Your gift will meet students and schools where they most need your support.
Every day, we witness the dedication, creativity, and potential of CPS students. Every student and every classroom, deserves the chance to excel with access to essential academic, health, and wellness resources to start the year off right. Your contribution can turn this vision into reality. Join us in ensuring that all 320,000+ CPS students embark on the new school year with equitable opportunities. Partner with CFF to meet students and schools where they most need your support.
Back-to-School Bashes
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) welcomes the start of each new school year with Back-to-School Bashes in neighborhoods across the city. These community celebrations are opportunities for CPS students and their families to foster connections within their school community. Essential resources and information are available at Back-to-School Bashes including school supplies, as well as enrollment and health-related assistance. The bashes feature music, food, games, and family-friendly activities. These events play a pivotal role in preparing families for a safe and productive school year. This year’s Back-to-School theme is ‘Team Up,’ so we’re asking our Chicago community to team up to make these bashes an unforgettable experience for all CPS families.
Support for Students
Students and families rely on CPS schools for more than academics. Through the generosity of sponsors like you, Children First Fund will continue to support CPS students and families to meet foundational needs through the Compassion Fund. The Compassion Fund provides direct resources to support CPS students, including:
- School supplies for students and classrooms
- Hygiene care essentials such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, deodorant and more
- Weather appropriate apparel, including warm winter coats and boots
- Direct financial relief for families facing hardship, including job loss, death of a parent or caregiver, families facing homelessness due to fires and other crises, and more
GET INVOLVED
To get involved in the above opportunities or another initiative supporting CPS students, contact your current Relationship Manager at Children First Fund, reach out to partnerships@childrenfirstfund.org, or donate directly on this page.
ABOUT CFF
Children First Fund (CFF), the Chicago Public Schools Foundation, is the philanthropic and partnership arm of Chicago Public Schools (CPS). It serves as a knowledge hub and liaison between CPS and its community of partners, securing and organizing resources that advance CPS’ mission to provide a high-quality public education that prepares every child in every neighborhood for success in college, career, and civic life. For more information, please visit www.childrenfirstfund.org or find us on social @ChiFirstFund.
For gifts contributed through the Network For Good giving platform, CFF takes a 50% reduced operational charge (only 3%). This compensates for NFG platform fees and ensures that as many resources as possible will directly reach students and schools.