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Isaac Reichman, ireichman@choosechicago.com, (312) 805-9586
Stephen Crano, scrano@choosechicago.com, (312) 567-8505

Chicago 2024 Host Committee and Choose Chicago Announce Charitable Donation to Choose Chicago Foundation

$150,000 donation will support workforce development initiatives and help remove barriers to entry in the tourism and hospitality industry

CHICAGO (August 9, 2024) – Today, the Chicago 2024 Host Committee joined Choose Chicago to announce a charitable donation of $150,000 to the Choose Chicago Foundation. This investment in the future of Chicago’s workforce will help fund scholarships for Chicago high school- and college-age students and help remove barriers to entry in the tourism and hospitality industry. The announcement of the charitable donation came at Choose Chicago’s DNC Pep Rally this afternoon and is intended as a thank you to Chicago’s hospitality community for their efforts in securing and preparing for the 2024 Democratic National Convention (DNC).

“I am elated to announce today that the Host Committee will offer $150,000 in scholarships for students in the hospitality industry as part of our ongoing commitment to leaving Chicago better than we found it,” said Christy George, Chicago 2024 Host Committee Executive Director. “These funds will significantly increase the Choose Chicago Foundation’s ability to offer scholarships to underserved students and will help us foster a more inclusive large-scale events industry in Chicago.”

“This donation from the Chicago 2024 Host Committee will allow the Choose Chicago Foundation to continue expanding the scholarship program to provide vital assistance to many more students into the future,” said Rich Gamble, Interim President and CEO of Choose Chicago. “I want to commend our partners at the Host Committee for this incredible demonstration of generosity and true partnership. This is what real social impact looks like.”

The Choose Chicago Foundation is the official non-profit, charitable affiliate of Choose Chicago with a mission of inspiring and serving the next generation of hospitality and tourism leaders locally and beyond while advocating for a diverse talent pipeline within the industry. As part of this effort, the Choose Chicago Foundation offers three scholarship programs:

  • The Future Leader Award: A merit-based opportunity that recognizes two college students who demonstrate their commitment and passion for the hospitality and tourism industries with a one-time award of $5,000.
  • The W. Bill Williams Trailblazer Scholarship: A program newly created in 2023 to award graduating high school students in the BIPOC community residing on the South and West Sides of Chicago with a $5,000 scholarship that can be awarded annually for up to four consecutive years. Scholarship recipients also receive an assigned mentor, paid internship, and life coach.
  • The Jim Reilly Reformer Scholarship: A program newly created in 2023 to award college students in the BIPOC community residing on the South and West Sides of Chicago and the South Suburbs with a $5,000 scholarship that can be awarded annually for up to four consecutive years. Scholarship recipients also receive an assigned mentor, paid internship, and life coach.

The donation from the Chicago 2024 Host Committee will allow the Choose Chicago Foundation to continue expanding their scholarship offerings and provide even more opportunities for high school and college students into the future.

“Finances can be a barrier for individuals from ethnically and economically diverse communities,” said Roz Stuttley, Director of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Choose Chicago/Choose Chicago Foundation. “This significant gift is going to provide so many students critical support and encourage them to pursue their education and professional goals. This will also give us the ability to assist so many more students, create a lasting pipeline of talent, and support belonging and inclusion in the tourism and hospitality industry.”

In addition to the scholarship programs, Choose Chicago and the Choose Chicago Foundation also provide other workforce development initiatives to inspire the next generation of hospitality and tourism leaders. Through the annual Choose Chicago Student Tourism Day in partnership with Chicago Scholars and CIBC, high school seniors in underrepresented communities are introduced to careers in hospitality through a hands-on exploration of venues and hospitality partners across the city. Choose Chicago also partnered with Chicago Public Schools’ Work-Based Learning program to host three summer interns, and with United Airlines and PCMA to offer an EDI Apprenticeship program to connect young professionals with a paid career exploration opportunity along with guaranteed fulltime employment at the conclusion of the program.

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About the Chicago 2024 Host Committee: The Chicago 2024 Host Committee (Development Now for Chicago) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization responsible for fundraising and ensuring individuals and businesses across Illinois have the opportunity to experience the benefits of hosting the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. The Host Committee liaises between the Democratic National Convention Committee, the City of Chicago, and the State of Illinois to create a world-class experience for all convention attendees and residents, and drives lasting social and economic impact across the Chicagoland area. For more information, visit https://chicago2024.com

 About Choose Chicago: Choose Chicago is the official sales and marketing organization responsible for promoting Chicago as a global visitor and meetings destination, leveraging the city’s unmatched assets to ensure the economic vitality of the city, its residents and our partner business community. Follow @choosechicago on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok and X/Twitter. For more information, visit choosechicago.com.

About the Choose Chicago Foundation: The Choose Chicago Foundation strategically promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives that benefit youth, community, and workforce development. The Foundation will offer financial support and long-term training opportunities for ethnically and economically diverse communities for advancement within the hospitality and tourism industry.

The Foundation is the official non-profit affiliate of Choose Chicago, the destination marketing organization for the city of Chicago, responsible for marketing the greater Chicago area as a business, meetings/convention, and leisure visitor destination. Choose Chicago is a partner-based organization, with nearly 1,500 members within the local hospitality and tourism industry.