June was filled with celebration, reflection, and community. We commemorated Juneteenth as a powerful reminder of resilience and freedom, celebrated Father’s Day, and gathered in gratitude at our Foster and Adoptive Parent Appreciation Dinner. Throughout the month, we also deepened connections with the broader community that supports our mission every day. We’re grateful to have you with us.
Continue reading for a glimpse into the moments that made the month memorable.
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Thursday, July 31: Early Learning End of Year Celebration
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Sunday, August 3: 5th Annual Pickleball Fundraiser
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Thursday, October 23: Save the Date for our Fall Celebration
Pickleball with Purpose!
We’re thrilled to share that the first annual Play with Purpose Pickleball Tournament was a smashing success! Our friends at Credera raised $1,500 to support an upcoming transformation of our West Humboldt back storage room. The funds, and the volunteer power behind them, will go a long way during a series of upcoming service days. Thank you, Credera, for serving up impact on and off the court!
Target Crestwood for the win!
Thanks to the generosity of Target team members, our diaper shelves are filling up, and we couldn’t be more grateful. Their support helps ensure that families in our programs have access to essential supplies for their little ones. Thank you, Target Crestwood, for making a difference!
CPA Junior Board Rocks!
Thank You, Arienne, for being an integral part of our Junior Board. Air works at Notre Dame University and still finds time to make it to the city to volunteer and support CPA fundraising initiatives. It was a pleasure visiting her on campus and having a private tour.
Check out what our behind-the-scenes teams have been up to lately!
Pickleball Anyone?
Join the Joie & Wendi Group from @properties Christie’s International Real Estate for the 5th Annual Pickleball Fundraiser on Sunday, August 3rd. The fun starts at 10 AM in Highland Park. We can’t wait to see you there. [Click here] for details.
Early Learning Center:
End of Year Celebration
- Where: Outside the center
- When: Thursday, July 31st, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
- Needs: Ten volunteers to help run stations and support with setup and breakdown.
Graduation Day
- Where: La Follette Park District Fieldhouse
- When: Tuesday, August 5th, 9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Needs: Five volunteers to support food distribution, setup, and breakdown.
Check out what our teams have been up to lately!
Child Thrive welcomed our Thrivers back for summer camp on June 16. Camp kicked off with art and STEM activities that helped build friendships and strengthen community. Thrivers also celebrated Juneteenth by designing their own T-shirts and learning about historical figures through a creative coloring activity. One of the biggest highlights was returning to Goldfish Swim School-Wicker Park for free swim lessons.
Welcome to Team Thrive
We are excited to welcome Riann and Elisabeth to the team.
Riann is a Jackson State University graduate currently pursuing her MSW at the University of Illinois-Chicago. She brings two years of experience working with children, including time as a camp counselor, and is passionate about supporting kids through meaningful engagement.
Elisabeth is a multi-instrumentalist, educator, poet, and community artist with over 25 years of experience teaching music to children. She holds a BA in Musicology and Violin Performance from Roosevelt University and has performed around the world. Elisabeth specializes in a range of musical traditions and founded Mynah Music, a community music school that offered lessons and cultural programming in Oakland, California.
CPA shoutout goes to:
- Jerlisa, Elisabeth, and Riann for their dedication and teamwork in making Child Thrive summer camp a great experience for our Thrivers.
Month in Review
June brought exciting milestones to the Early Learning Center. Our two-year-olds began transitioning into preschool classrooms, meeting new teachers, exploring routines, and getting ready for the year ahead. Families joined us for Donuts with Dads, a fun morning of mug decorating and breakfast to celebrate the father figures in our kids’ lives. And at our June Parent Meeting, partners from Apna Ghar shared important information and resources on domestic violence, reinforcing our whole-family approach to care.
CPA shoutout goes to:
- Tanisha, Jennifer, and Yesenia, our amazing educators who just hit major milestones! Tanisha earned her master’s in early childhood education administration, Jennifer earned her bachelor’s in early education, and Yesenia earned her associate’s degree. We’re so proud of their dedication to learning and growing right alongside our kids!
Month in Review
The month of June is the last month of the fiscal year, so we have been working to get the fiscal year closed out and to prepare for the new fiscal year. The two foster care staff that were promoted recently have been working to transition to their new roles. We have actively been interviewing to fill vacant positions and are in the process of hiring a new Licensing and Recruitment Coordinator. There are also many foster care clients who are currently in the process of completing adoptions and guardianships.
Appreciation Dinner
We recently celebrated 52 amazing foster and adoptive parents at our annual Appreciation Dinner, nearly 20 years strong. This heartfelt tradition honors the caregivers who provide stability and love, and the Child Welfare staff who support them. As Ivan, our Executive Director of Child Welfare, shared: “They are a vital part of our mission.”
Celebrating Forever
After finalizing the adoption of three siblings on May 29, one of our amazing families celebrated with a trip to Six Flags! The 9-year-old twins and their 7-year-old brother had been with the family since toddlerhood through foster care. Now, their home, built on love, trust, and stability, is officially forever.
Welcome, Darius
Children’s Place International is excited to welcome Darius Moore to the team for the summer!
Darius is a second-year PhD student from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, Department of Health Behavior and Health Equity.
His research broadly focuses on health promotion for racial and sexual minority groups in both domestic and global contexts, with a particular interest in with a particular interest in understanding structural drivers of HIV inequities for these groups.
He has also spent time working with Child Thrive Coalition partner, Clínica de Familia La Romana in the Dominican Republic.
This summer, Darius will be working with the CPI team to produce a publication on the global Child Thrive Coalition.
In his free time, Darius enjoys reading, working out, and spending time with friends and family.
“Hello, everyone. It is great to be part of Children’s Place this summer. I look forward to meeting you all and learning more about the work that you do,” said Darius.
THANK YOU, THIS MONTH’S SUPPORTERS
Major Company & Foundation Supporters
Abbott, Harry F. Chaddick & Elaine Chaddick Foundation, Crown Family, St. John XXIII Parish
Major Individual Supporters
Ritchie Altamirano, Richard Bae, Zayna Hai, Stoyan Komitov, Binita Kwankin & Joe Hmieleski, Neil Lewis, Leslie McLeod, Richard Moser, Pauline Taylor
Care Circle Supporters
Derek Breese, Tyra Castle, Molly Donahue, Maria Lamboley, Mary Claire Larson, Robyn Lynn, Brett Mandel, Samuel Odishoo, Angela Smedley
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