February was a month filled with celebration and community. As we honored Black History Month, embraced the love of Valentine’s Day, immersed ourselves in the joy of reading with our Book-A-Thon, and welcomed a special visit from Nanny Nikki, a Grammy-nominated singer to our early learning center, our commitment to fostering equity, education, and health access in our community remained steadfast. Join us as we reflect on the past month’s highlights and look forward to the continued impact we strive to make together.
Jin us in perusing the highlights of this eventful month below, and stay tuned for a glimpse of what lies ahead.
Upcoming Public Events
- Thursday, February 29, 7:00 – 8:30 pm: Online Trivia Fundraiser
- Friday, May 10, 6:30 – 10:30 pm: Champions Gala
- Sunday, August 4: Fourth Annual Pickleball Tournament – details coming.
- Saturday, September 14: First Annual Cornhole Tournament – details coming.
Join Our Junior Board Tomorrow Night!
Leap into fun with Online Trivia! Join us tomorrow night for a lively evening hosted by our Junior Board. From 7:00 to 8:30 pm on the 29th, enjoy laughter, friendly competition, and the satisfaction of supporting Children’s Place Association.
This is a one-of-a-kind event, and you won’t want to miss it! Grab your $25 tickets now and let’s make a difference for the kids together.
An Impactful Road Trip
Our President & CEO, Cinaiya Stubbs, took her daughters on a road trip to the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center last summer and shares the impact the trip had on her daughters and herself.
CLICK HERE to read more.
2023 – What A Year!
Discover milestones in our journey! From serving over 133,000 meals at our Early Learning Center to our Foster Care & Adoption team’s prestigious award from DCFS, explore the highlights of our fiscal 2023 in our annual report.
Champions Gala
Mark your calendars! Our highly anticipated annual Champions Gala is back, and it’s more than just an event—it’s a celebration of resilience, hope, and progress. Join us on May 10th for an unforgettable evening filled with delicious dining, lively dancing, and the warmth of community. As we gather together, let’s reaffirm our commitment to journeying together. Get your tickets today and be part of the magic!
Elevate impact! Sponsor our transformative event. CLICK HERE for details.
Meet CPA Team Members
Check below and see what our amazing teams have been up to over the last month.
Month in Review
Children’s Place Association was recognized at the DIFFA Awards Ceremony on the 20th, receiving the Excellence In Care Award. This honor reflects our dedication to providing exceptional services, conducting research, offering education, and outreach efforts for those affected by HIV in the Chicagoland area. We’re proud to be acknowledged for our commitment to improving lives.
“Attending DIFFA Chicago’s 2023 Excellence in Care Awards Reception was an honor and pleasure. As a recipient of this award, it is comforting and heartwarming to know that the Children’s Place Association isn’t alone in its mission of securing and building a hopeful tomorrow for our city’s most vulnerable,” said Dr. Algean Garner II, Director of Clinical Services.
Month in Review
In honor of Valentine’s Day and Black History Month, Child Thrive centered our activities around celebrating love and black excellence. Students decorated mugs for their loved ones and created crowns and tiaras to celebrate the royalty of black excellence. As we close out February, we look forward to March, when we will have our first Family Night of the year and host a mini-camp during spring break.
Thrive Family Night
Join us for an evening of family fun at Child Thrive’s Family Game Night on March 22, from 5 pm to 7 pm! Enjoy a delightful array of food, exciting games, and memorable moments with your loved ones. We look forward to seeing you there!
EMAIL US for more information.
CLICK HERE for more pictures.
Thrive Spring Mini Camps
Child Thrive will be hosting a mini camp during CPS scheduled Spring Break. The camp will be 9am – 3pm from March 25, 2024 through March 29, 2024. There will be art activities, movies, games, and a field trip.
If you are interested in registering your child. please EMAIL US.
Sports Physicals & Pediatric Consultations
Is your child feeling under the weather? From common colds to COVID-19 concerns, we’ve got you covered! Take advantage of our complimentary school-age pediatric consultations offered in collaboration with Rush and Dr. Margi. Every Wednesday (unless Dr. Margi specifies otherwise), from 1–5 pm, we’re available to provide expert guidance and support. Don’t miss out; schedule your appointment today by emailing Diana.
Month in Review
This month, we hosted engaging events for our children, families, and classroom visitors and had Start Early and DCFS visits that all went well. Additionally, our classrooms honored Black History Month by learning about African American heroes and their contributions.
CLICK HERE for more pictures.
Read-A-Thon
We started off February with a Read-a-thon, promoting literacy and Father Figure engagement. Dads enthusiastically participated, with one family logging over 60 books! Thanks to a generous book donation, we held a successful book fair where families could select books to keep.
A big CPA THANK YOU to a staff member of Hometown Public Library, which donated 200 books!
Music Time
We also had a delightful visit from Nanny Nikki, who brought music and dance to our children and teachers.
Audits and MonitoringWe completed a Quarter 2 monitoring session with our government funder, Start Early. They assessed various areas, including education, health, family engagement, and more, providing positive feedback on our teamwork and dedication.We also had a surprise DCFS annual visit that yielded excellent results, affirming our commitment to providing a quality learning environment for our children and families.
Month In Review
Our Home Base kids and families come together twice a month for socializing, learning, and fun. We listened to the “Dream Big Little One” audiobook for Black History Month and discussed our differences. We also got creative with self-portraits.
CLICK HERE for more pictures.
Home Based Enrollment Open
Do you know a parent who has a child aged between 6 weeks and 3 years? Are they seeking home-based services? Our program offers the convenience of a parent educator visiting their home once a week for engaging sessions lasting 90 minutes. These sessions cover various aspects of child development, parenting skills, and enjoyable activities for both parent and child. Additionally, families are warmly invited to participate in events twice a month where they can connect with other families, enjoy snacks, and foster a supportive community!
EMAIL US for more information.
Month In Review
At Children’s Place International, we not only focus on ensuring kids have access to life-saving health care but also help provide a lasting pathway out of poverty through education, family support, and career training.
We are excited to share some educational highlights from the Child Thrive Haiti program:
- 233 Haitian youth received educational support last year
- 84% of primary and secondary students passed onto the next level
- 8 students graduated from high school
- 19 students graduated from university or technical school (against a national backdrop of less than 1% of students graduating from university)
These outstanding results, achieved in the most challenging of environments, represent a huge amount of effort from our local partner organization Zanmi Lasante led by Edna Olivier and Roland Saint-Cyr, as well as the CPI Board, donors, and staff. And most especially the incredible students! When we think about all these young people striving for a better life for themselves, their families, and communities, we are inspired by them and so grateful for the opportunity to be part of this endeavor.
Partnerships & Collaborations
Our team consistently explores avenues to engage local corporations in funding and volunteer opportunities with the aim of creating a network of child champions.
Major Company & Foundation Supporters
A. Montgomery Ward Foundation, Baxter, Cigna, Emerson Electric, Kathryn McQuade Foundation, PayPal Giving Fund
Major Individual Supporters
Munisha & Viresh Bhatia, Alexandra Brzezinski, Craig Johnson, Binita Kwankin & Joe Hmieleski, Leslie McLeod, Mark Saas, Nancy Siepman, Gregory Soroka, and Sarah Stipp
Volunteer. Donate. Join Our Team.
Join in and be part of the positive solution in helping Chicago’s most vulnerable kids. We have a variety of volunteering, support, and engagement opportunities.
Home-Base Learning
We are looking for a volunteer to come in twice a month on a Monday from 10 am – 1 pm to help sort and organize for the twice-monthly socialization event.
EMAIL US if you are interested in volunteering.
Donor Engagement Committee
Volunteers needed to help champion our mission, connect us to new partners/sponsors/donors/volunteers, and build visibility for Children’s Place in the broader community.
For more details on role descriptions and/or to learn more, EMAIL US.
Calling Young Professionals
Looking for young Chicago professionals who are interested in making a positive impact, connect with other young professionals, and have a great time. Join our Junior Board.
CLICK HERE to learn more and apply.
Ongoing Opportunities
There are plenty of volunteer and donation opportunities throughout the year. Check out which might be most suitable for you:
- Host a friend & family house party or fundraiser to benefit Children’s Place
- Get involved with Adopt a Family
- Lead an employee group community service day and/or fun activity day with our kids & youth
- and so much more!
CLICK HERE to inquire.
Child Thrive
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We need plain white T-shirts for our next art project. We need ten small, medium, and ten large T-shirts.
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Art supplies (colored pencils, canvases, watercolor paper, construction paper, etc.)
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STEM kits/supplies (popsicle sticks, tape, glue, glue guns, etc.)
- Board games (varying ages from 6+)
EMAIL US to donate.
Home-Base Learning
- Children’s clothes from 0 to 3-years-old
EMAIL US if you can donate any of these needs.
Early Learning Center
- Diapers and wipes
- Coats and gloves
- Non-perishable items for family-giving baskets for raffle for families.
EMAIL US to donate.
Foster Care
- Gift cards (Visa/MC, Walmart, Target) for families in need or in crisis
- Infant car seats (rear-facing only) generally for kids age birth to 12 months
- Convertible car seats (forward facing with harness) generally for kids ages 1–3
- Booster car seats (forward facing) generally for kids ages 4-7
EMAIL US if you are able to donate any of these needs.
General – All Programs
- New or gently used winter clothing
- Toiletries, essential household supplies
- Baby items (formula, diapers, etc.)
EMAIL US if you are able to donate any of these needs.
Here are some of the opportunities we are looking for:
Full Time:
- Early Head Start Teacher
- Early Head Start Aide
- Health and Nutrition Aide
- Family Case Manager
- Family Support Specialist
- Inclusion Aide
- Parent Educator
- Program Operations Manager
Part Time:
- Foster Care Therapist
- Youth Coordinator
- Out of School Instructor
Seasonal:
- Substitute Teacher
CLICK HERE for more details on open positions and how to apply.
Invest in a Child’s Future
We believe EVERY child and family deserves equal access to care, safety, and shelter – regardless of circumstances or zip code. Your support helps us provide critical services to those most affected by serious health issues and extreme poverty.
Ready to create change? Your monthly $10 donation, or less, can support health, fight poverty, and address racial challenges. Skip a Starbucks and champion health, racial equity, and emergency relief. Join Child Champions now for a brighter future!
CLICK HERE to make an impact.
Come join us socially
An easy way to support CPA’s work is by engaging with us on our social media channels. By liking, commenting, and sharing our work, you help us expand our reach bringing in new volunteers, donors, and awareness.
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