Since 1980, Chicago Children's Charities (CCC) has been an active force in volunteer fundraising for smaller children's charities in the Chicago area. These charities have no professional fundraising staff and are not always well known outside the communities they serve. It was for this reason that CCC was created to be of assistance to organizations that otherwise might not be able to afford books to expand a child's horizon or fund programs and build the much-needed playground to keep them off the streets. We look at the receiving organization to determine the effect of our contribution to their charitable activities. CCC seeks to maximize the significance of our donation on the receiving organization, thereby providing that our support will make a meaningful contribution to their organization's efforts. Beneficial entities are all non-federally funded organizations.

Our 2008 beneficiaries:

1) Cabrini Green Tutoring Program – http://www.cabrinigreentutoring.org/

The purpose of the Cabrini-Green Tutoring Program is to create an unshakable belief in the value of education for elementary school children in the Cabrini-Green community and give them a strong head-start towards successful graduation from high-school. We do this by providing supplemental educational services in the form of a one-on-one adult volunteer tutoring program which brings tutors directly into the community. The program focuses on improving reading, writing, arithmetic, computer and social skills.

2) A Special Wish Foundation - http://www.aswchicago.org/

The Chicago Chapter of “A Special Wish” grants wishes to children 19 years or younger with life-threatening or life altering conditions. Chicago Children’s Charities and “A Special Wish Foundation” team up annually to host 75 children and family members for a pizza party and professional baseball game. This event allows families to reunite each year in celebration of their children’s lives.

3) Children Camp Fun Zone - http://www.biail.org

Camp Fun Zone is a unique camp for Chicago area children who have suffered from traumatic brain injury. The only camp of its kind in the state, Camp Fun Zone is staffed by Easter Seal camp staff and volunteers from area rehabilitation hospitals. This year, Chicago Children’s Charities will allow 30 children ages 7-17 to enjoy a weeklong camp experience.

4) Chicago Scores - http://www.americascores.org/#/chicago

Chicago Scores is a recreationally linked educational program for public school students, ages 8-12, which works in partnership with students, teachers, neighborhoods and schools. The organization's mission is to strengthen urban public school communities through soccer and academic enrichment. Chicago Children's Charities supported the launch of CCC/University of Iowa Poetry Scholars Program in 2003 and has continued to support this initiative each year. The program was Chicago's first inner-city teacher-training program that focuses on poetry as a tool for inspiring literacy among at-risk elementary school students.

5) Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund - http://www.dmsf.org/

The Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation (DMSF) provides four-year high school scholarships and support services to economically disadvantaged Chicago eighth grade students in order to ensure they are properly prepared for a college education. DMSF sponsors a wide range of free educational support services including: mentoring, tutoring, language skills training, summer caddie and other employment opportunities, college test preparation and college counseling. These programs enrich the Scholars' high school experience and support their efforts to obtain a college education. Chicago Children's Charities proudly sponsors one DMSF Scholar and the DMSF Summer Caddie Program.

6) Dreams For Kids - http://dreamsforkids.org/index.html

Until his death in June of 2001, Father Walter Brennan ran an outreach program in Chicago’s East Garfield neighborhood. He dedicated his time, energy, and salary to meet any needs of the neighborhood families. Dreams for Kids is an organization established in Father Brennan's honor to carry on his vision. In his memory, Chicago Children’s Charities will donate funds to Dreams for Kids so that the organization may continue to provide guidance, support and educational assistance to at-risk kids through The Father Wally Program.

7) Maywood Fine Arts Association

Maywood Fine Arts Association is dedicated to providing fine arts education to low-income and minority children in Chicago’s Maywood Community. The organization has a combined student body of 800+ in its dance, music, voice, tumbling and drama programs. The dance program provides lessons in tap, ballet and jazz and the music program teaches lessons in drums and piano. This year, Chicago Children’s Charities has provided funds for the organization to purchase musical instruments to expand the piano and drum programs, as well as provide funds for teacher stipends to support the continued growth of the association.

8) TWIG Day Camp - http://www.twigcamp.org/

TWIG (Together We Influence Growth) Day Camp, now in its 36th year, provides quality programming for children from both the suburbs and the city. The camp provides the unique opportunity for children to participate in a variety of activities in a multicultural setting. The camp provides a learning environment for approximately 110 campers (half from the suburbs and half from the inner city), ages 6-11. Chicago Children's Charities contribution will help subsidize bus fees and multi-cultural programming for TWIG campers.

9) MetroSquash

MetroSquash is an after school program for students on Chicago's South Side who want to enjoy athletics and aspire to succeed academically. MetroSquash helps students who often do not have the means to realize their goals. They provide squash training and academic tutoring in a safe yet challenging environment. They use the game of squash as a way to engage students in pursuit of physical fitness, academic excellence and cultural enrichment.

10) EVYP (East Village Youth Program)

The EVYP mission is to encourage and prepare underserved minority youth in Chicago's near northwest side communities for a college education. A non-profit organization incorporated in 1989, EVYP provides academic and college readiness support services to youth who desire to improve their opportunities for the future through the pursuit of higher education. EVYP serves the needs of young people who face a myriad of socioeconomic and personal obstacles that otherwise might prevent them from succeeding academically and aspiring to achieve a college education and professional careers.