Chicago Cares

Service creates connections and transforms strangers into neighbors. 🎉

Join us as we celebrate 35 years of serving alongside Chicagoans and consider investing in the transformational work Chicago Cares is leading by donating at chicagocares.org/donate. 🎂

Link to register for our July 18th event is below:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago-cares-35th-anniversary-birthday-celebration-tickets-1991197385983?aff=oddtdtcreator

: Happy Tuesday, Friends! Today's Mission Moment is inspired by fellowship over food in a community park.

Last week, the Chicago Cares Team enjoyed a staff outing in Chicago's Humboldt Park neighborhood. We took a team pic in front of the Wintrust Mural featuring Chicago Cares this month. The Mural is a stunning piece designed in collaboration with Englewood Arts Collective and Just Flo.

Then we had a picnic across the street in Walsh (John) Park, where we talked, laughed, played games, and soaked in the sunshine and sounds of spring.

Amid our busy schedules, meetings, deadlines, and endless screen time, the Chicago Cares team is taking time to connect with each other outside of the office and beyond work. Please join us in doing the same.

We’re turning 35!

For 35 years, Chicago Cares has connected Chicagoans through service, and we’re excited to celebrate this milestone with you.

Join us on July 18 at Ogden Park in Englewood for a day featuring:

💫A community mural ribbon cutting
💫Live DJ
💫Food trucks and the iconic Rainbow Cone 🍦
💫A bounce house
💫A hands-on service project

Join us to engage in service, eat yummy food, and enjoy a beautiful day with our Englewood neighbors.

🗓️July 18th, 11 AM–2 PM
🌳Ogden Park (6500 S Racine Ave)

RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chicago-cares-35th-anniversary-birthday-celebration-tickets-1991197385983?aff=oddtdtcreator

Last Monday we celebrated our annual Leadership Breakfast! 🎇

We welcomed Governor JB Pritzker, amplified decades of partnership with our Lifetime Achievement Award winner GCM Grosvenor, shared a powerful conversation with Juliet de Jesus Alejandre and Jennifer Sirangelo, and celebrated Chicago Cares’ 35th anniversary. 🎂

This breakfast would not have been possible without the generous contributions of all of our sponsors. Thank you for supporting our work and investing in making Chicago a stronger, more united city. 🏙️

We are celebrating our top volunteer of Q1, .ellaso. The Chicago Cares team thanks Christine for her dedication to service and connecting with community.

Will you be our top volunteer of Q2? Sign up for a project today here: www.chicagocares.org.

: 📣 Join Our Associate Board!

This spring, grow your civic engagement with Chicago Cares! We are thrilled to invite civically minded Chicagoans to join our Associate Board. This is a great opportunity to learn, cultivate a network, and invest in our work.

Board activities will include building relationships with individuals from other sectors, envisioning new community-centric pathways to fundraising, and carrying the Chicago Cares mission forward.

Does this sound like a good fit for you or someone you know? If so, please consider applying. The deadline is Friday, June 5th!

📝 https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=wu2XkiVM2kGiuai0Z1_jums6yVelTTVLogaLbzi7NyhUNE0yUFU1MEVLMEZUNkhMNjhYQUNNVUxNVC4u

📣 Get Your Swag on with Special Chicago Cares Merchandise!

🎉🙌🏾 We've spent over three decades investing in the transformative power of service, and we can’t wait to see what we accomplish together in the next 35.

👕🧢 To celebrate our anniversary, we're selling special Chicago Cares merchandise and will host events all year long. Check out our store at the link below, and stay in touch for more details!

🙌🏾 Shout out to our Associate Board Members, Cambria Khayat, Foster Taylor, Jose A. Contreras, and Pamela Lasley for being fabulous models and service ambassadors for Chicago Cares. We appreciate you!

https://chicago-cares-shop.fourthwall.com/

: Mission Moments: It Takes a Village to Create a Community Mural

Chicago Cares is incredibly honored to be featured on the Wintrust Mural, a stunning piece designed in collaboration with Englewood Arts Collective and Just Flo.

The mural is a powerful reminder that our city’s future depends on strong civic ties and collective action. Join us in celebrating the thousands of volunteers who show up for one another every day. Learn more about Chicago Cares, the city’s hub for civic action for 35 years. and find out how you can support our mission here: www.chicagocares.org.

: This week's Mission Moment is inspired by this courageous call to action, "Don't give in, and don't give up."

🗣️📟 Take a listen to a conversation Kerry Washington and Amy Poehler had on how we can all stay engaged and connected, instead of checking out, during these painful, tumultuous times. The segment runs from 35:00-38:46. It's honest, vulnerable, and hopeful. https://youtu.be/wGeUHiPcohk?si=3tJnKHHPgJg_4FOJ&t=2100

A few highlights:

➡️ Don't feel pressured into toxic positivity. Respect and embrace all of your feelings, not just the positive ones.

➡️ Take care of yourself, but don't bury your head in the sand.

➡️ Use your currency- whatever that is- for good and engage in ways that matter to YOU.

➡️ Lean into solutions, even in little ways, instead of dwelling on problems.

➡️ Although "fun" in civic engagement and advocacy work might sound self-indulgent right now, it's a must, so embrace it.

➡️ When you're feeling isolated, alone, and afraid, connect with community, whatever that looks like for you. Community is a balm for the soul and helps us feel better.

Kerry Washington | Good Hang with Amy Poehler Kerry Washington would crush on 'The Amazing Race.' Amy hangs with the star of 'Imperfect Women' and talks about the things she learned from Olivia Pope, why...

We’re thrilled to share that Chicago Cares has been selected as one of 25 Community Hosts for the 2026 Weaver Awards! ⁠
⁠
This partnership with Weave: The Social Fabric Project and The Aspen Institute will help us celebrate and support the everyday neighbors who are building trust, belonging, and connection right here in Chicago.⁠
⁠
In 2026, we’ll award 20+ microgrants to local weavers, uplift their stories, and create more spaces that bring people together. We can’t wait to help shine a light on the people who make our community stronger.⁠
⁠
Stay tuned for how you can get involved!⁠✨️