our history

A NOTE FROM OUR PRESIDENT

It’s amazing what we can do when we come together.

Thank you to all our members and generous donors - without your support, none of this would be possible!

Georgette Carlini

1964 – A group of women from the Oak Park / River Forest (IL) area created the non-profit organization "Children's Memorial Guild" as an auxiliary group of Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, IL. These women had close ties to the hospital - either a son/daughter had been treated there or knew someone who did.
1964 - 2011 – The Children's Memorial Guild contributes a total of $1,036,525 to Children's Memorial Hospital.
Summer 2012 – Children's Memorial moved to its new location in the Streeterville neighborhood and changed the name to "Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago". We took the opportunity to re-brand and re-evaluate the Guild's mission. Thus, The Childrens Foundation was born.
2013 - 2014 – Our annual fundraising events included: A Taste of Spring (2013) with guest speaker Steve Dolinsky from ABC 7 and Farm To Table Fare (2014) with guest speaker Jeff Mauro from Food Network. We raised a total of $45,000 for a research study directed by Dr. Latania K. Logan on the epidemiology of Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria in children across multiple Chicago-area hospitals.
2015 - 2016 - Our annual fundraising events included: At The Movies (2015) with guest speaker Paris Schutz, Chicago Tonight’s political correspondent and Celebrate Spring (2016) with guest speaker Ina Pinkney, the legendary Breakfast Queen of "Ina's". We provided $27,500 funding towards the establishment of a neurophysiology laboratory at the Rush NeuroBehavioral Center, directed by Dr. Nicole Russo-Ponsaran, with the goal of measuring, treating, and understanding social-emotional learning challenges in children.
2017 - 2018 - Our annual fundraising events included: Spring Into Summer (2017) with guest speaker Geordan Stenson, Executive Chef at Freestyle Food + Drink - Dana Hotel & Spa, Chicago and Sweet Home Chicago (2018) with guest speakers Carol Mighton Haddix & Bruce Kraig, Editors of "The Chicago Food Encyclopedia". We provided a total of $40,000 funding to Camp JAM which provides a safe and secure camping experience for children and teens with juvenile arthritis and childhood rheumatic diseases.
2019 - 2020 - Our annual fundraising events included: Cheers to 55 Years (2019) with guest speaker Jeff Mauro, Host of Food Network’s The Kitchen, Sandwich King; winner of Food Network Star season 7. A Victorian Afternoon (2020) with guest speaker Monica Eng, food, health & Curious City reporter at WBEZ Chicago Public Radio. We will provide a total of $40,000 funding to Camp One Step, by Children's Oncology Services which provides camp programs to children who've been diagnosed with cancer.
2021 - Due to COVID-19 our annual, in-person, fundraising event will not occur. Rather than sit out the year, The Childrens Foundation held a Grand Cash Raffle and raised $14,000. This is a one-year commitment with 100% of the raffle proceedings going to SOUL Harbour Ranch - Animal Therapy Program.
2022 - Due to COVID-19 our annual, in-person, fundraising event will not occur. Rather than sit out the year, The Childrens Foundation held a Grand Cash Raffle and raised $10,900. This is a one-year commitment with 100% of the raffle proceedings going to Camp One Step, by Children's Oncology Services.
2023 - Our annual fundraising event included: Fresh Start Event with guest speaker Amy Guth, an author, award-winning screenwriter, broadcaster, and producer who has spent her career telling and sharing important stories on multiple platforms. We provided $20,000 funding to Pilot Light, founded in 2010, a Chicago-based nonprofit that supports students in making informed food choices by connecting the lessons they learn in their classrooms to the foods they eat.