October flew by, and what a busy month it was. We welcomed families to an Open House at our Children and Family Support Services program, hosted a fun two-day Fall Festival at the Early Learning Center, and participated in the nationwide Lights On Afterschool celebration. Each moment highlighted the strength and spirit of our community.
As November begins, families in our community are already feeling the effects of SNAP benefit cuts. Our team is staying close with parents and caregivers to help minimize food insecurity and ensure they have access to the support they need.
We are grateful to have you with us. Continue reading to learn how our community came together for children and families in October and how we are moving forward together.
CPA at a Glance
Adopt A Family Gift Drive
It’s that time of year again! Planning is underway for our annual Adopt A Family Gift Drive, and you can help spread holiday joy by adopting a family this season. Sign up today and receive your family match in mid-November, allowing you to shop for gifts and make the holidays extra special.
Volunteer Opportunity
There is still plenty of time to join us for our gift sorting weekend on December 6th and 7th. Become an elf for the day and help organize and prepare gifts for delivery to families. Join us in making the holidays brighter for children and families in our community.
Boo at the Flu
Our wonderful partners at Aetna Better Health of Illinois hosted an epic “Boo to the Flu” Fall Festival for our students! The day was packed with fun, including a petting zoo, face painting, Nanny Nikky Music, a giant inflatable heart transformed into a spooky house, and amazing kids’ giveaways. Laughter, learning, and community spirit were everywhere as families gathered to celebrate health and happiness!
Fall Festival Fun
What a fun way to end October at our Early Learning Center! Children and families had a blast during our costume and trick-or-treating parade.
A special thank you to Mars-KIND for donating 200 KIND Bars, adding a healthy and delicious touch to the festivities. We are also grateful to the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) for bringing energy, helping hands, and smiles to the parade. Your support made the event truly memorable for our students and families!
Denim Donations
We’re so grateful to The Denim Lounge for once again hosting a Denim Drive and collecting 178 pairs of jeans for families in our community! Their ongoing support means that more children and parents have access to comfortable, quality clothing. Thank you to The Denim Lounge and everyone who donated for making a real difference!
Individual & Corporate Supporters this month:
Anonymous Donors, Abbott, Richard Bae, David Kalinich, Laura Kanter, Binita Kwankin & Joe Hmieleski, Leslie McLeod, Richard Moser, Ty Shockley, Takeda
CPA Program Updates
Check out what our teams have been up to lately!
Child & Family Support Services
Month in Review
Our Child and Family Support Services team recently hosted an Open House to highlight the many ways we support children and families, along with our community partner Life is Work. Families shared a meal, explored helpful resources, and connected, making it a meaningful opportunity to come together and strengthen community.
Child Thrive
Month in Review
October was a busy month for Child Thrive as we prepared for fall and the next phase of programming. We’re excited to kick off sessions at KIPP Chicago next week, reconnecting with our Thrivers and welcoming new students.
We also celebrated Lights On Afterschool, a national event in over 8,000 communities that highlights the importance of afterschool programs. Families from our school partner KIPP Chicago, as well as from our Supportive Housing and Early Learning Center programs, came together for a festive Family Night full of activities, delicious food, and joyful community connection.
A BIG CPA shoutout goes to:
-
Jerlisa, Jada, Bruce, Angelica, and Viviana for their incredible effort in making October Family Night a massive success!
Early Learning Center
Month in Review
The Early Learning Center had a fun and full October! Families learned simple fine motor activities they can do at home during our Parents as Teachers event, helping little hands grow through play.
We celebrated Bring Your Fathers to Work Day, giving dads a chance to see all the great learning happening at the ELC. Students and staff also showed their school spirit during Spirit Week with themed days from Mix & Match Monday to Dress-Up Friday. The month wrapped up with our annual Family Fall Festival, complete with a petting zoo, a face painter, and a musician, providing a wonderful way for families and students to come together and enjoy the season.
We are also collecting dry goods and grocery store gift cards to support families who may be affected by the November SNAP shutdown.
A BIG CPA shoutout goes to:
-
Ms. Marisol, Ms. Helen, and Ms. Sierra in the babies bumblebee classroom for going above and beyond for their babies. They have created such a lovely classroom environment for our littlest learners and their families.
Foster Care & Adoption
Month in Review
October brought steady progress for our foster care team. We continued to work closely with foster parents to shape our Foster Parent Law Implementation Plan for 2026, ensuring that their real-life experiences and perspectives inform how we improve support for families. We look forward to sharing the completed plan with DCFS next month.
Holiday preparations are also underway. Families have begun submitting Adopt-a-Family forms, and planning for our annual gathering is in motion. We’re encouraged to see several adoption cases moving forward as well, with a couple on track to finalize soon. It has been a month of meaningful work, collaboration, and ongoing commitment to the children and families we serve every day.
A BIG CPA shoutout goes to:
-
Almeta Rollins, who was recently commended by a Cook County Juvenile Court Judge for her outstanding dedication and careful work on one of her cases!
International
Place the Hope
October kicked off Children’s Place International’s (CPI) annual Place the Hope campaign, the biggest opportunity of the year to connect with kids in our global Child Thrive programs. The campaign aims to prevent over 10,000 deaths of children and teens with life-threatening illnesses and support them on their journey out of poverty. Over 90% of every dollar goes directly to kids in need.
LEARN MORE on how you can support CPI.
Donate | Volunteer | Join Our Team | Connect on Social
Give, serve, work, or share—every action helps kids and families thrive. Thank you for being part of the change!
