Chicago Fire Foundation Awarded Make It Better Foundation’s Philanthropy Award in Education

CHICAGO (Nov. 16, 2021) - The Make It Better Foundation today announced that Chicago Fire FC, specifically through the Chicago Fire Foundation, has been awarded the 2021 Philanthropy Award for the Foundation’s efforts towards education. 

“It is an honor for the Chicago Fire Foundation to win the Philanthropy Award for Education,” said Chicago Fire Foundation Executive Director Jessica Yavitz. “We are truly grateful for this award as it highlights the positive impact we have in the community. Chicago Fire FC and the Foundation are focused on improving the lives of our youth and communities across Chicago through our soccer and educational curriculum.” 

The Club’s innovative after-school soccer program, P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer), a 10-week program integrating soccer with social and emotional learning character skills to ultimately improve participants’ academic performance, while providing a safe and supportive environment to engage in soccer. The P.LA.Y.S. Program serves 1,000 girls and boys across 40 Chicago Public Schools located primarily on the West and South sides, of which 98% are of color, 93% are from families classified as low-income, and 95% qualify for free and/or reduced lunch and live at, or below, the U.S. poverty level. 

The Philanthropy Awards is an annual competition to identify, evaluate, and amplify causes that show excellence, scalability, efficiency, leadership and effectiveness. For more information on the Make It Better Foundation and the Philanthropy Awards click here.