November 25, 2020
Fry Foundation Grantee National Museum of Mexican Art Awarded $3.5 Million in Support in New Grant Initiative
The Ford Foundation provided Fry Foundation grantee The National Museum of Mexican Art with a $3.5 million grant in September as part of a broader effort to help culturally diverse institutions survive coronavirus. more >
February 14, 2020
New Moms
Hundreds of fragrant, beautifully designed candle tins line the shelves of Bright Endeavors’ otherwise nondescript warehouse in West Garfield Park. The soy candles will end up in high-end grocery and home furnishings stores across the country. more >
December 20, 2018
High Jump
It was an unfortunate irony. High-achieving students of color from low-income families were winning scholarships to elite private high schools in Chicago, but then they struggled academically or felt they didn’t belong. Often, they transferred out. That was the scenario 30 years ago at the Latin School of Chicago and the Francis W. ParkerSchool. more >
December 6, 2017
Enlace Chicago
One day at a middle school in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood, Marcela Espinoza was telling students about the health care resources available to them and their families. Afterward, a student approached her. “He said, ‘My dad’s sick, and I don’t think my mom knows what to do,’” says Ms. Espinoza, Health Promoter, Enlace Chicago. Ms. Espinoza called the student’s mother and helped her find a doctor for her husband. more >
December 12, 2016
Network for College Success
This year, the Network for College Success(NCS) advised a Chicago public high school to do something it had never tried before: It had all its teachers observe one another’s classrooms. “A lot of them had never been in another teacher’s classroom in their school—or in their entire career,” said Mary Ann Pitcher, Co-Director. more >
February 20, 2013
Coordinating Care to Keep Patients Healthy
Most low-income patients go to the emergency room—over and over—to manage chronic illnesses. Sinai Health System has partnered with the Fry Foundation to create a comprehensive, medical home model of care for people with diabetes and heart disease. more >
February 20, 2013
Building Pathways to Living-Wage Jobs
While agencies have long worked to connect adults to jobs, Erie Neighborhood House has created a pathway to advanced training and education for low-income Latino immigrants. more >
February 20, 2013
Closing the "Equity Gap" in Music Education
When it comes to arts education, not all Chicago schools—or neighborhoods—are created equal. Widely considered one of the city’s premier arts organizations, the Chicago Children’s Choir continues to expand opportunities for a range of children to participate in high-quality arts education. more >
February 15, 2013
A New Model for Preparing College-Bound Students
The Fry Foundation knows that it takes innovative approaches to help Chicago's low-income high school students get to college. OneGoal's ability to work with high schools has proven so successful, other cities hope to replicate it. more >
December 16, 2011
Building a Culture of Continuous Improvement
With jobs at the top of the national agenda, public and private funders are intent on finding effective job training programs. But what data demonstrate effectiveness, and how can programs use data to improve what they do? more >
October 6, 2011
Joining Forces to Save Arts Education
Budget troubles and relentless testing are putting pressure on arts educators as never before. In Chicago, artists and educators are discovering that there is strength in numbers. By combining forces, they are working to ensure that arts instruction not only survives, but is expanded, improved, and available for all Chicago students. more >
October 6, 2010
Training and Supporting New School Leaders
"There are no great schools without great leaders," says Maggie Blinn. With Chicago facing another round of principal retirements, Blinn and her team are training a new generation of leaders to take over Chicago schools. These principals in training start from the belief that all kids can learn and set out to manage, lead, and inspire school staffs dedicated to pursuing that vision. more >
October 6, 2010
Organizing Resources to Help Abused Kids
The sexual abuse of a child is devastating for both the victim and his or her family. Counseling can help—the sooner the better. When the Fry Foundation discovered that abused children in Chicago face long waiting lists for mental health services, it helped a coalition of mental health providers coordinate efforts to improve systems to get victims the help they need as quickly as possible. more >
October 6, 2010
Expanding Options for Low Skilled Workers
Training programs for good-paying jobs require solid literacy and math skills—a challenge for high school dropouts and immigrants with limited English. Literacy programs to boost skills are poorly coordinated with job training and inadequate to meet the need. Chicago Citywide Literacy Coalition is stepping up to coordinate services and resources to help Illinois workers get started on the path to better jobs. more >