Community Partner Agencies
Agencies G-O
Gads Hill Center – The Gads Hill Center provides timely and critically needed programs to low-income families and individuals from all age groups in the Pilsen community, and works in close collaboration with many of the community's schools and social service organizations. (Community-based FWS site)
Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance (GPCA) - With its innovative programs, the GPCA enhances the environmental, social and economic vitality of Chicago’s West Side and encourages the larger community to explore the fundamental connection between plants and human life.
Generations Healthcare - The mission of Generations is to "set the standard for hospice care" by providing patients with life limiting illnesses and their families with unparalleled palliative care services.
Genesis House - The Mission of Genesis House is to offer hospitality to all adult women caught up in the system of prostitution, to provide an environment where they can make a free choice regarding their lifestyle, and to assist those who choose to leave prostitution by offering them appropriate services and support.
George Armstrong School of International Studies - The mission of George B. Armstrong School of International Studies (a Chicago Public School) is to provide all children entrusted to our school with the highest quality education program. Our International Studies mission is to foster understanding of the world’s many cultures and to cultivate respect for them.
Girls in the Game - Girls in the Game provides and promotes sports and fitness opportunities, nutrition and health education, and leadership development to enhance the overall health and well-being of all girls.
Good News Soup Kitchen - The Good News Soup Kitchen is one of the parish outreach activities of Sts. Faith, Hope and Charity Parish. It is one of over thirty churches in the Chicago area that supports the kitchen, allowing it to serve approximately 200 meals to the needy, seven days a week, every day of the year.
Greater Chicago Food Depository - Greater Chicago Food Depository is a nonprofit distribution center whose primary mission is providing food to hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository provides donated and purchased food to agencies such as soup kitchens, shelters, and pantries.
Greenpeace - The threat of global warming, destruction of ancient forests, deterioration of our oceans, and the threat of a nuclear disaster loom large. Greenpeace is actively working to address these and other threats.
H.O.M.E. - Housing Opportunities and Maintenace for the Elderly - H.O.M.E. is a non-profit organization which helps promote the independence and dignity of low income senior citizens through affordable housing and support services.
Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services - In order to address the many growing problems within our own community because of the different cultural, social, and moral values and family dynamics, services must be tailored to the unique needs of our different communities with a paradigm of care in which services are readily available and are user friendly (multilingual), and have a strong family and community focus.
Heartland Human Care Services - Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights is a service-based, human rights organization that provides housing, health care, human services, and human rights protections to the most poor and vulnerable people in our society.
Helping Children of Abuse - Helping Children of Abuse is a not-for-profit, volunteer-based organization which focuses on teaching children to mitigate, cope, survive, and escape abusive situations through non-violent means and break free of the cycle of violence.
Helping Hands Rehabilitations Center - For over 50 years, Helping Hand has been committed to our mission of assisting people with disabilities to become more independent.
Highland Park Illinois Community Land Trust - HPICLT is a not-for-profit corporation and the first land trust in Illinois which was created to own land for the benefit of the community, providing and preserving permanently affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households on the land that it owns.
Horizon Hospice - A full service, not for profit, community based hospice established in 1978 as Chicago's first hospice. Horizon Hospice provides medical, nursing, spiritual and psychosocial support to terminally ill patients and their families throughout the Chicago area.
Horizons for Youth - Horizons for Youth is a community committed to helping children recognize and achieve their full potential by providing need-based scholarships, one-on-one mentoring, and enrichment programs.
Housing Action Illinois - To increase and preserve the supply of decent, affordable, accessible housing in Illinois for low-and moderate-income households.
Howard Area Community Center - The Howard Area Community Center provides many services, including case management by trained social service staff , adult education, a summer camp for youth, after-school programs, special programs designed to prevent domestic violence and assist victims of HIV/AIDS, and family literacy programs. (Community-based FWS site)
Ida Crown Jewish Academy – Ida Crown is dedicated to creating a path of excellence in Modern Orthodox education and emphasizing high ethical standards in order to prepare students with life-long learning skills necessary to continue their education after graduation. (Community-based FWS site)
Illinois Action for Children - Illinois Action for Children has championed the cause of quality child care and early education for families and children throughout Illinois. It provides access to resources, community, and advocacy – and represents an alliance of individuals and groups dedicated to empowering and supporting parents, child care providers and family service programs.
Illinois Arts Alliance – The Illinois Arts Alliance serves amateur and professional artists, students, audiences, and advocates, providing research, public education, programs, and information to enhance the health of nonprofit arts organizations, encourage support of the arts, and highlight the arts' impact on Illinois communities. (Community-based FWS site)
Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) - ICIRR educates and organizes immigrant and refugee communities to assert their rights; promotes citizenship and civic participation; monitors, analyzes, and advocates on immigrant-related issues; and, informs the general public about the contributions of immigrants and refugees.
Illinois Coalition for Peace and Justice - The ILCPJ serves as a model of equal and supportive relationships in a peaceful and just society in order to manifest respect for diversity in our associations, outreach, and recognition of the need for economic and social justice by promoting fair trade and fair labor practices.
Illinois Education Foundation - The IEF empowers low-income, high potential Illinois students to enroll and succeed in community college programs by providing a combination of financial assistance and academic support services, such as tutoring and mentoring.
Illinois Public Health Institute - The Illinois Public Health Institute works through partnerships to promote prevention and improve public health systems that maximize health and quality of life for the people of Illinois.
Illinois Spina Bifida Association - The Spina Bifida Association of Illinois is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with Spina Bifida through direct services, information, referral, research, and public awareness.
Immanuel Lutheran Church - A congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Immanuel Lutheran is located in the Edgewater neighborhood on Chicago’s North Side. Founded by Swedish immigrants in 1853, the congregation now serves one of the most diverse communities in the United States. (Community-based FWS site)
Indo-American Center - The Indo-American Center was established in response to the wide spectrum of needs in the South Asian immigrant community, offering educational, cultural, social, and charitable programs. (Community-based FWS site)
Inspiration Corporation - Inspiration Corporation inspires change and enriches our community by providing people who are affected by homelessness and poverty with essential social services that create choices and enable our participants to lead happier and more fulfilling lives.
Inspired Youth Tutoring Program - The Inspired Youth Tutoring Program helps elementary and high school students with school homework and extra reading, writing, and arithmetic.
Interfaith Refugee & Immigration Ministries - Everyday, IRIM is involved in welcoming people who are fleeing destruction and despair to Chicago, serving individuals of all races, creeds, ethnic, religious, and geographic backgrounds.
Interfaith Worker Justice - Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) calls upon our religious values in order to educate, organize, and mobilize the religious community in the U.S. on issues and campaigns that will improve wages, benefits, and working conditions for workers, especially low-wage workers.
Interfaith Youth Core - IFYC builds mutual respect and pluralism among young people from different religious traditions by empowering them to work together to serve others.
International Latino Cultural Center - To develop, promote and increase awareness of Latino cultures among Latinos and other communities through film and video events, education, and other art forms.
International Organization for Adolescents - The International Organization for Adolescents (IOFA), an independent, nonprofit organization, formed to advocate for the rights of young people and to offer technical assistance to programs and services for adolescents around the world.
Jane Addams Hull House Association - Jane Addams Hull House Association improves social conditions for underserved people and communities by providing creative, innovative programs and advocating for related public policy reforms.
Jane Addams Resource Corporation - At JARC, we bridge community and market needs through adult education classes, job training programs, economic development services, and real estate initiatives to ensure that lower-income working adults achieve self-sufficiency and do not live in poverty.
Jewish Community Centers (JCC) of Chicago - Founded in 1903 to serve the Chicago area's growing population of Jewish immigrants on the West Side, our vibrant social service agency is nationally recognized for its wide array of contemporary life-enriching programs and services.
Jewish Council for Youth Services - JCYS is an independent, not-for-profit agency dedicated to serving both Chicagoland's Jewish and greater communities and developing leaders who continue its tradition of volunteer service. JCYS provides educational and recreational programs that nurture individual growth and promote responsibility to others.
Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) - JVS is a non-sectarian organization that helps businesses hire, train, retain and promote their employees. JVS also provides job search, employment assistance, education, training, career development, and support to individuals from all backgrounds.
Jobs for Youth/Chicago - Jobs for Youth/Chicago helps young men and women from low-income families become a part of the economic mainstream; and, in the process, provides the business community with motivated job-ready workers.
Jumpstart - Jumpstart pairs college students with children to enable one-on-one mentoring and guidance to promote school success, family involvement, and to train students to become educators in the future.
Junior League of Evanston-North Shore - An organization of women dedicated to serving our community’s youth, family and the underserved, as well as committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. (Community-based FWS site)
Juvenile Protective Association - Juvenile Protective Association (JPA) is a private non-profit agency devoted to protecting children, healing the scars of abuse and neglect, and repairing families. JPA provides intervention and treatment to break the intergenerational cycle in families that abuse or neglect their children.
Kaleidoscope, Inc. - Our purpose is to provide services and to organize and utilize available resources to meet the diverse needs of children who have suffered from severe violence and neglect and who have special needs, many as a result of their abuse.
Kids Hope United - Kids Hope United is a human service organization dedicated to protecting children and strengthening families. It serves more than 15,000 children and families in multiple states through a diverse array of prevention, intervention and community-based services.
Korean American League for Civic Action - The Korean American League for Civic Action is a leading non-partisan, non-profit community advocacy organization dedicated to promoting the civic participation of Korean Americans and Asian Pacific Americans.
Lakeside Community Development Corporation - Lakeside CDC is a nonprofit housing agency that offers counseling, advocacy, and technical assistance services intended to improve affordable housing options for persons living in Chicago.
Lawndale Christian Health Center - Our mission is to show and share the love of Jesus Christ to the Lawndale and Garfield communities by providing wholistic, affordable, quality health care services.
LEED Council - The Local Economic and Employment Development (LEED) Council, Inc. is an independent not-for-profit community development corporation with a mission to promote a healthy environment that encourages business growth and creates access to jobs and economic opportunities.
Legal Aid Bureau - The Legal Aid Bureau assists Chicago's most vulnerable citizens who need help with issues related to domestic violence, family law, elder abuse and financial exploitation of senior citizens, as well as predatory lending, consumer and housing issues.
Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago – The Legal Assistance Foundation provides free civil legal assistance to tens of thousands of low-income and elderly individuals in Chicago and suburban Cook County. (Community-based FWS site)
Life! Promotions - Life! Promotions works to convince youth that they have value and can choose to live life to the fullest. Life! Promotions strives to accomplish this goal through relevant, real and relational programs in schools, at conferences and festivals, during community outreaches, through trips and resources, and on the internet.
LifeLink Corp - LifeLink Corp. is a multi-faceted health and human service organization providing quality programs and services to people of all generations, cultures, religions, genders and socio-economic status.
Light of Christ Lutheran Church - At Light of Christ we offer a Christian environment with teaching relevant to today’s challenges, heart-felt worship for all ages, authentic friendships, compassionate care for those in need, and continual prayer.
Lincoln Park Zoo - Lincoln Park Zoo is a leader in wildlife conservation, community education and recreation.
Links Hall - Links Hall encourages artistic innovation and public engagement by maintaining a facility and providing flexible programming for the research, development and presentation of new work in the performing arts.
Literacy Volunteers of Illinois - Literacy Volunteers of Illinois is a statewide organization committed to developing and supporting volunteer literacy programs that help families, adults and out-of-school teens increase their literacy skills.
Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly - Little Brothers is committed to relieving isolation and loneliness among the elderly. We have 15 different internship opportunities for a large variety of majors and interests.
Little City Foundation - The mission of Little City Foundation is to provide state-of-the art services to help children and adults with mental retardation or other developmental, emotional and behavioral challenges to lead meaningful, productive and dignified lives.
Little Village Environmental Justice Organization - LVEJO's mission is to work with families, coworkers, and neighbors to improve our environment and lives in Little Village and Chicago through democracy in action.
Loyola Community Literacy Center - The LCLC offers free instruction in basic reading, writing, and math skills to our neighbors in Rogers Park, Edgewater, and Uptown; adults from other parts of Chicago are welcome.
Loyola University Medical Center - Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, Loyola University Health System (LUHS) is a nationally recognized leader in providing specialty and primary health-care services and in conducting groundbreaking research in the treatment of heart disease, cancer, organ transplantation and neurological disorders.
Luna Negra - Luna Negra Dance Theater creates, performs and teaches contemporary dance by Latino choreographers. The company's distinctive style artfully blends ballet and contemporary dance movements strongly flavored by Latin and Afro-Caribbean dance forms.
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois - Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) is a not-for-profit social services agency that serves people of all faiths and all walks of life, including children, families and adults of all ages. It offers a number of programs, such as behavioral health, nursing and community, and senior housing services.
Maggie’s Place - Maggie’s Place is a community of homes that provide hospitality for pregnant women that are alone or on the streets. Maggie’s Place provides for the immediate physical and emotional needs of guests including shelter, food, clothing, and a supportive community, and connects the mothers to the appropriate agencies and resources including prenatal care, health insurance, low-cost housing, and education programs.
Make-a-Wish Foundation - The Make-a-Wish Foundation's mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.
Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment for the Survivors of Torture - The Marjorie Kovler Center for the Treatment of Survivors of Torture provides comprehensive services to survivors of officially sanctioned government or political torture who live in Chicago and the Midwest.
Mather LifeWays - Mather LifeWays is dedicated to providing a continuum of living and care; making neighborhoods better places for older adults to live, work, learn, contribute, and play; and identifying, implementing, and sharing progressive practices for wellness, workforce issues, memory care support, and empowering caregivers.
MayaWorks - MayaWorks is about Mayan artisans striving to improve their lives, despite obstacles such as poverty and illiteracy. The singular goal of MayaWorks is contributing to Mayan artisans' economic security by creating substantial and sustainable markets for their products.
McGaw YMCA - McGaw (previously Evanston) YMCA was founded with the goal to “promote the mental, moral, physical and social welfare of young men.” McGaw has since expanded to serve everyone in the diverse community. (Community-based FWS site)
Mercy Home for Boys and Girls - Mercy Home for Boys & Girls is a long-term residential home for troubled and hurting young men and women, ages 11 to 21.
Mercy Housing Lakefront - MHL provides affordable, program-enriched housing to a variety of people, including low-income families, seniors and people with special needs. Their supportive housing centers offer single-unit occupancy housing where people who were formerly homeless can gain the skills and support they need to stabilize and improve their lives.
Metropolitan Family Services - Metropolitan Family Services has been at the heart of Chicago and its suburbs-encouraging family strengths and investing in a comprehensive range of programs and services that help families through difficult times.
Metropolitan Planning Council - The (MPC) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of business and civic leaders committed to serving the public interest through development, promotion and implementation of sound planning and development policies so all residents have access to opportunity and a good quality of life. This includes initiatives in areas such as housing, education and community building.
MGB Services Inc. - MGB Services, Inc. helps families and private clinics find individuals to work in home programs. We service families with special needs children and children who require tutoring.
Midwest Workers Association - The Midwest Workers Association’s purpose is to provide a wide range of social and health survive-and-get-on-your-feet services and referrals to organize advocacy of working families not covered by traditional labor laws and organizations.
Misericordia/Heart of Mercy - The Mission of Misericordia/Heart of Mercy is to support individuals with developmental disabilities in maximizing their level of independence and self-determination within an environment that fosters spirituality, dignity, respect and enhancement of quality of life.
Muscular Dystrophy Association - MDA's 200 local offices serve every community in the United States through a vast program of clinics, support groups, summer camps, equipment loans and much more.
Museum of Contemporary Art - One of the nation's largest facilities devoted to the art of our time, the Museum of Contemporary Art documents contemporary visual culture through painting, sculpture, photography, video and film, and performance in order to be an innovative and compelling center of contemporary art where the public can directly experience the work and ideas of living artists, and understand the historical, social, and cultural context of the art of our time.
Muslim Women Resource Center - Muslim Women Resource Center’s mission is to assist immigrant and refugee Muslim women overcome cultural and language barriers, and prepare them with appropriate occupational skills to become self sufficient and ready to enter the job market.
National Immigrant Justice Center - The National Immigrant Justice Center (formerly the Midwest Immigrant & Human Rights Center) ensures human rights protections and access to justice for immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers through direct legal services, policy reform, impact litigation, and public education.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society - Volunteers, staff, healthcare workers, researchers, donors, advocates, and partners together represent the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and all the many ways it's possible to join the fight against multiple sclerosis. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is the only voluntary health organization dedicated to the prevention, treatment, alleviation, and cure of MS.
National Museum of Mexican Art - The mission of the National Museum of Mexican Art is to stimulate and preserve knowledge and appreciation of Mexican culture through sponsoring events and exhibitions that exemplify the rich variety of visual and performing arts in the Mexican culture; to develop a significant permanent collection of Mexican art; to encourage the professional development of Mexican artists; and to offer arts education programs.
National Runaway Switchboard - A national communication system, including a hotline and website, for runaway and homeless youth designed to help keep America’s runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. (Community-based FWS site)
National Student Partnerships - National Student Partnerships is a student-driven, non-profit organization located in Chicago's Uptown community where volunteers are trained to work one-on-one with low-income community members, providing intensive on-site and referral services.
Neumann Association - The mission of Neumann Association is to integrate persons with disabilities and other life issues into the community and enrich their quality of life with choice and independence by providing education, housing, recreation, rehabilitation, training, and employment opportunities.
Next Theatre Company - Produces socially provocative, artistically adventurous work with the goal of becoming a national destination for audiences and artists who share the vision that theatre can promote awareness and provoke change with more power than any other medium of expression. (Community-based FWS site)
North Shore Senior Center - A not-for-profit organization of professionals and volunteers enhancing the lives of seniors and families by providing options for health, independence, and well-being in 23 north suburban Chicago communities.
North Side Housing and Supportive Services - Northside Housing and Supportive Services is a not-for-profit organization, founded in 1983, serving men who are homeless or formerly homeless. A variety of services are offered such as case and health management, shelters, and housing programs.
Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault - NWCASA is a non-profit, full service agency that is devoted to serving sexual assault survivors along with their partners, friends, and family.
Odyssey Healthcare - Odyssey HealthCare is a hospice agency caring for terminally ill patients and their families. With a team of physicians, nurses, CNA's, social workers, chaplins and bereavement counselors, hospice services try to meet the various physical, emotional or spiritual needs of each patient.
Omni Youth Services - OMNI Youth Services celebrates the strengths our young people bring to the community and offers support, guidance and intervention to youth at risk for family crises and destructive personal choices, such as substance abuse and violent behavior.
Open Doors - Open Doors pursues a singular purpose: to stand with the persecuted church… building their courage, meeting their needs, sharing their stories and championing their faith.
Ounce of Prevention Fund - The Ounce of Prevention Fund is dedicated to ensuring that, beginning at birth, children in low-income families can overcome the challenges of poverty and enter kindergarten fully prepared to achieve.
Over the Rainbow Association - Over The Rainbow Association is a leader in building and managing affordable, barrier-free, wheelchair-accessible apartments and is expanding it's Affiliate Network of grass root organizations dedicated to the expansion of living choices for independent people with physical disabilities.