In The News

It was a record-breaking evening at BUILD’s 50th Annual Gala on Friday May 3 – we raised $1,061,970, the most in the history of the event. The milestone celebration was held at Navy Pier’s Aon Grand Ballroom, and all proceeds will go towards supporting BUILD’s youth programs. During the dinner, BUILD…

We couldn’t be prouder of our young people for sharing their emotional and heartfelt stories of success during our 9th Annual Public Speaking Contest. We awarded over $2,500 in scholarship prizes and the participants will have a speaking opportunity at our 50th Annual Gala on May 3, 2019 at Navy…

At BUILD, we understand the importance of an education. We also want our young people to understand the impact that an education can make in their lives. Our education component, BUILDing Futures, helps our youth see themselves as college bound students firsthand when they attend college tours, not only in…

Our friends at Starbucks recently came out to spend a beautiful Saturday morning volunteering at BUILD. They helped us with some much needed painting, cleaning the grounds where our kids play and prepping our Iris Garden for the spring. For Starbucks Store Manager Lauretta Williams, it was her fourth time…

In continuing our celebration of Black History Month, we held our first ever Black Café event on February 18. Building off the momentum from the Black Table just a couple weeks earlier, the Black Café once again gave our youth the chance to engage with successful African American leaders and…

We started Black History Month off strong at BUILD by celebrating our 3rdAnnual Black Table Luncheon. Hosted at ABC7 studios in Chicago, this event gave African-American teens a chance to sit and eat lunch with accomplished African-American leaders and learn about their different paths to success.   The day began…

It was a bitter cold day in Chicago on January 21, and though many had the day off of work and school, over 100 youth and community members chose to make it a day on at Christ the King College Prep in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  …

At BUILD, we are grateful to those who generously donate their time and efforts to help us create better communities. The service our volunteers provide helps facilitate our events, influence youth and create a welcoming environment. It is our hope that when someone volunteers at BUILD, they gain as much…

It’s the holiday season and all through the city, bright and colorful decorations illuminate the streets. At BUILD, we are spreading the holiday spirit with some decorations of our own that not only create beauty, but lift spirits as well.   Last week, our team spent a day hanging Trees…

WGN’s “Chicago’s Merry Own” segment recently featured BUILD community social worker Olivia Santiago! Watch the video here as Olivia shares her experience at BUILD’s holiday gathering where we are able to provide dinner and gifts for nearly 100 youth and their families. We are proud to have Olivia as part…

BUILD was not the organization Alex Rasky had in mind when he began searching for volunteer opportunities in 2016. He was seeking an opportunity that would allow him to ply his trade while helping others. A place to roll up his sleeves, get his hands dirty and go to work.…

BUILD is honored and grateful to have been awarded a prestigious Obama Foundation’s My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Community Challenge Seed Grant – one of five grants in Chicago and 19 nationwide. Our Apprentice Mentor Program (AMP) will train a cohort of BUILD youth to become our next generation of mentors – creating a pipeline of powerful boys and…