ACBSP IMPACT

In June of each year, we host a conference for our members in a different U.S. city. Something we also do each year is name a school district in our conference host city as recipient of the #ACBSP4Change Award.

We had planned to be in Chicago this June 26-29, at the Marriott Downtown Chicago Magnificent Mile, hosting approximately 800 attendees. In April, with the pandemic still wreaking havoc, our Board of Directors made the decision to pivot to a virtual conference for the safety of our members around the world.

We still wanted to honor our conference host city and saw a growing need to help offset the financial burdens many in the Chicago area continue to face because of COVID-19. The ACBSP Marketing Committee selected the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund as the 2020 #ACBSP4Change Award recipient. ACBSP will donate $2,500 and one of our valued partners, Peregrine Global Foundation, will match that, for a total donation of $5,000.

“The Chicago region is facing unprecedented health, economic, and social justice crises. Centuries of racism and disinvestment have led to inequalities across our region that were only amplified by COVID-19. Action is needed now to develop a pathway forward. We’re grateful for how our community is responding and committing to lasting change. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but thanks to partners like ACBSP and Peregrine Global Foundation, we’re able to provide essential resources for those in our region who are most greatly impacted,” said Sean Garrett, President and CEO of United Way of Metro Chicago.

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Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund Facts and Figures

• More than $33.5M raised
• More than $24.3M approved for grants
• More than 350 agencies funded
• More than 2,700 donors – including individuals, families, businesses, and foundations

About the Fund

• The Chicago Community Trust and United Way of Metro Chicago established the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund on March 16.
• In partnership with the City of Chicago, Chicago philanthropy, business leaders, and generous donors, the fund will rapidly deploy resources to local nonprofit organizations serving those who are the most vulnerable in our region.
• The Response Fund will provide flexible resources to local nonprofit organizations across metropolitan Chicago to supply essential resources to the individuals and households who are hardest hit by the pandemic.
• The fund is designed to be flexible so it can deploy resources to address possible additional areas of community need as they develop.

How is the money being used:

• Short-term rental/mortgage assistance
• Utility assistance
• Direct financial assistance for household expenses, and medicine
• Providing hygiene supplies (i.e. soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc.)
• Supporting food pantries and food delivery (i.e. Meals on Wheels)
• Community clean-up and rebuilding efforts, food access, and resources for organizations providing safe spaces, building community cohesion, and providing assistance for peaceful protestors.