possible impact for students across the city. This investment will help secure the future of the historic All-City Performing Arts program and expand the Lollapalooza Arts Education Fund to ensure every young person gets the chance to explore and develop their creative potential.

Watch the news coverage and presentation from the announcement here:

Organizers for Lollapalooza are helping fund the next generation of headliners.

05/18/2026

We had a wonderful time celebrating the CPS Dream Fund Champions Kickoff! It was a powerful afternoon dedicated to the champions who make higher education possible for our undocumented students—scholars from all backgrounds who are ineligible for federal financial aid and face unique hurdles to college access.

Since 2014, the Chicago Public Schools Dream Fund has awarded over 300 scholarships to bridge these critical financial gaps. A highlight of the event was hearing from a Solorio High School advisor about navigating financial challenges with a student who had nearly given up on their college dreams until this fund restored their hope.

Thank you to CPS leaders Dr. Karime Asaf, Chief Education Officer, and Dr. Megan Hougard, Chief of College and Career Success for joining us to reaffirm CPS’ commitment to educational opportunity for all.

Now more than ever, your support is the key to closing these gaps.
Help us keep this momentum going:
https://cps.networkforgood.com/projects/65081-cps-dream-fund

05/14/2026

CFF is proud to collaborate with organizations that truly invest in our schools. By building modern spaces like this new STEM lab at Washington Irving ES, our partners are giving students the hands-on tools they need to explore their interests and realize their potential.

Shout out to the Chicago Bulls staff and player Matas Buzelis for joining us to make the day extra special for students!

Thank you to NBA Cares, Heart of America, and State Farm for making this launchpad for innovation possible. 💻🛠️

05/12/2026

As National Nurses Week comes to a close, we want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible healthcare heroes taking care of students every day!

Our school nurses are the heart of our schools. From managing daily health needs to being a comforting presence for our students, they work tirelessly to ensure every child is safe, healthy, and ready to learn.

We are so grateful for your expertise and the unwavering care you provide to our Chicago Public Schools students every single day. Thank you for everything you do!

05/08/2026

Show a teacher you appreciate them by supporting the students they care for every day. 💙

The Compassion Fund provides the essentials students need—from basic supplies to emergency support—so they can show up to class ready to learn. When our students’ needs are met, our teachers can focus on what they do best: helping every child thrive and succeed.

Honor an educator today with a gift that makes a difference in their classroom.

https://cps.networkforgood.com/projects/62622-compassion-fund