EVANSTON, Ill. --- Northwestern University will donate a total of more than $188,000 to six area agencies that provide services to youth, Northwestern President Morton Schapiro announced today (Oct. 14, 2013).
Northwestern will donate funds that were given to all Big Ten Conference schools that would have been Penn State’s football bowl revenues from the past season, but were relinquished to the Big Ten. Each of the Big Ten schools is distributing those funds to youth-focused causes selected by the universities.
Northwestern will provide funding to six youth protection and service agencies located in Evanston and Chicago. The organizations are:
Evanston
- Metropolitan Family Services Evanston/Skokie Valley, which empowers families to heal through services that address family conflict, children’s mental health and the prevention of abuse and violence.
- The Moran Center for Youth Advocacy, which acts as an advocate for children in the courts and in the community.
- YWCA Evanston/North Shore, which provides a comprehensive domestic violence program that serves approximately 1,000 women and children annually.
- Youth Organizations Umbrella, which offers after-school and summer enrichment programs for youth, counseling and crisis intervention programs.
Chicago
- The Night Ministry, which provides services to homeless youths, including a youth shelter program and street outreach efforts.
- Northwestern Settlement, which serves children and families in the West Town area of Chicago with preschool and after-school programs, summer camps and an award-winning children’s theater program.
“These organizations provide important services to protect and assist children and youths in Evanston and Chicago. We are pleased to be able to provide this financial support to help them carry out their important missions,” said President Schapiro.
Each of the organizations will receive approximately $31,000.
“The Moran Center helps children in crisis, and we recognize that every act of youth violence -- either physical or sexual violence -- destroys more than just one life. We also know that early intervention and rehabilitation reduce violence and rebuild lives,” said Kathleen Lyons, executive director of the Moran Center. “We sincerely appreciate this gift from Northwestern.”
The funds received by The Night Ministry will support programming and staff in their work with homeless youth, said Paul Hamann, president and CEO of The Night Ministry. “We’re grateful for Northwestern’s generosity. It will enable us to strengthen the safety-net services we provide to our community’s most vulnerable young people.”