Cradles to Crayons Chicago

Happy National Nonprofit Day! Today, we celebrate the incredible work of nonprofit organizations in our communities. We're especially grateful to our amazing staff for their unwavering dedication to our mission. For over 20 years, Cradles to Crayons has been committed to ending Clothing Insecurity. From our roots in Greater Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicagoland, we continue to expand throughout New York City, San Francisco, and the overall nation through Giving Factory Direct. Our growth and impact wouldn't be possible without the support of our dedicated team. Show some love to our markets and their teams today: Cradles to Crayons Massachusetts, Cradles to Crayons Philadelphia, Giving Factory Direct

📣 Exciting News! We're thrilled to share that our annual Backpack-A-Thon has been featured in multiple news publications. Check out one of our highlights below!

📚👚 Did you know that three of the top 10 reasons children miss school are related to Clothing Insecurity and a lack of school supplies? Consistent attendance is one of the most significant predictors of school success. Our Ready for Learning initiative ensures that the children we serve have access to high-quality backpacks, school supplies, and clothing essentials so they can attend school with confidence. Your donations of new or gently used clothing help keep kids in school and set them up for success. Check out how you can get involved through our Ready for Learning initiative: https://hubs.li/Q02KX7F80

A big thank you to all of our Backpack-A-Thon® sponsors for supporting us in providing 105,000 children across Chicagoland with backpacks full of school supplies! You are all amazing, and we hope to see you again next year! Special thanks to... Presenting Sponsor: Discover Financial Services Platinum Sponsor: Bank of America Gold Sponsors: Comcast, Enova International, IMC Trading, ITW, Jackson, Kirkland & Ellis, Massive Mission, PPM America, Inc., and Topfer Family Foundation Silver Sponsors: Chamberlain Group, Egon Zehnder, Heitman, Ropes & Gray LLP, The TJX Companies, Inc., Waterton, and William Blair Investment Management

It's that time of year again! We are getting students #ReadyforLearning! Getting students ready for school is more expensive than ever! In 2023, families with school-aged children spent an average of $890.07 on back-to-school items, totaling over $41 billion across the U.S.—both record highs. With costs skyrocketing, many families are struggling to afford the basics like clothing. Your support can be the relief that the families that we serve need. By donating new or gently used clothing you can help make a huge difference in ensuring every child has the essentials they need to attend school and grow as a student. Get started and support our Ready for Learning initiative: https://hubs.li/Q02Gp8Z50

We think it's time for a quick refresher of who we are! Swipe to learn about the work we do to serve children in the Chicagoland area and see how easy it is to get involved! Visit us at https://hubs.li/Q02H5wlw0 to learn more or click the link in our bio!

We are just over a week away from Backpack-A-Thon®! Thanks to our 2024 Ready for Learning® sponsors for helping us in providing backpacks and school supplies to 105,000 children across Chicagoland this year. Keep an eye out for upcoming highlights! Special thanks to... Presenting Sponsor: Discover Financial Services Platinum Sponsor: Bank of America Gold Sponsors: Comcast NBC Universal, Enova International, IMC Trading, ITW, Jackson, Kirkland & Ellis, Massive Mission, PPM America, Inc., and Topfer Family Foundation Silver Sponsors: Chamberlain Group, Egon Zehnder, Heitman, Ropes & Gray LLP, The TJX Companies, Inc., Waterton, and William Blair Bronze Sponsors: AIT Worldwide Logistics, Akuna Capital, Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation, CIBC, Duff & Phelps, Ferrara, GEM Realty Capital, Globetrotters Engineering Corporation, Grand Foundation, IDEX Corporation, Northern Trust, NXT Capital, and Polsinelli Friend Sponsors: Arch Insurance Group Inc., Ares Management Corporation, Argo Group, CBRE, ION, Latham & Watkins, McGuireWoods LLP, Mesirow, Protiviti, Seyfarth Shaw LLP, and The Vistria Group

We had an amazing day with Discover Financial Services, our incredible Presenting Sponsor for Ready for Learning®! Thanks to all the amazing volunteers, we packed 30,000 backpacks for kids across Chicagoland. Huge thanks to Discover for your unwavering support and for championing our mission!

It's Disability Pride Month! We are answering the question, "What is Disability Inclusion?" Including people with disabilities in everyday activities and encouraging them to have roles similar to their peers who do not have a disability is disability inclusion. It's not just about encouragement—it's about ensuring policies and practices foster true inclusion. This leads to increased participation in socially expected roles, like being a student, worker, friend, community member, patient, spouse, partner, or parent. Inclusion allows everyone to engage in social activities, use public resources, move freely within communities, receive adequate healthcare, build relationships, and enjoy everyday life. That's why Cradles to Crayons believes that everyone deserves to grow up in an accessible society and proud to be their whole, authentic selves. This month, we encourage our supporters to learn more about how you can be an ally and take action this month: https://hubs.li/Q02ChGdW0.

Thank you to all that supported the Chairman’s Council Clothing Insecurity Impact Award (CCCIIA) presentation! It's true. We are stronger together. The CCCIIA honors the contributions of organizations across the country working to ensure children have the essential clothing they need to feel safe, valued, and to thrive in their childhoods. Together, we can #EndClothingInsecurity. Congratulations to all award winners: Compass Family Services, YouthConnect, Methodist Services, Roseland Community Hospital Foundation, LEGACY PARENTING CENTER, and In The Image.