Happy Thanksgiving from the staff, volunteers, and shelter guests at CCO!
We are deeply grateful for your support, financial generosity, involvement, time, energy, and efforts on behalf of CCO’s mission and shelter guests. CCO families and individuals will be enjoying a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. CCO staff and volunteer groups make this holiday delicious and unforgettable for guests. You’re involvement helps provide safe shelter, nutritious meals, and essential wrap-around services to those who find refuge at CCO. Many thanks!
Would you like to read a CCO Success Story? Click here.
Would you like to learn more about Team CCO & the Bank of America Chicago Marathon? Click here.
Would you like to read the CCO 2024 Christmas Letter? Click here.
Applications for the 2025 Bank of America Chicago Marathon have just opened and we have Charity Guaranteed Entries!
Each year runners challenge themselves to achieve their marathon, and bring others along in support of them and their passion! As a Team CCO charity runner, you make it possible to help a family end their cycle of homelessness. Our fundraising goal will provide 1,500 nights of shelter for people experiencing homelessness.
When Lillian’s* family came to CCO, she was 12 years old, but she wasn’t new to the homeless experience. For years, she and her family had shuffled from one extended family member’s house to another. At each new destination, disputes erupted, and she and her family were again displaced, forced to move on to the next couch, floor space, or basement. Lillian grew up with a front-row seat to the destabilizing effects of homelessness but she found hope.
“It was always the same, every day after school. I would make up a story to tell my friends why I was walking the other way. ‘I’ve got to go to my uncle’s house.’ I didn’t want them to know I was homeless. I was ashamed of it. I never shared it with anybody, and they never knew.
In 2023, 244 children called CCO home; over half were school-aged. Education has a powerful influence on the life of a child. CCO aims to equip children with confidence and support to begin and maintain an exceptional school year. The Back-to-School Party and its Sponsors ensure children receive backpacks, supplies, and other essentials to start the year right. Academic support is part of each child’s experience at CCO. Through one-on-one tutoring, specialized family support, dedicated open-air play spaces like the CCO Rooftop Playground and Garden, computer labs, and advocating for children’s academic rights, we work to ensure children at CCO have every opportunity to learn and grow.
In the 2023-24 school year, Chicago Public Schools identified 26,800 students as experiencing homelessness, a more than 50% increase from the previous year. The data reflects a shocking acceleration in homelessness among school-aged children. Research studies in the U.S., U.K., and beyond say that homelessness leads to adverse educational outcomes.
Thank you to the Chicago’s Best Baker Contest! The competition and tastings raised funds to cover the cost of 269 shelter beds and wrap-around services! Genesis Winter, founder and organizer of the Best Baker Contest, had good things to say about a new baking category, artistic bakes, and attention to detail at this year’s fabulous fundraiser.
“Once again, I am amazed at the talent and generosity of the bakers of Chicago. We had a new entry grouping this year, the Heirloom category and I wasn’t sure how it would go. We had to set up an extra table to hold all the entries because so many people shared their family recipes with us. It was my favorite category because of the incredible mix of baked items. We had everything from cheesecakes to curry-spiced pastries filled with potatoes.”
“Cornerstone gave me the chance I needed. It was so hard to find a decent job when I was sleeping in my car every night. I had no place to wash up, no rest, nothing to eat. I couldn’t get past the first interview. Thank you for everything! You helped me get my life back!” – Former CCO Guest
Your support has paved the way for many CCO success stories! The 2023 CCO Annual Report offers information about the good things that have happened at CCO in the lives of shelter guests. We thank you for ensuring shelter residents access shelter beds, enjoy nourishing meals, and get individualized professional care leading to housing.
Your donation will guarantee stabilizing opportunities and housing for those experiencing homelessness.
Become a sponsor for our many services and events that CCO provides to our clients. We have sponsorships available for services such as laundry, transportation, toiletries, bedding, and meals. CCO also hosts several events and celebrations throughout the year that provide joy and encouragement to our residents. We need your help to purchase food, decorations, prizes, gifts, and other supplies.
Choose what level of sponsorship that fits in your budget and with a tax deductible donation, you can partner with CCO by providing funds towards a specific event or service.
Diamond Sponsors
Become a Diamond Sponsor with a tax deductible donation of $10,000 or more. Diamond Sponsors receive:
• Recognition in our E-newsletter to volunteers and donors • Your Logo or name on ALL printed material for events that calendar year. • Personalized plaque recognizing your organization or an individual. • Organization or individual name on sponsorship page with clickable logo linked to your website. • Social Media “Thank You!” Post
Platinum Sponsors
Become a Platinum Sponsor with a tax deductible donation of $5000-$9999. Platinum Sponsors receive:
• Personalized plaque recognizing your organization or an individual. • Organization or individual name on sponsorship page with clickable logo linked to your website. • Social Media “Thank You!” Post • Recognition in our E-newsletter to volunteers and donors
Gold Sponsors
Become a Gold Sponsor with a tax deductible donation of $2500-$4999. Gold Sponsors receive:
• Appreciation gift • Recognition in our E-newsletter to volunteers and donors. • Organization or individual name on sponsorship page with clickable logo linked to your website. • Social Media “Thank You!” Post
Silver Sponsors
Become a Silver Sponsor with a tax deductible donation of $1000-$2499. Silver Sponsors receive:
• Recognition in our E-newsletter to volunteers and donors. • Organization or individual name on cornerstone sponsorship page. • Social Media ”Thank You!” Post
Bronze Sponsors
Become a Bronze Sponsor with a tax deductible donation of $250-$999. Silver Sponsors receive:
• Organization or individual name on cornerstone sponsorship page. • Social Media ”Thank You!” Post
Cornerstone would like to take the opportunity to thank all the donors and volunteers who were a part of Bringing the Happy to the residents at CCO. If you would like more information on how to be involved in 2024 please go to our Volunteer or Donations page! Thank you!
Cornerstone is rolling out new sponsorship opportunities and packages for events at CCO. Events and celebrations are an important part of the wholistic care that CCO provides to our clients. Become a supporter of Easter Baskets, Back to School, Halloween and Christmas events at CCO. You can . Backpacks, shoes and socks for Back to School; costumes and prizes for Halloween; Christmas gifts for each child, parent or guardian, man and woman sheltered at Cornerstone.
Easter Baskets
Easter is hopping our way! Click here to visit the Easter Amazon Wish List and shop for Easter goodies that will put smiles on the faces of children staying at CCO with their parents. A simple Easter basket with treats and toys could create a delightful memory for a child at CCO.
Back to School
Every year Cornerstone hosts and event for our resident children who are returning or just starting school. CCO provides the students with new items such as backpacks, school supplies, shoes, underwear and socks. Giving them a fresh start for the new school year. Cornerstone has set up an Amazon wish list for the needs of this event. Go here to purchase items to give these kids a new start on their school year.
Back to School Party 2024 August 14, 6:30PM – 8:30PM
If you would like to sponsor this event beyond the Amazon Wish list, please refer to our sponsorship page for sponsor tiers. Monetary sponsorships for this event needs to be received by June 3rd.
Halloween
For children and their families at CCO, being able to participate in national celebrations is so important to bring normalcy and connection to society around them. Every year Cornerstone hosts a fun Halloween party with costumes, games, treats and dancing! It is a good time for all. If you would like to help with this event, please go to the Amazon Wish List and purchase items like costumes, treats, prizes and games.
Family Halloween Party 2024 October 29, 6:30PM – 8:30PM
If you would like to sponsor this event beyond the Amazon Wish list, please refer to our sponsorship page for sponsor tiers. Monetary sponsorships for this event needs to be received by September 24th.
Christmas
Christmas is a time to reach out and share love and compassion with each other. CCO makes it a point to collect wish lists from the children to try get them a gift that they would want. We also proved gifts to the parents to give to give to their kids and each other. An army of elves organizes, sorts, wraps and distributes presents to families and single residents. If you would like to contribute to our Christmas efforts, go to our Amazon Wish List for children and adults, there you can support us by purchasing gifts, gift cards, wrapping paper, tape, and decorations. If you would like to volunteer go to our volunteer page for more information.
Family Christmas Party 2024 December 20th, 6:30PM to 8:30 PM
If you would like to sponsor this event beyond the Amazon Wish list, please refer to our sponsorship page for sponsor tiers. Monetary sponsorships for this event needs to be received by October 14th.
