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  • Teaching Teamwork with PwC

    A great group of volunteers from PwC recently received the opportunity to run around and talk about teamwork with Work to Play soccer players from Walsh, Attucks and Morton at Chicago Indoor Sports. PwC volunteers rode a bus together to the Indoor Center, giving them a taste of the experience our players receive on game…

  • Pasteur Elementary has a “Sweet Spot” for Reading

    Many adults can recall a moment in their childhood when they were read to by a teacher, parent, or volunteer. And most can attest to that experience creating a positive influence on their lives. Pasteur Elementary, an Urban Initiatives Work to Play school, was lucky to have a team of volunteers pay a visit for…

  • UI Runs the Race to Wrigley 5K for Cubs Charities

    “You better get ready for a brand new day. Hey, Chicago, what do you say?” Bright and early on Saturday morning, a team of UI staff and supporters joined the 8,000 runners in the 7th Annual Race to Wrigley 5K. While most of the city was still in bed, the streets of Lakeview were flooded…

  • TrevNight Chooses Urban Initiatives as Beneficiary

    This post was guest-written by Carrie Rodman, the daughter of Urban Initiatives Board Member Ben Rodman. Read on to see a great way that Chicagoland young adults are getting an early start on a life of service.  This past February, New Trier’s Student-Athlete Leadership Training class put together a school-wide event called TrevNight. At Trev Night, students…

  • Prieto Teams Up With Northwestern’s Civic Education Project

      “This is actually pretty good!” he said, holding the small cup. Spinach-mango smoothie in hand, the fourth grader rejoined his "buddies" who were deep into a health discussion. With one more school day before spring break, the soccer players at Jorge Prieto Math and Science Academy got a tasty and healthy start to their morning.…

  • UI Player Grows Locks to Help Youth with Cancer

    Sporting long hair is a common trend amongst professional and amateur soccer players. With his own long locks, 3rd grader Richard at Goethe certainly has his soccer look down pat. His skills on the field and in the classroom are an added bonus. While playing the “Number Game” Richard, or as his teammates call him…

  • Pizza Party Brings UI Board Members and Staff Together

    Urban Initiatives’ staff and Board of Directors had a fun-filled pizza party this past week. The team assembled at the Urban Initiatives office to enjoy refreshments, mingle, and talk about the importance of the work we do for Chicago’ children. Overall the turnout was great with 11 staff members and 9 Board Members in attendance.…

  • Corporate Volunteer Spotlight: Storck USA

    Urban Initiatives would like to thank our tremendous partner Storck USA for their ongoing support. Their dedication to corporate responsibility is absolutely incredible and we are grateful to have them on our team. We are extremely grateful for all they do to support us and for serving as The Presenting Sponsor of The Soccer Ball.…

  • Daley School: “It’s Easy Bein’ Green!”

    The lunch room at Daley Academy is usually a sea of students’ hunter green uniforms, but a different shade of green is popping up these days – salad green! When Daley received their HealthierUS Schools Challenge award, the Wellness Committee (which includes Urban Initiatives staff from the Healthy Places project) worked with the lunch room…