Exciting new playground in Englewood:

Brightpoint’s Mitzi Freidheim Child & Family Center got a new playground! Thanks to KABOOM! and the generous support from funding partner Morgan Stanley Foundation, this project became a reality. This new playground will provide a safe and joyful space for children to play and grow. Read more about the playground in the

Chicago Sun-Times.

Engagement with the

Biden-Harris Administration:
Brightpoint's leadership recently met with representatives from the Biden-Harris Administration as part of a delegation of the Children’s Home Society of America to discuss innovations in prevention, workforce challenges, and strategies supporting family and community well-being. This meeting highlighted two of Brightpoint’s policy priorities, reducing diaper insecurity & expanding Head Start access for families in the child welfare system.

Commentary:

A system that blames parents when poverty is the real problem

On May 13th, Crain's Chicago Business published an op-ed by CEO, Mike Shaver, titled "A system that blames parents when poverty is the real problem," emphasizing the importance of prioritizing prevention in child welfare. You can read the full commentary here.

69th Annual Derby Day:

Hosted by Brightpoint’s Hinsdale Auxiliary, the 69th annual Derby Day raised over $120,000 for our programs. This event highlighted the transformative impact of our School-Based Behavioral Health program. Mark your calendars for the 70th anniversary Derby Day on May 3, 2025!

Breaking Barriers Breakfast:
Our annual Breaking Barriers, Centering Families, Transforming Systems breakfast focused on transforming foster care and addressing the root causes of family instability. Keynote speaker Sixto Cancel, founder and CEO of Think of Us, shared his inspiring journey and insights into child welfare reform.

Illinois Action for Children Conference:

Brightpoint was honored to lead two sessions at the annual Illinois Action for Children Plan, Partner, Act Conference, discussing equitable outcomes and innovative community partnerships.

Stuff the Bus Event:
The Rockford Stuff the Bus event was a tremendous success. Together, volunteers and staff stuffed a Rockford Mass Transit District (RMTD) bus to the brim with essential items for infants and toddlers, totaling 1,663 items and 91 packages of diapers! The event not only saw an outpouring of tangible donations but also raised $45,000 through sponsorships.

Taking Steps to End Child Abuse 5K:

This event, held in memory of young Duncan and Jack Leichtenberg, who once utilized the Family Visitation Center and were victims of domestic violence, garnered support for the center. The center plays a vital role in providing a secure and child friendly environment for supervised visitation and exchanges for families under active orders of protection.