After a period of public voting, the five organizations that receive the most votes will each receive a $24,000 grant. This marks the third straight year Baird & Warner has hosted its $24K of Solid Good program, which provides grants for Chicago-area charities that specialize in serving the homeless and persons at risk of homelessness.Baird & Warner is inviting the public to vote online for the five winners by visiting vote.bairdwarner.com. Voting will close Saturday, Aug. 31.
"Baird & Warner believes in investing in making Chicagoland a better place to live -- just as we've been doing for 164 years," said Jennifer Alter Warden, chief operating officer and executive vice president of Baird & Warner. "Our Good Will Network strives to make sure everyone has a safe place to call home and we're proud to play a role in supporting the inspiring work of these organizations."
Earlier this year, Baird & Warner's team of broker associates, loan officers and employees began nominating nonprofit organizations for the $24K of Solid Good grants based on the charities' innovative programs to provide aid, shelter and services for homeless populations in neighborhoods across the Chicago area.
The nonprofits with the most nominations became the following 10 finalists:
- Community Partners for Affordable Housing which provides permanently affordable housing (both ownership and rental) for those who struggle to meet their basic human need of housing. It serves the suburbs of northern Cook, Lake and McHenry counties.
- Connections for the Homeless which works to end homelessness one person at a time through prevention, shelter and housing. It serves north suburban Cook County.
- Crisis Center for South Suburbia which provides emergency shelter and other essential services for individuals and families victimized by domestic violence and addresses the societal issues that contribute to domestic violence. It serves greater Chicago Southland.
- Mooseheart Child City and School which educates children, teens and young adults in need on a 1,000-acre campus in Kane County. It serves children from birth through 21 years old from across the U.S.)
- One Hope United which advances opportunities for children and families by providing quality solutions that enhance lives, communities and futures. It serves Greater Chicago area from 30 locations.
- Realtors Against Homelessness which supports the growing number of homeless students in the suburbs. It serves the northwest suburbs of Chicago including Palatine, Schaumburg and Hoffman Estates.
- St. Coletta's of Illinois which offers educational, vocational and residential services for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It serves Cook and Will counties.
- StandUp For Kids which raises community awareness and works to bring an end to the youth homeless population. It serves Chicago's South and West sides.
- Stepping Stones Network which provides long-term holistic, structured residential home and programming for trafficked mothers and their children, while also preventing children from being exploited or sold. It serves Chicago area.
- The Cradle which manages the adoption process and works with all members of the adoption circle (birth parents, adoptive parents, and adopted persons) within Illinois. It serves Chicago area and the state of Illinois.
The five winning charities will be announced in September.
Baird & Warner's Good Will Network launched the $24K of Solid Good program in 2017 with five $24,000 donations to Chicagoland nonprofits that provide support services and shelter for the area's homeless population, as well as serve those with disabilities and special health care needs. Last year's winners used the funds to support their efforts, including providing shelter to domestic abuse survivors and training new volunteers. See here for a video of the 2018 winners.
Since 2002, the Baird & Warner Good Will Network has donated more than $2.2 million, as well as thousands of volunteer hours, to a wide array of Chicagoland nonprofit organizations that provide aid for the homeless.