The Union League Boys & Girls Clubs’ Englewood Initiative Campaign aims to raise $5 million in five years to serve over 600 youth at four program sites in Englewood. To date, the campaign has raised $1.8 million and is currently serving 640 youth in four Englewood locations — three of which opened last fall under the campaign.
On June 19, guests gathered to celebrate the Englewood Initiative Campaign at the Union League Club in downtown Chicago. The event opened with a dance performance by Wentworth Elementary School students and remarks from Union League Boys & Girls Clubs President Craig Labus and Union League Club President Ed Cooper.
Former Chicago Bear and Boys & Girls Club alum Charlie Brown made a special appearance. Brown shared warm memories along with the crucial role the nonprofit has in transforming young lives.
The Union League Boys & Girls Clubs honored their community heroes under the Englewood Initiative Campaign partnership. Honorees included Janelle Thompson of Daniel S. Wentworth Elementary, Derrick Kimbrough of Nicholson STEM Academy, Miyoshi Bates-Knox of Stagg Elementary School, Michelle C. Russell of TEAM Englewood High School, Perry Gunn of Teamwork Englewood, Meghan Harte of LISC Chicago, Commander Kenneth Johnson of the Chicago Police Department, and Megan Hougard of Chicago Public Schools.
The evening closed with the announcement that Rivers Casino will be partnering with the Englewood Initiative Campaign by donating $56,000 for new technology at the Englewood club sites.
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Emily Stone is Associate Editor at Make It Better. She earned a degree in journalism from Elon University in North Carolina. Along with writing, Stone has a passion for digital storytelling and photography. Her work is published in Chicago Athlete Magazine. Stone is a supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Stone is a fluent Spanish speaker who in her free time loves a good dance class.
