Sixth Annual Summer Eclipse to Benefit Chicago Youth Programs

Skender Foundation will host its annual fundraiser, Summer Eclipse, on Thursday, July 20 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago. This year’s event will help raise funds for Chicago Youth Programs (CYP), an award-winning organization that serves children across the entire city with a simple philosophy—to impact the long-term outcome of a child’s life, you must serve the child long-term. To that end, CYP shepherds youth at each stage of their journey to a life outside of poverty.

CYP provides over 40 comprehensive programs to at-risk youth, from birth through 25 years of age, living in the Washington Park, Near North / Cabrini Green, North Lawndale and Uptown  /Rogers Park neighborhoods. CYP is dedicated to serving those least likely to have access to support. These neighborhoods have some of the highest rates of youth living in poverty out of all 77 of Chicago’s neighborhoods. In Washington Park, CYP’s largest community program, 86% of children below the age of 18 are growing up in poverty. The need and isolation poverty creates, combined with underfunded schools and a lack of affordable after school or summer programs, feed into a cycle of poverty that is difficult to escape.

CYP Deputy Executive Director Cinaiya Stubbs said, “Chicago Youth Programs is thrilled to partner with the Skender Foundation and is extremely grateful for the opportunity to be a part of the Summer Eclipse as we both work toward our common goal of providing access and eliminating barriers.”

Since its 2012 inception, Skender Foundation has raised over $1,500,000 for more than 100 charitable organizations. Foundation Chair and President Cheryl Skender shared the motivation behind Summer Eclipse, “Everyone deserves a chance to achieve and succeed. It is our mission to help those who help break down barriers and build opportunities.”

Learn more at chicagoyouthprograms.org

Purchase tickets to Summer Eclipse at skender-foundation.org >