As I take stock of the first half of this year, I continue to feel so proud of and inspired by the important work led by our grantee partners, the Schreiber Philanthropy team, and our peer funders. Now more than ever, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach to ensure the residents of Illinois can live without fear, access basic needs, maintain human rights, and pursue paths to economic mobility.
Now more than ever, we remain deeply committed to our partners on the front lines protecting communities through organizing, litigation, advocacy, and expanded services. The level of collaboration we’ve witnessed – and participated in – over the past year to preserve access to due process, ensure availability of critical services, and uphold human rights has been inspiring.
As Schreiber Philanthropy pauses mid-year to reflect on 2025, I would like to share a few observations, and announce several updates about our work.
We also welcome new board members!
2024 Grantee Spotlight
Start Early, formerly known as The Ounce of Prevention Fund, has spent the last 40 years focused on enhancing access to high-quality early learning and care through direct service, advocacy, and policy efforts. Start Early also helped launch the Educare Learning Network, which encompasses some of the nation’s most diverse and effective early childhood schools serving under-resourced communities. The first Educare was introduced by Start Early in 2000 to serve families living in the Robert Taylor Homes (what was then one of the largest public housing developments in Chicago).
2024 Grantee Spotlight
Erikson Institute is a leading institution of higher education that prepares professionals to address the urgent challenges facing young children, their families, and communities. In 2023, Erikson launched an innovative Master of Science in Early Childhood Education (MSECE) licensure program.
2024 Grantee Spotlight
As parents of eight children, and grandparents to 18 grandchildren, John and Kathy Schreiber have a deep connection to Lurie Children’s. They have been funding Lurie Children’s for more than a decade, and - over the years - have developed a mission-aligned partnership, focused on enhancing access to Lurie Children’s outstanding care.
