2025 Grant Award Recipients

Chicago Shares was pleased to recently award grants for 2025 to organizations that share its mission of feeding and serving the hungry poor. The awards consisted of cash in some instances or gifts of Chicago Shares vouchers to others. Congratulations to all of our grant recipients!

1. St. James Cathedral: 65 E. Huron, Chicago IL 60611
Twice a month the Cathedral provides a home-cooked meal and other amenities for guests.  Chicago Shares board member Susan Gold is an active organizer of these meals.

Photo: Kate Pickford, a summer volunteer; Susan Gold, Chicago Shares Board Member; Rev. Canon Steven Balke; and Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director.

2. Care for Real: 5838 N. Broadway St., Chicago, IL 60640
Care for Real, recently relocated to new quarters, provides groceries, fresh produce and other food items a few times per week to clients (who also volunteer their help to sort and distribute the food). They provide counseling and health services for adults and children, serving about 15,000 individuals in 2024.

Photo: Gregory Gross, Executive Director, and Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director.

3. Breakthrough Urban Ministries: 3334 W. Carroll Ave., Chicago, IL 60647
Breakthrough, located in West Garfield Park, offers a myriad of services in addition to its Fresh Market, including preschool, Women's Center, Violence Prevention Center, etc. They have experienced a 25% increase of new clients needing the food bank while a decrease in federal assistance impacts their program.  

Photo: Alex Cesario, Chief Development Officer; Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director; Wendy Daniels, Director of Food Services; and Kate Pickford, volunteer.  

4. Chicago Help Initiative:  440 N. Wells St., Suite 440, Chicago, IL 60654
CHI is a key part of the network of organizations that provide food and services to the homeless and migrant communities. They sponsor meals and consultations to people in need several times a week.

Photo: Karen Hickey, Development Officer; Susan Gold, Chicago Shares Board Member; Jacqueline Hayes, founder of CHI; and Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director.

5. Young Men's Educational Network: 1241 S. Pulaski Ave., Chicago, IL 60623
YMEN prepares young men and women in North Lawndale for leadership by helping them grow in their faith and character, develop a love for learning, and use their talents to serve the community and strengthen families through Saturday breakfasts, mentoring, sports, urban garden projects and a bicycle lending and repair program (the Bike Box). Chicago Shares' grant helps support a summer grill project for neighborhood youth.  

Photos: Kimberly George, Executive Assistant and Community Asset Manager accepts award, with guest at breakfast; leader of local ministry group providing the Saturday breakfasts, Marcell Pickett, Facility Assistant/Bike Box Manager; scenes from the Bike Box. 

6. Holy Name Cathedral:  735 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60611
The Cabrini Ministry at HNC provides outreach services to immigrant families. They "adopt" specific families and provide wraparound services, housing and help in obtaining documents necessary for employment. 

Photo: Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Board Executive Director; Sister Katie Mitchell and Fr. Joe Tito accept Shares.

7. St. Chrysostom's Episcopal Church: 1424 N. Dearborn Pkwy., Chicago, IL 60610
St. Chrysostom's operates the St. Chrys Closet, now located in Ascension Church at 1433 N. LaSalle Street, where those in need can "shop" for clothing, housewares, shoes and furniture every Wednesday from 10am-1pm. Chicago Shares board member Elizabeth Kohlbeck manages the closet which serves migrants, the Chicago homeless and residents of low income housing who are on Medicaid. Also, once a month hot meals are prepared at St. Chrysostom's Church on Tuesday evening and a once a month Wednesday delivery to Deborah's Place.

Photo: Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director, and Elizabeth Kohlbeck; volunteers sorting the clothing and household items in preparation for weekly shopping day.

8. St Peter's in the Loop Church: 110 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL 60602
St. Peter's in the Loop is a busy downtown parish and a longtime supporter of selling and distributing Chicago Shares. They were recently presented with a Proclamation of appreciation to honor their commitment to the mission of Chicago Shares, in addition to a gift of Shares.  They faithfully answer the call for help from whoever comes to their doors, and often Chicago Shares is part of that support. 

Photo: Ron Polaniecki, Chicago Shares Board Secretary; Fr. Michael Fowler, Pastor; Julie Stagliano, Chicago Shares Executive Director; Fr. Edward Tverdek, OFM; King Poor, Chicago Shares Board Chair

9. St. Vincent de Paul Conference of St. Elizabeth of the Trinity: 6020 W. Ardmore Ave., Chicago, IL 60646
​Ron Polaniecki, Chicago Shares Board Secretary, presented a $3,000 grant check and $1,000 vouchers to the St. Vincent DePaul Conference at St. Elizabeth of the Trinity. 

Photo: Ron Polaniecki, Chicago Shares Board Secretary, with members of St. Vincent DePaul Conference at St. Elizabeth of the Trinity parish.