Exciting ~ Universities Amp Up Support to Students!

Some universities are understanding that they too have to make more accommodations to help their students who have invisible differences and reach the goal of graduation.  For students diagnosed on the Spectrum, the list of schools included in the article is especially useful. 

At a sold out gathering of businesspeople, Hon. Toni Preckwinkle spoke to the impactful work Center for Companies That Care does.  

We thank the companies that helped make the 2016 Career Awareness Internship a success for all participating students by hosting them for a visit: Baxter International, Power Construction, TTX, Magid Glove, Nadler Financial, Fairmont Millennium Park, and the Art Institute of Chicago!

Thanks also to RSM US LLP for being a sponsoring company!

To read the full text, click here.

Companies That Care Day 2015 on National News

March 19th, 2015 marks the beginning of our national annual CAREDAYS.  We were thrilled to have a lead-in to this week by Jane Pauley and CBS News who this past Sunday featured Companies That Care Day. 

We continue our efforts to help eradicate children's illiteracy and also appreciate everything employers do to show they care in their communities.  Send photos and stories about how your company is impacting your local community! Twitter: @CosThatCare and Facebook @CenterforCompaniesThatCare.   To find out how your company can easily get involved in our national literacy, mentoring, and other programs, contact Jen Boza at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 312-661-1010.  

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/calendar-week-of-march-16/

by Marci Koblenz, President, Center for Companies That Care

Today, December 13, 2014 is a proud day!  After an 8 year investment that began when he was in 9^th grade, the first AIM High student graduated from college!!  Congratulations to Anthony Hubbard!!  More AIM High students will graduate from college this spring and more will continue to graduate every year from now on.  We ARE making a difference. 

Still, I fall asleep each night asking myself what more can we do, because the need is greater than our efforts can meet. 

Here are the facts. Seventy three percent (73%) of students growing up in the top 25% of family income will graduate from college.  The national college graduation rate among our students, and others like them growing up in the bottom quartile of family income, is a mere 8%.

Who Graduates from College?

You might be thinking that the disparity is due to the quality of schools in different neighborhoods, but in fact, it isn’t.  Low income students are NOT FLUNKING out of college, they are being forced out of college because they are poor.   When my college student daughter receives notification about additional fees, she forwards the invoice home and forgets about it.  She (correctly) assumes that we, her parents, will pay for it.   Most AIM High students don’t have anyone at home who can pay their fees.  Then what happens? For poor students, this means college is over.  Did you know for example that a student cannot return to college “next” semester if they owe money to the school?  Even if the amount they owe is less than $100?  Even if they didn’t know their financial aid didn’t cover the fee?

Two years ago, a friend asked how Center for Companies That Care would use a donation that was solely for the purpose of preventing students from not finishing college.  I immediately said “we would pay the small expenses the students didn’t know about and are preventing them from enrolling for the next semester.”  That kind, generous friend, gave us $20,000 just for this purpose.  And it’s working so well that other nonprofits have adopted the same practice.  But the money is running out.

We are working toward systemic change in the financial aid system, but in the meantime, your donation can cover college fees and prevent another unnecessary dropout.

Some folks say “college isn’t for everyone.”  I agree.  But, whether one follows a college path should NOT be determined by zip code.  One of my favorite quotes is “we make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.”  I know your life is already filled with giving, but I’m asking you to enhance your life a little more by donating here .   Thank you in advance for sharing your resources in order to enable ALL students, regardless of family income, to pursue a college degree.

With warm wishes for happy holidays and a better 2015,

Marci