Chicago HOPES for Kids

08/21/2026

Channel your inner “chic” and help us achieve our goal by being part of our students' confident kickstart to the Fall semester!

Make an online donation by September 1st and help us provide the tools our students need to learn, grow, and shine⭐

👉Follow this link: https://ow.ly/wy8M50ZC1fE to check out our registry and help us make this the brightest start to a school year yet with a donation! 🎒✏️

08/19/2026

🌟👟Marathon Runner Spotlight 👟🌟

Meet Sarah, a dedicated runner from Illinois who is putting her miles toward a massive mission! Sarah is joining our 2026 Chicago Marathon team to take on a massive personal milestone while uplifting local youth.

Sarah is no stranger to the pavement, but this race is incredibly special. The 2026 Chicago Marathon will mark her very first World Major Marathon and her fifth marathon overall!

For Sarah, this journey is deeply personal. As an Illinois native, Chicago holds a special place in her heart. She wanted to channel her lifelong passion for running into a meaningful way to give back to the city she loves. By running for Chicago HOPES for Kids, she is doing exactly that—supporting local children and fueling critical educational programs.

"Being able to combine something I’m passionate about with the opportunity to support such a great cause is incredibly special to me."

The Goal: Sarah is on a mission to raise as much support as possible for the children and families in our community. Let's help her bring awareness to this vital cause and crush her fundraising goals!

Want to learn more about joining our 2026 Bank of America Marathon Team? Check out our HOPES Hustlers page: https://ow.ly/WNSW50ZByeb

08/18/2026

It's a bird...it's a plane...it's another team of Supply Donation Superstars! 🌟🌟🌟

We want to say a massive thank you to this Chicago team at Salesforce, who not only donated a full set of STEAM learning supplies for our programs, but who came together to count, prep, and pack all the materials into ready-to-go project kits!

Thank you so much to this incredible crew, and a special thank you to Sabrina Kumar for arranging this donation event! You have made such an impact for our students 🎨📖🫙

(Interested in setting up a corporate volunteering day for your team? Reach out to: [email protected])

08/17/2026

💙 What a night with the Chicago Sky!🏀

Our Chicago HOPES kids and families had an amazing time cheering from the stands, soaking in the excitement, and making memories together. And to make the night even better… the Sky got the WIN! 🏆🎉

We’re so grateful to the Chicago Sky for making this special experience possible for our families. It was a night full of smiles, cheers, and plenty of Sky spirit! 

A sincere thank you to the Chicago Sky Foundation for their ticket donation! We look forward to bringing our families back for more Sky High energy! ☁️✨

08/14/2026

☀️HOPES 2026 Summer of Play Recap☀️

Play is one of our six values at HOPES and this summer, our students and team truly embodied its meaning. Our programs were bursting with creativity, curiosity, and big breakthroughs. Students strengthened their literacy skills, explored hands-on STEM projects, dove into art enrichment, and discovered new ways to express themselves.

The magic didn’t stop there! This semester was full of confidence‑building moments and the kind of positive, supportive relationships that help our kiddos feel grounded and seen. Every book, experiment, shared laugh added to a summer where our students grew academically, socially, and emotionally.

Thank you to everyone who poured into our students and helped make this summer unforgettable. The impact is real, and the momentum is strong. 🌼🙌✨

08/13/2026

⭐Donor Spotlight: Checkmarx⭐

We’re sending a huge thank‑you to Checkmarx for their incredible snack packing and donation! Your support ensures our students walk into our space feeling energized, cared for, and ready to learn.

Snacks may seem small, but they make a big impact by helping students settle in, stay focused, and feel confident throughout the day.

When businesses step up for our mission, it creates a ripple effect of kindness and opportunity across our community. Thank you to the team at CheckMarx for believing in our mission and showing what it looks like when a community truly shows up for one another. 💛📚✨
Interested in supporting our program with a snack donation? Check out this link: https://a.co/007HjbwM

08/12/2026

We want to give a tremendous shout-out to Terri's team at Salesforce, who used their all-hands staff meeting to make a major impact for our students! 🌟

This generous group came together to learn more about HOPES and to donate funds and materials for our programs, but they didn't stop there! They also rolled up their sleeves and got to packing supplies for two different STEAM learning projects for our students 🚀

Thank you so much to the entire team, and a special thanks to Patrick Johnson for arranging the event! Support from community partners like you makes such a difference for the students and families we serve 📚✨

(Interested in setting up a corporate volunteering day for your team? Reach out to: [email protected])

08/06/2026

📣 Big News! 📣

We are so excited to share that HOPES has been named the official charity beneficiary for the 2026 Real Estate Rumble 🌟🥊🌟

This is truly a one-of-a-kind event, and the funds raised will make such a difference to the students and families we serve across Chicago.

Mark your calendars for October 22! Details on tickets for the event coming soon 😎

Real Estate Rumble

Big news: this year’s Real Estate Rumble is stepping into the ring for Chicago HOPES for Kids.

If you’re not familiar, HOPES has been showing up for Chicago’s kids since 2006 - running after school programs inside shelters across the city, helping over 325 students a year with homework, literacy, and just having someone in their corner.

October 22nd. Park West. Our agents are lacing up the gloves, not against each other, but for these kids.

Real estate agents. An actual boxing match. All for a reason that matters.

Details on tickets and how to donate coming soon!

08/05/2026

Donor Spotlight: VIATechnik 📓📚🖍️

We want to say a massive thank you to Bridget and everyone at VIATechnik for their incredibly generous donation to our Back to School Drive!

This brilliant team is of the longest-running partners in our drive, and this year, they not only provided a cart full of brand-new book bags, but a cart full of essential school supplies to boot! 🎒📓🎉

We are so grateful for VIATechnik's support -- these supplies will help our students start the school year strong, with all the tools they need to succeed 🌟

( Interested in donating? Check out our registry: https://lnkd.in/eQ2Fvfwr )

08/04/2026

Thank you so much again to the Salesforce team for this incredible donation to our 🎒🌟

Because of your generosity and effort, our students will be able to start this school year feeling prepared and confident, with everything they need to succeed ✏📓

We are so grateful for your support and partnership!