Destiny, 23, is a recent Northwestern University graduate embarking on a career in civil engineering. Like many young adults, she’d like to make a difference in her community. So she signed up as a mentor with Horizons for Youth, a Chicago organization that has worked for more than 30 years to support students through targeted educational programs.
But this isn’t the first time Destiny signed up with Horizons for Youth. It was her mother who first enrolled Destiny and her sister, then elementary school students, in the program. A bright student with an involved parent, Destiny demonstrated the potential to excel.
Kids in under-resourced communities face barriers that often prevent them from fulfilling their academic potential. Only about 11 percent of students in the lowest economic quintile receive college degrees. By comparison, 83 percent of Horizons for Youth students graduate from college, and Destiny was one of them.
Horizons for Youth, a Make It Better Foundation 2014 Philanthropy Award Winner, supports students by identifying individual needs and working with families one-on-one to advocate, seek out the right opportunities, and get each student exactly what they need to thrive. That often involves identifying the ideal school for that particular student and navigating enrollment in Chicago’s ecosystem of public schools, charters, and private schools.
“We identified that [Destiny] was going to do really well if she was in the right school environment. She needed to be more challenged,” says Meghan Colgan, Senior Director for Program Services at Horizons for Youth. “Through support, we were able to give her, Destiny was able to get into Lane Tech Academic Center for middle school, which helped her get really set up for her education.”
Throughout middle school, Horizons for Youth continued to challenge and support Destiny, keeping her on track to qualify for a selective enrollment high school. Then the organization helped her attend open houses and make applications. Destiny ended up attending North Side College Prep, where she excelled, paving the way for acceptance to Northwestern University. Destiny worked as a golf caddie and earned the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholarship, which covered tuition and housing at Northwestern.
Horizons for Youth is currently working with more than 200 Chicago students. That work is supported by a network of volunteers, including graduates like Destiny, adult mentors, participating parents, and corporate supporters such as William Blair, which sponsors Horizons for Youth as one of its Global Community Partners.
“William Blair is proud of our employee-inspired Global Community Partners program and our colleagues who drive our partnership with Horizons for Youth,” says Paige LaCour, who leads William Blair’s Community Engagement programs. “The work Horizons is doing to transform families is vital to the success of our community, and we are honored to support their mission.”
Since 1991, Horizons for Youth has made a difference in the lives of hundreds of students like Destiny. Beyond school fit, the organization helps families advocate when an individualized education plan is needed, and gets kids tutoring or other needed interventions. Over time, the organization has gained insights that point to five practical lessons about what helps students thrive, offering guidance for families and educators far beyond Horizons’ own community.
1. Start Early
While Horizons for Youth sticks with its students through high school and college, the organization only enrolls elementary school students. That approach reflects the belief that earlier placement in the right learning environment can shape long-term academic outcomes.
2. Track Progress and Intervene Quickly
Often, parents of elementary school students sense early on that something is interfering with their child’s learning. But without resources to identify the problem and get help, they can become frustrated, while students move through school without receiving the support they need.
“We have a student who just started with us, and right away we were able to get that student tailored tutoring for dyslexia, which is something he needs, and he’s never had,” Colgan says. “I talked to the mom recently, and she said, ‘He’s starting to learn.’”
About a third of Horizon for Youth students are part of the Shalanda Scholars Program, which helps kids with diverse learning needs.
3. Mentorship Is a 2-Way Street
Horizons for Youth has volunteer mentors, known as Big Sibs, who meet with students to help them envision life after high school. It provides students with a consistent network of adult guidance as they grow.
“Our mentors are really there to serve as role models and provide different perspectives,” says Jacqueline Barajas, Horizons for Youth Director for Partnerships & Advocacy.
While some mentors, like Destiny, have roots in the same communities the students come from, others have different life experiences to share. Many of the mentors are young professionals who participate through their employers. For the mentors, the program is an opportunity to gain perspective and a sense of mission.
4. Engage the Whole Family
Students don’t apply directly for Horizons for Youth. Parents apply and offer acceptance before the organization ever encounters the students. This structure reflects the organization’s emphasis on equipping parents to advocate effectively for their children.
This commitment to engaging the whole family is what compelled Sabrina Curran, a William Blair investment banker and Horizons for Youth associate board member, to get involved.
“I was struck by how intentionally Horizons involves parents in their child’s partnership with Horizons, increasing accountability and shared responsibility. That wrap-around model speaks to the organization’s integrity and is a driving factor of its long-standing success,” Curran says.
That whole-family approach was exactly what Destiny’s mother, Irma, was looking for when her two daughters were young students.
“I wanted a program that partners with families, not just the kids,” Irma says. “For me, Horizons for Youth has given encouragement, community, and the feeling that I’m not doing this alone. For my girls, it has given them confidence, new experiences, and caring adults who believe in them and push them to dream bigger.”
5. Think Long-Term
While Horizons for Youth participants have a 100 percent high school graduation rate, the organization defines success more broadly. It includes long-term career pathways and generational change. While the majority of Horizons for Youth students earn college acceptance, some choose training and careers in the trades.
“Beyond any specific milestones or statistics, Horizons for Youth is focused on helping its students create options, unlock doors, and be able to pursue careers they are passionate about,” says Darren Bank, William Blair managing director of leveraged finance, who serves on the Horizons for Youth board of directors.
Applying these lessons consistently across a student’s academic career can shape long-term outcomes. Destiny’s path — from an elementary school student facing systemic barriers to a Northwestern graduate — offers one example. Today, she’s a young engineer with a degree from one of the top universities in the United States, extending her support to Chicago kids on their own educational journey.
Destiny is not the only one. After more than 30 years of supporting students, Horizons for Youth has an alumni committee that includes Destiny, along with graduates working across a range of fields, from human resources to speech pathology. Some alumni have also returned to the organization as volunteers or staff.
“Our alumni are successful in their careers, and they’re also coming back and re-engaging, which to me shows the power of the program,” Colgan says.
How to Help
Support Horizons for Youth by taking part in On Cloud Nine, the organization’s annual fundraising gala, now in its 26th year. The 2026 event takes place on Saturday, February 7, at Morgan Manufacturing in Chicago and includes an open bar, music and dancing, and light fare. Proceeds from the evening help fund Horizons’ academic support, one-on-one mentoring, and enrichment programs, with a portion of the night’s fundraising designated to support Horizons students attending St. Catherine–St. Lucy Elementary School.
Support On Cloud Nine by donating, purchasing tickets, or becoming a sponsor.
If you are unable to attend the gala, you can still make a meaningful impact by supporting Horizons for Youth year-round. Donations directly fund one-on-one mentoring, academic interventions, enrichment opportunities, and family partnerships that help students overcome barriers and reach their full potential. Every contribution helps sustain a community of support that extends far beyond a single evening.
More Expert Education Insights From Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award Winners:
- Is My Child Gifted? Expert Advice on Signs, Tests and Next Steps
- How to Get Kids to Talk About School: Expert Tips That Really Work
- Beyond the Classroom: The KIPP Chicago Model That’s Tackling Barriers to Student Success
Carrie Kirby spends a lot of time asking people about something they think about but rarely talk about: money. Her work on personal finance, business and technology has appeared in San Francisco Magazine, The San Francisco Chronicle, Wise Bread and more publications. She lives on an island (Alameda) with her husband and three kids, and blogs about family travel and mileage rewards at The Miles Mom.
