Children First Fund

To wrap up our Black History Month trailblazing alumni series, we are honoring four icons who took their @ChiPubSchools education and changed the world. - Gwendolyn Brooks (Hyde Park/Englewood): A legendary poet and the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize. - Kerrie Holley (Kenwood Academy): A pioneer in technology and artificial intelligence. - Hannibal Buress (Steinmetz): An acclaimed comedian, actor, and writer. - Chance the Rapper (Jones College Prep): A Grammy-winning artist and devoted philanthropist. We are proud to call them CPS Alumni and celebrate the excellence they bring to our city and the world. #BlackHistoryMonth #CPSAlumni #ChicagoPublicSchools #ChildrensFirstFund #Trailblazers

Continuing our #BlackHistoryMonth celebration, we are looking way, way up at two Black women who went from @ChiPubSchools classrooms to orbit. 🚀 Dr. Mae Jemison (Morgan Park High School 🚀 Joan Higginbotham (Whitney M. Young Magnet HS) These trailblazers remind our students that their dreams have no boundaries. #BlackHistoryMonth #CPSAlum #WomenInSTEM #NASA #MorganPark #WhitneyYoung

Whether it’s the smooth notes of Nat King Cole’s "L-O-V-E" or Sam Cooke’s "You Send Me," the soundtrack to your #ValentinesDay was born right here in Chicago. 💙 Today, we’re honoring two Wendell Phillips Academy High School legends. From the "King of Soul" to the "Unforgettable" voice of a generation, these @ChiPubSchools alumni didn't just top the charts—they broke barriers in television, entrepreneurship, and civil rights. #BlackHistoryMonth #CPSAlumni #Love #ChicagoHistory

Love looks like showing up. When we talk about the Compassion Fund, we often list items: coats, hygiene kits, school supplies. But to the families receiving them, it means so much more. Recently, a @ChiPubSchools parent shared with us: "These donations really go to show that there are still so many good people in the world." When you donate to the Compassion Fund, you aren't just meeting a tangible need; you are telling a student that they matter, that they are seen, and that there is good in the world. Make your Valentine's Day count. Make an immediate difference for a student today. 👉 bit.ly/ChooseCompassi… #LoveInAction #Chicago #Compassion #CFF #CPS #ValentinesDay

To kick off our #BlackHistoryMonth series, we are celebrating three trailblazing @ChiPubSchools alumni who reached the absolute pinnacle of their fields—Service, Science, and Sports. 🏛️ Michelle Obama (Whitney M. Young Magnet HS) Before she was an author, global advocate, and our nation’s first Black First Lady, she was a student walking the halls of Whitney Young. She continues to inspire our students to lead with grace and conviction. 🚀 Robert H. Lawrence Jr. (Englewood HS) A true pioneer in the stars. Graduating from Englewood High School at just 16, Lawrence went on to earn a PhD in Physical Chemistry and became the first African-American astronaut selected for a national space program. 🏀 Kevin Garnett (Farragut Career Academy) Before taking his intensity to the NBA, the "Big Ticket" captivated Chicago at Farragut Career Academy. A Hall of Famer and MVP, he proved that grit and talent can take you straight to the top. These leaders remind us that Black History is Chicago History. #BlackHistoryMonth #CPSAlum #ChicagoHistory #BHM2026 #FutureReady #MichelleObama #KevinGarnett #RobertLawrence

This Valentine's Day, we're asking: what does love look like for @ChiPubSchools students and families? Sometimes it's school supplies so a student doesn't fall behind. Sometimes it's a winter coat when temperatures drop. Sometimes it's crisis support when a family faces unexpected hardship. Sometimes it's hygiene supplies that restore confidence. This Valentine's Day, your small act of generosity powers the Compassion Fund to provide flexible, immediate support, creating big change for CPS families when they need it most. 💙 Give compassion today: bit.ly/ChooseCompassi… #CompassionFund #ChildrenFirstFund #CFF #CPS #ValentinesDay

Good luck to both teams today, but we are sending extra loud cheers to Morgan Park High School alum, Frisman Jackson! From the halls of Morgan Park to coaching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, we love seeing where our CPS graduates’ paths take them. It is a powerful reminder to our current students that their potential is limitless. Let’s go, Coach Jackson! #SuperBowl #CPSAlumni #MorganParkHS #ChicagoPublicSchools #ChildrenFirstFund

This #NationalSchoolCounselingWeek, we celebrate partnerships that prioritize student well-being. Through CFF's Sponsor-a-School program, Alta Futures funded a 2nd counselor at Talcott Fine Arts Museum Academy, transforming their ability to provide daily emotional support and academic guidance. 📖 Read the impact: childrenfirstfund.org/sas-spotlight-… @ChiPubSchools #NSCW #CPS #CFF

With temperatures dropping across Chicago, we're thinking about the 3,300+ @ChiPubSchools students staying warm in coats provided by Compassion Fund supporters this fall. Because of your generosity, students have warm coats, hats, and gloves to face days like today. Thank you for ensuring no child has to choose between staying warm and getting to school. Your support makes a difference for students every single day. childrenfirstfund.org/support-cff/co… #CompassionFund #ChildrenFirstFund #WinterCoats #ChicagoCold #CPSStudents

These smiles made our holiday season! 🌟 @WynndalcoEnt sponsored gifts for all middle schoolers at Earle STEM Academy, where students picked out exactly what they wanted. Hearing their reactions when they realized they got what they asked for was heartening! 🌟 @johnsoncontrols sponsored over 80 students (grades 3-5) at Tanner Elementary—and teachers received classroom supplies for spring! Thank you to these incredible partners! #CPS #JohnsonControls #Wynndalco #HolidayJoy #ChildrenFirstFund #TannerElementary #EarleSTEMAcademy

This holiday season, @showpad Chicago brought smiles to pre-K through 1st graders at Mason Elementary School! Through our CPS Santa program, 50 students received special gifts that brightened their holidays. Thank you, Showpad, for spreading joy to our youngest learners! #CPS #Showpad #ChildrenFirstFund #HolidayImpact

Happy New Year from Children First Fund! Here's to new opportunities, continued partnerships, and more moments of impact for CPS students in 2026. 🎉

IT’S THE FINAL HOURS OF 2025. Thank you for standing with @ChiPubSchool students this year. Before midnight, help us prepare the Compassion Fund for 2026 so we're ready to provide winter coats, hygiene supplies, emergency relief, and support the moment families need it. Give now: bit.ly/cff-holiday #CFF #CPS #CompassionFund

Less than 48 hours left to give in 2025. The Compassion Fund has been a lifeline for @ChiPubSchool's families this year, providing groceries, winter coats, emergency assistance when they need it most. But requests keep coming, and the fund needs replenishing. Tomorrow is the last day to make your 2025 gift count. Will you help us start 2026 ready to support every family who reaches out? Every dollar goes directly to students and families. Don't wait. Thank you for helping us close the gap for our families with the greatest needs. Donate now: bit.ly/cff-holiday #LastChance #CompassionFund #YearEndGiving

Every student deserves to feel confident when they walk into class. This fall, teachers at one CPS (@ChiPubSchool) school noticed students didn't have access to basics like deodorant, shampoo, or hygiene products. They reached out to CFF, and within days we launched a hygiene care closet stocked with everything students need, accessible discreetly and with dignity. The impact? Students are more confident, more engaged, ready to learn. This is what the Compassion Fund does: responds quickly to real needs. Your support makes moments like this possible. Help us finish 2025 strong bit.ly/cff-holiday #CompassionFund #ChildrenFirstFund #StudentDignity

Finalizing your 2025 giving? Here's your chance to make a direct impact for @ChiPubSchool families. Emergency requests are up and schools are reaching out. Families are facing unexpected hardships and need support: grocery cards, winter coats, hygiene supplies, emergency assistance. The CFF Compassion Fund is being drawn down as we respond to these urgent needs. We need to replenish it before spring so we can keep saying "yes" when families need us most. Your gift goes straight to students and families. See what your donation provides ⬇️ Donate by 12/31: bit.ly/cff-holiday #ChildrenFirstFund #YearEndGiving #CPSFamilies

Happy Holidays from Children First Fund! One of our greatest joys each year is bringing holiday magic to CPS students, and last week we were thrilled to partner with @ChiPubSchool to surprise every student at Earle STEM Academy with gifts wrapped just for them! Our CFF team joined CPS Board Member Dr. Angel Velez, Interim Superintendent/CEO Dr. Macquline King, Chief Operating Officer Charles Mayfield, and Santa himself to spread some holiday cheer ahead of winter break. We're grateful to be able to create these moments year after year, and this event would not have been possible without partners like the Englewood Community Action Council (CAC) who share our commitment to supporting CPS students and families. To every student, educator, and partner who makes this season brighter—thank you. #HappyHolidays #CPSStudents #ChildrenFirstFund #CommunityPartners #SeasonOfGiving #EarleStemAcademy

We just finished reading through a stack of Letters to Santa from our Pre-K classrooms, and we had to share a snapshot of what’s on our students' minds right now, from baby dolls to pajamas. But we also know that for many families, the holidays are about more than what’s on a list; they’re about making ends meet. The Compassion Fund helps ensure that while these students focus on school and being a kid, we’re helping their families with emergency funds for groceries, warm winter coats, and housing stability when our students need it most. Your gift today ensures that every child in our community stays warm, safe, and supported this winter. bit.ly/cff-holiday #CPSWishes #CompassionFund #SeasonOfGiving #ChicagoPublicSchools

Want to make the holidays brighter for CPS students? A small gift can have a big impact this holiday season. Children First Fund’s Compassion Fund provides winter coats, hygiene supplies, emergency relief, and holiday meals for @ChiPubSchools students and families. Your gift this holiday season spreads warmth and compassion.: bit.ly/cff-holiday

We're wrapping up #CSEdWeek by celebrating the real heroes: our CS teachers! 🎉 Last week, @ChiPubSchools gathered to honor CS educators at the CS Heroes event, recognizing the teachers, coaches, and coordinators who make computer science education possible across the district. The robotics competitions, coding clubs, inclusive programming, and pathways we've highlighted this week all depend on one thing: educators who show up every day to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and teach students that they belong in tech. To every CS hero across CPS: Thank you for creating spaces where students can discover their potential, take risks, and see themselves as innovators. #CSEdWeek #CSHeroes #CPSEducators #ComputerScience