From the World Cup stage to Olympic competition to neighborhood fields, courts, and boathouses, sports create belonging, build confidence, open doors, strengthen communities, and teach us what it means to show up for one another. I saw this with my own kids. Our Make It Better partners and Philanthropy Award winners have long proven this. […]
Not too long ago, London Booker was driving through Rochester when something made him stop. In an abandoned lot, a group of kids was running lacrosse drills, fully equipped, calling out plays, and moving with confidence. He hit the brakes, put the car in reverse, and asked what they were doing. Their answer surprised him. […]
Chicago’s golf legacy began long before the modern era of destination resorts and public-access championship courses. The region’s influence on American golf can be traced back to the late 1800s when visionary architects and club founders established layouts that would help shape the game’s future. Today, Chicago and neighboring Wisconsin are home to an extraordinary […]
The boat sits motionless, but the air is charged with anticipation. Every breath, every grip, every heartbeat and blade sharpen at the start. Then silence breaks, and everything explodes into motion. It may be hard to imagine the grueling and rigorous sport of rowing thriving in the heart of Chicago, yet the Chicago Rowing Foundation […]
Chicago has long been one of America’s great golf cities. The roots run deep. Chicago Golf Club introduced the nation’s first 18-hole course in 1892, and more than a century later, the region remains one of the country’s most vibrant golf markets. Hundreds of public courses stretch across the metropolitan area, ranging from championship-caliber tournament […]
Great leaders don’t separate business success from community impact — they build careers where both grow together. For two longtime City Year Chicago board members, that means integrating mission-driven values into everything from launching companies to owning a professional sports team to making films that spark conversation. That dual impact — lifting others while growing […]
On May 7, nearly 200 guests gathered at Galleria Marchetti in Chicago’s River West neighborhood for The Family Institute at Northwestern University‘s third annual Gratitude Gala. Hosted by the Board of Directors of the Family Institute, a Make It Better Foundation grant partner, the event raised nearly $260,000 to support the Bette D. Harris Family […]
For many youth athletes, the new year marks the start of a new winter sport season or early preparations for the spring season, along with the excitement, expectations and, in some cases — concerns that can accompany it. Here’s some expert advice — and a new app every parent should download — to help young athletes navigate […]
Photography has the extraordinary power to document, inspire, and connect. As Director of Photography for the Make It Better Foundation, a contributing editor to photography publications around the world, and a photographer with over four decades of experience, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with some of the most talented photographers who have captured the […]
On October 24, 2015, Justin Phongsavanh walked out of a McDonald’s in Ankeny, Iowa, unaware he was taking his final steps. Until that cool fall evening, the high schooler had been an avid sportsman and was gearing up for a career as a journeyman electrician. A gunman’s bullets would abruptly and irrevocably change the course of […]
