Unity Fund: A Look at Impact in 2025
The Chicago Community Trust’s Unity Fund is a testament to the power of collective giving. Since its founding in 2008 at the height…
Stories
Spotlights on community issues, the people, and the organizations who contribute to effective philanthropy as well as a stronger Chicago region and world.
Recent Stories
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Financial Health in Cook County: Why it Matters and How Policy Impacts Financial Well-Being
In 2025, The Chicago Community Trust, with support from JPMorganChase, commissioned the Financial Health Network to update the findings of its Financial Health…
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Responding to Chicago’s Urgent Needs in 2025
As the region’s community foundation, The Chicago Community Trust exists to respond to the needs of our region and the people who call…
All Stories
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Tablet-Based Teaching Reaches New Students—Behind Bars
“Mostly a bunch of guys sitting around a big room, watching daytime TV.” That’s how Brian Hill, lead creator of one of the hottest new…
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An Ally for Chicago's LGBT Community
For the creators of The LGBT Community Fund at The Chicago Community Trust, the goal was to come together so that organizations serving the LGBT…
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Helping the Kids Who Go Hungry All Weekend: Chicago Bears’ Kyle Long
Chicago Bears Pro Bowl offensive lineman Kyle Long is known for his performance on the football field—but this spring he made headlines off the field…
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For the Public Good: CHIRP Radio Talks to Pro Bono Lawyers
In Cook County, there are upwards of 45,000 state-registered attorneys. Thankfully, many of those lawyers are doing pro bono work in the city of Chicago.…
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Think Good, It's Friday! 7.17.17
How many of you participated in the ALS “Ice Bucket Challenge” last summer? You’ll recall that our social media feeds were jam-packed with videos and…
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The Story of a Storyteller: Remembering PJ Paparelli
Chicago is mourning the loss of PJ Paparelli, who has been the artistic force behind American Theater Company for the last 7 years. PJ was a gifted…
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Setting the Stage for a New View of Mental Health
As a young mom with a passion for teaching young people, Meg Ritter understands the power of stories. Her philosophy is, “Stories can bring people…
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The Spirit of Generosity at the Taste of Chicago
Last weekend, more than 1.4 million people experienced the Taste of Chicago, the City’s premier outdoor food festival showcasing the diversity of Chicago’s dining community. The…
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Job Training Programs: The Formula for Measuring Value
An organization providing job training prepares a client job seeker, phones an employer and sets up a job interview. The job seeker walks into the…
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A Chat Between Friends Leads to $340,000 Supporting Mental Health Services
During the toughest of times, many people feel the need to talk to someone about what they are going through. Youth and Family Counseling (YFC)…
