2023 Chicago Shares Grant Check Presentations

For the most recent grant cycle, Chicago Shares was able to support several organizations working to address food insecurity in Chicago with additional funding. The grant recipients are 1) Care for Real, (2) Young Men’s Educational Network, (3) Mission of Our Lady of the Angels, (4) St. Vincent de Paul Conference at St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Parish, (5) Pope Francis Center, and (6) Dion’s Dream. 

King Poor, Chairman, Chicago Shares Board of Directors, and Julie Stagliano, Executive Director, Chicago Shares, recently visited many of the grantees to present their checks. 

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Young Men's Educational Network
Kimberly George, Community Asset Manager at Young Men's Educational Network showed Julie Stagliano and Elizabeth Kohlbeck the vegetable gardens that were being planted at their facility.  They serve young people in the North Lawndale neighborhood by setting up their Good Grills program in strategic areas, providing free food to the residents. They also serve 150 people experiencing homelessness for breakfast on Saturday mornings and collaborate with Stone Temple Church on Mondays for a meal program.  

Dion's Chicago Dream
Dion Dawson is the founder of Dion’s Chicago Dream. Dion is working tirelessly to improve the efficiency of delivering food to people in need, expanding from his original “Love Fridge” idea. He now serves over 732 households, has a paid staff of 19 and is expanding to a Dream Vault program.  

Chicago Shares Board member Elizabeth Kohlbeck and Julie Stagliano recently presented a check to Dion. Accompanying them was Sofia Oliynyk, a Ukrainian journalist visiting Chicago on a U.S. Dept. of State Professional Fellows program.  

Pope Francis Center
Pope Francis Center staff member Victoria Grandillo handing out Chicago Shares. 

St. Vincent DePaul Society
Chicago Shares Secretary Ron Polaniecki (immediately to the left of the banner) makes a check presentation to St. Vincent DePaul Society President Dave McNaughton (immediately to the right of banner) as other Society volunteers look on. 

Care for Real
King Poor, Chairman, Chicago Shares Board of Directors, and Julie Stagliano, Executive Director, Chicago Shares, present a grant award to Jen Kouba (center), Director of Development and Communications at Care for Real.  

Our Lady of the Angels
The Mission of Our Lady of the Angels collaborates closely with The Chicago Food Depository to provide food access to over 500 families per week. The challenges have been great this year as migrants continue to arrive in Chicago. Julie Stagliano met recently with Sister Laura Toth and observed the work of many volunteers who ensured that each family in the line would receive what they needed.