Lloyd A. Fry Foundation celebrates 40 years

Sept 12, 2023

As the Lloyd A. Fry Foundation commemorates four decades of grantmaking in Chicago, we recognize the evolution of our grantee partners’ approaches to their work—a reflection of the dynamic transformations within their respective fields. They are deeply attuned to the needs of the populations they serve by continuing to listen, observe, and respond with unwavering dedication. Despite experiencing great adversity over the years, they have demonstrated remarkable resilience—persisting in their commitment to serve Chicago’s most vulnerable communities. In a world marked by rapid change, these organizations continue to work toward shaping sustainable futures that align with the ever-shifting landscape in education, employment, arts learning, and health. This steadfast commitment fills us with hope and optimism as we celebrate 40 years of philanthropy in the Chicago community and look toward the next 40 years and beyond.

In September, we had the opportunity to celebrate this milestone with our grantees, friends, families, and philanthropic community at the Arts Club of Chicago. While the event commemorated 40 years of grantmaking in Chicago, it more importantly celebrated the incredible work of our over 140 grantee partners. To quote Fry Foundation President Unmi Song’s remarks at the event, “All of you are working on things that are more difficult than the origins of the universe. You are my heroes. Thank you for your service.” 

You can relive the Fry Foundation 40th anniversary celebration by viewing the event videos below and visiting the event photo gallery and the Pixster photobooth gallery.