Union League Boys & Girls Clubs

We are proud to recognize Clarity Partners as an Estate Sponsor of the 29th Annual Wine Dinner benefiting Union League Boys & Girls Clubs.

Through their support of STEM programming, Clarity Partners is helping young people explore technology, build critical problem-solving skills, and discover pathways to future careers. From robotics and coding to hands-on learning experiences, their investment helps create opportunities that prepare youth for success in a rapidly changing world.

Thank you to Clarity Partners for helping inspire the next generation of innovators, creators, and leaders.

We are honored to recognize The Fitzpatrick Group as an Estate Sponsor of the 29th Annual Wine Dinner.

This generous sponsorship is made in memory of Jim Wolf, whose legacy of leadership, generosity, and commitment to others continues to make a lasting impact. Through this meaningful tribute, young people across our Club communities will have access to opportunities that help them learn, grow, and build bright futures.

We are deeply grateful to The Fitzpatrick Group for honoring Jim’s memory in a way that will continue changing lives for years to come.

Grateful for the support of Morgan Stanley, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Jenny Pfeil, Anthony Juozapavich, and the many Morgan Stanley employees who came together in support of Union League Boys & Girls Clubs. Partnerships like this help create real opportunities for young people across Chicago. Every day, our Clubs serve youth who are building leadership skills, preparing for their futures, discovering new interests, and finding trusted mentors and community along the way. We are fortunate to work alongside people and organizations that understand the importance of investing in young people early and consistently. Thank you for believing in our mission and for helping us continue this work in communities across Chicago.

We are deeply appreciative of your partnership and generosity. 💙

Across Illinois, Boys & Girls Clubs are helping young people close opportunity gaps, stay safe during critical out-of-school hours, and build the skills and confidence to imagine and achieve great futures.

We are proud to stand alongside the Boys & Girls Clubs Illinois Alliance in advocating for continued investment in youth across our state. Our own President & CEO, Mary Ann Mahon Huels, proudly serves as Vice President of the Illinois Alliance Board, helping lead bipartisan advocacy efforts alongside leaders from across Illinois who are committed to ensuring young people have the support and opportunities they deserve.

Thank you to the advocates, legislators, staff, and supporters working to help make this possible, including our ULBGC team members and Trustees who continue to champion our mission every day.

Illinois needs Club kids. And Club kids need all of us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BszJhZoxPh0

Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Club Statewide Video 1 What does it look like when every young person has somewhere to belong? In Illinois, it looks like this. The Illinois Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs supports...

Every young person deserves someone who believes in them.

Someone who encourages them to lead.
To create.
To explore.
To dream bigger than their current circumstances.

At Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, we see that transformation happen every day across Chicago.

Young people are building underwater robotics through SeaPerch, gaining workforce experience through Chicagobility and Chicago Youth Works, creating films and digital storytelling projects, developing leadership skills, and preparing for college and careers with mentors who help guide the way.

Last year alone, more than 8,400 teens participated in programs across our Clubs, gaining access to opportunities that continue shaping the future of our city.

Behind every opportunity is someone who chose to invest in a child.

Someone who chose to show up.

Be The One. 💙

Watch this powerful video to see the impact firsthand:
https://youtu.be/bMVZy_PGqkM

Be the One Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

🎓 Chicago Graduates with Club Kids

Graduation season is about far more than caps and gowns.

Behind every diploma are years of mentorship, tutoring, academic support, leadership development, workforce readiness training, encouragement, and adults who continued showing up for young people long before graduation day arrived.

At Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, we see that work happening every day across Chicago.

Students finishing homework during Power Hour.
Teens preparing for job interviews.
Young people exploring STEM, leadership, college pathways, and future careers.
Staff and mentors helping students build confidence alongside academic success.

• 98% of ULBGC teens graduate high school on time
• More than 13,000 young people are served annually across Chicago
• Thousands of youth participate in academic support, workforce readiness, mentoring, and leadership programming each year

We are also deeply grateful to our Scholarship Committee, whose dedication helps ensure our young people continue receiving support beyond the Club walls. Their investment helps students take the next step toward college, careers, and long-term success.

For many students, scholarships are more than financial support. They are a reminder that an entire community believes in their future.

This graduation season, we celebrate our students, families, mentors, staff, donors, volunteers, and Scholarship Committee members who make these futures possible every day.

Because when Chicago’s young people succeed, Chicago grows stronger.

In 1971, Neal Kottke walked into Club One to coach a basketball team. He is still here. Today, as a Life Trustee, his impact is part of the foundation of Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, including underwriting the East Gym at Club One, a space used every day by young people across Chicago.

“When you really think about it, what we are doing is giving these kids a safe place during those vulnerable hours between school and when a working parent gets home.”

That is the work. It is consistent, it is focused, and it shows up every day for the young people who walk through our doors. Spaces like the East Gym exist because someone made the decision to invest in that kind of stability and access.

Read Neal’s story: https://ulbgc.org/from-a-gym-at-club-one-to-a-legacy-that-endures/

At our Youth of the Year event, Aiden shared part of his story, including what it took to keep going after losing his mom.

At one point, he said, “I showed up whether I was mad, sad, or glad.”

That kind of resilience is built over time. It comes from having a place to go, people who care, and consistency you can count on.

That is what support from this community makes possible.

Aiden’s full speech is just a few minutes long. If you have time to watch, I think you’ll find it meaningful.

Union League Boys & Girls Clubs RD Aiden McKinney - Union League Boys & Girls Clubs Senior Youth of the Year Winner Speech 2026

We hope to see you there!

Celebrating the growth, the moments, and the youth who make it all happen. Join us for Barreto’s Candyland Awards Night🍭

This Women’s History Month, we are proud to share Rosa De La Paz’s story.

At eleven years old, Rosa stood outside Union League Boys & Girls Club's Club One and asked:

Why can’t I be a member too?

At the time, it was still the Boys Club. The answer was no.

So she kept showing up. She pushed for the opportunity to be part of something she believed in.

Rosa became the first girl to join.

Today, she serves in the United States Air Force and works as a governmental accountant. When she reflects on her experience, she points to what made the difference: structure, expectations, and people who pushed her to do more.

That is what programs like SMART Girls provide for the girls we serve today.

In 2025, ULBGC serves 6,153 girls annually, representing 47% of all youth served.

Read her story:
https://ulbgc.org/womens-history-month-rosa-de-la-paz/