Chicago Youth Centers Overview
February, 2008
It is a rare public policy initiative that promotes fairness and social justice and, at the same time, promotes productivity in the economy and in society at large. Investing in disadvantaged young children is such a policy. --James J. Hickman Nobel Laureate in Economics University of Chicago
CYC Invests in Youth in Underserved Chicago Neighborhoods to Help Them Discover and Realize Their Full Potential
Founded by Elliott Donnelley and Sidney Epstein in 1956 Recognized leader in the field of youth development; Chicago’s largest multisite, independent, locally based youth services agency. CYC provides distinctive value over drop-in youth centers: members sign up to attend and participate in a comprehensive, structured Continuum of Caring curriculum designed to improve academic performance as well as life and social skills. In fiscal year 2008, CYC provided early childhood education and Head Start, after-school programs, teen leadership development programs, college and career readiness, summer day camps, and a residential camp in southwestern Michigan to close to 5,000 at-risk young people ages 3 to 19. Member demographics: 100% low income; 81% African American, 17% Latino, and 2% Caucasian; 54% female and 46% male.
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CYC’s Ultimate Objective is to Produce Youth Who are Life- and Job-ready
Responsible Adulthood
College/Career Early Childhood Development Head Start After School Program Summer Fun After School Program Summer Fun Teen Leadership Development College Readiness
Ages 3 to 5
Ages 5 to 12
Ages 13 to 18
Academic Enrichment The Arts Recreation, Sports, and Character Development
Leadership Development Activities for Teens Community Service Projects Parental Involvement Mentorship
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In addition to the Core Curriculum, CYC Offers Specialized Programs
Education Service Initiative (for wards of the state with academic needs) Century 21 Learning Center Schools (on academic watch list) Comprehensive Community-based Youth Services (crisis intervention) Mentoring Children of Prisoners and Mentoring in the Schools Programs
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Recent CYC Initiatives and 50th Anniversary Building Futures Campaign Goals
College Readiness Centers Language Arts Media Center Environmental Education Visual and Performing Arts Client Outcomes Tracking System Campaign goals: Full-time Youth Workers and Mentor Supervisors Center and Camp Rosenthal Improvements Program and Curriculum Development
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CYC Operates in Some of the Most Challenging Neighborhoods in Chicago
Avondale Mt. MpriahTaylor Centro Nuestro
Rachel’s Learning Center
CYC Center
CYC ABC Polk Bros. & BBR Youth Centers Fellowship Youth Center Elliott Donnelley Youth Center Price Elementary
Partner Site
Bradwell
Rebecca K. Crown Youth Center Pathways #1 & #2
Shining Star
Lots of Love
CYC-Roseland & Youth & Family Services
CYC Dorothy Gautreaux
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Annual Believe in Kids Dinner
CYC’s Believe in Kids Dinner is the organization’s most important fundraising event. Contributions exceeded $600,000 in 2006 & 2007 and raised close to $500,000 in 2008. The dinner allows CYC to build awareness in the business community and showcase the many achievements of the children. CYC is fortunate to have attracted the support of many important business leaders who served as “dinner chairs” for past events:
Year 2008 Dinner Chair William Daley, J P Morgan Chase Joseph Gregoire, National City Bank James Tyree, Mesirow Financial Donald Thompson, President of McDonald’s USA Lester Crown, Material Service Corp James Farrell, Illinois Tool Works William Osborn , The Northern Trust Company Spirit of Youth Award Polk Bros. Foundation
2007 2006 2005 2004
LaSalle Bank Sidney Epstein A. Epstein and Sons The Northern Trust Company McCormick Tribune Foundation
This event is held at the Four Seasons Hotel.
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CYC–Camp Rosenthal, Provides Fun, Skill-Building, and a Life-Changing Experience for Inner-City Children
Located on 530 wooded acres in Southwest Michigan, Camp Rosenthal surrounds a 30acre lake where campers learn to swim, boat, and fish. Many other activities: bicycling, hiking, rope climbing, talent shows, cooking, storytelling, environmental education. One of only five remaining camps in the region for inner-city kids. Campers make life-long friends, learn selfreliance and team-building, and experience the natural world and their place in it in a safe, beautiful environment.
An American Camp Association study showed the camp experience enhances selfesteem, social, physical, and thinking skills, and positive values and spirituality.
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CYC by the Numbers
In 2007 … New Center Location New Language Arts Media Center New College and Career Readiness Centers Scholarships Mentor/Mentee Matches Teen Leaders Pre-schoolers Served by Head Start Youth Served at Camp Rosenthal School-age Children Volunteers Teens Mentor Hours Members Served Volunteer Hours 1 1 2 35 67 431 809 871 972 1,001 1,419 1,642 5,627 46,000
In 2008, 100% of CYC 8th graders moved up to 9th grade, 100% of CYC high school seniors graduated, 90% went on to college—many with CYC-generated scholarships.
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Meet Alscee Bonner
PAST: Alscee Bonner has been in foster care most of his life. When he was first referred to CYC’s Education Support Initiative (ESI) program, he was not attending school and was engaging in high-risk behaviors, seeing the world as a hostile place. PRESENT: After working closely with Alscee, ESI staff recognized that he had many untapped skills and great potential and recruited him to be a peer tutor in ESI at the CYC-Rebecca Crown Youth Center. He has been so reliable and enthusiastic that he has become a role model for the younger children. He was one of five CYC 2007 Youth Service Award winners. FUTURE: His exemplary performance in the after-school program led the center director to ask him to become a tutor in the 21st Century Program. Alscee has a great attitude and a positive outlook and is considering applying to college.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Francis Beidler III Congaree River Limited Partnership Rebecca Bruening RR Donnelley Jason Caya Aon Risk Services of Illinois Beth Corvino Patrick T. DeLacey Raymond James & Associates Inc. Charles G. Denison Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc. Eugene DeRamus Ronald Dukes Ronald Dukes Associates, LLC Chip Dunn Goldman, Sachs & Co. John Dvorak Charter One Bank Sidney Epstein A. Epstein and Sons International Inc. Gerould W. Kern Tribune Publishing Gordon Lang Jr. Drinker, Biddle & Reath LLP Julie Luecht KPMG LLP Mary Ann Mallahan Illinois Tool Works Inc. Edwin D. Mason Foley & Lardner Rick Erwin Experian Daniel Feeney Miller Shakman & Beem LLP Patrick M. Hardiman Winston & Strawn LLP John B. Hillman Mass Mutual Michael Horowitz, Ph.D. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology Claudia Norris Kapnick Edward M. McHugh JP Morgan Chase Jeffrey W. Morof Bryan Cave LLP Javier Nuñez The Northern Trust Company Lawrence Oliver II The Boeing Company James O’Reilly Chicago Public Schools William O. Petersen Vedder, Price, Kaufman & Kammholz Al B. Reid Abbott Laboratories Inc. Lee Remen Baton Technologies Howard D. Rosen Tiger Financial Services, Inc. Raymond L. Rusnak, Jr. Financial Investments Corporation Mark G. Sander Bank of America Mary Beth Shea Schmidt Traversa Consulting LLC John A. Schweig W. W. Grainger, Inc. Hilary Bishop Scott Wesley E. Sewood Kraft Foods North America Vanessa L. Smith McTier Vantage Solutions LLC Steven B. Weinstein Altair Advisers LLC Charlotte Whitaker Motorola, Inc. Walter White Bank of America Edward A. Wiertel, Jr. Fortune Brands Erica Wise The Benjamin J. Rosenthal Foundation Henry Wisniewski Steven E. Zuccarini InnerWorkings, LLC 12
“Poverty, I realized, wasn’t only a lack of financial resources; it was isolation from the kind of people that could help you make more of yourself.” —Keith Ferrazzi, in his national bestseller on the power of relationships, Never Eat Alone
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