Why We Started For The Future Chicago, By Miles Heltzer

Growing up on the north side of Chicago, I know I am very lucky. I never worry about where my next meal will come from, or whether or not my parents can pay for our house or my school tuition. I am fortunate to attend camp in the summer, participate in activities outside of school, and I do no think twice about who will pay the bills when I see a doctor.

I know not all kids in Chicago are as fortune.

So when I started high school, my friend Enrique Toledo and I began to evaluate service opportunities in Chicago. It was overwhelming. There are so many great options. We realized we needed a way to learn which nonprofits are most impactful, and we wanted a fun way to support many different services. Thus, the idea for For The Future Chicago was born.

Every year will choose one organization to support across each of these four pillars:

Heathcare

Extracurriculars

Learning

Places to Life

We chose these four services because they are all things Enrique and I have access to, yet many kids in Chicago do not.

We have advisors who teach us how to research nonprofits to understand what makes an organization impactful. For each of the four chosen organizations we fundraise to provide grants, host donation drives to collect necessary goods, and set up service and learning opportunities. For The Future Chicago is a fun way for Chicagoland kids to engage in philanthropy across a variety of essential services.

We believe if HELP is provided across these four pillars, Chicago will be a better place for all kids.