FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Support Group Launches “It Takes a Village” and “1, 000 Businesses for Peace” Campaigns to Expand Youth Programs and End Violence in Chicago
As the Holidays Approach, the Long-Standing Non-Profit Urges the Public, Alumni, and Local Businesses to Keep Youth First in Their Holiday Giving
CHICAGO, IL — (November 11, 2025) — For more than 36 years, The Support Group (TSG) has stood at the heart of Chicago’s neighborhoods, empowering youth to dream bigger, achieve more, but most importantly become thriving leaders of their communities. This holiday season, as nonprofit organizations across the city face funding cuts and economic uncertainty, TSG is launching two important campaigns “It Takes a Village” and “1,000 Businesses for Peace” to help ensure that the organization can continue delivering the life-changing programs that have supported over 150,000 Chicago students in the same capacity as they always have been able to do so.
“We’ve spent nearly four decades investing in Chicago’s young people, giving them not just a place to go, but a community that believes in them,” said Bennie Henry, Executive Director of The Support Group. “We’re fortunate to still be here when so many nonprofits have had unfortunate hardships, but survival alone isn’t the goal. We want to continue providing the same quality programs that have changed lives for generations. That’s why we’re asking Chicago and all supporters everywhere to stand with us, now more than ever.”
Two campaigns, one mission to empower youth and restore peace. The “It Takes a Village” campaign aims to raise critical funding to reopen after-school program sites, rehire mentors, and expand access to safe, supportive environments for youth across the city. These programs, costing an average of $17,169 per student per year, provide mentorship, academic enrichment, leadership development, and emotional support that transform outcomes for young people.
Meanwhile, the “1,000 Businesses for Peace” campaign calls on Chicago’s business community to lead the charge in ending youth violence. The initiative seeks to rally one-thousand companies to each contribute $2,000, raising $2 million to support TSG’s Leadership Peace Initiatives, including but not limited to:
- Youth Peace Ambassadors in Motion (YPAM) — peer-led conflict resolution and restorative practices
- Sports & Peace — combining athletic development with emotional intelligence and career readiness
- Wellness Programs — safe spaces, family support, and community healing
“When businesses lead, communities heal,” said Michelle Wright, Board Chair of The Support Group. “Every donation is an investment in a safer, more vibrant Chicago. We want our corporate community, alumni, and everyday residents to know that their contributions large or small truly make the difference between closing doors and opening futures.”
This past summer, TSG continued its legacy of impact and injecting hope through its annual Safe Summer Campaign at Walter Dyett High School, where NBA Hall of Famer, Chicago native and TSG Co-Founder Tim Hardaway, Sr. joined Bennie Henry to present scholarships to eleven students from the Advancing Young Leaders program. The event celebrated youth excellence, family unity, and community safety through entertainment, resources, and recognition.
“These young people are the future of Chicago,” said Hardaway at the event. “The Support Group is showing what’s possible when we invest in our kids. ”
As the holiday season approaches, The Support Group puts out a call to action as they encourage individual donors, alumni, and local businesses to make youth their priority in year-end giving and philanthropic planning. Every dollar helps ensure that Chicago’s children have the tools, mentorship, and opportunities they need to rise above their circumstances.
“We’ve seen firsthand how one act of generosity can change a young person’s life,” Henry added. “Now, we’re asking our city, especially our alumni, who are examples of the work we do to give that same chance to the next generation.”
About The Support Group: Founded in 1988, The Support Group (TSG) is a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering youth, strengthening families, and fostering safe, healthy neighborhoods through mentorship, leadership training, and violence prevention initiatives. Through programs such as Youth Peace Ambassadors in Motion (YPAM), Advancing Young Leaders, and the Parent Support Network, TSG has served over 150,000 youth across more than 17 Chicago Public Schools.
