On May 28, 2025, Esperanza Community Services was honored to receive a $30,000 Merit Grant Award from Impact Grants Chicago. As one of only three nonprofits selected for a merit grant, and one of seven organizations recognized overall that evening, Esperanza is proud to stand alongside such impactful Chicago changemakers!
Impact Grants Chicago is a women-led collective dedicated to empowering Chicagoland nonprofits through transformative, high-impact grants. Members contribute $1,000 annually, and 100% of those funds are pooled to create grants of up to $100,000 for local organizations.
The celebration began with a cocktail and networking hour, where each of the seven selected nonprofits showcased their work. Esperanza proudly featured a piece of artwork created by one of our talented adult program participants highlighting the creativity, skill, and spirit of the individuals we serve.
The evening continued with a moving speech delivered by Esperanza CEO Jayne Drew and long-time Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) Gerry Williams. They shared the story of Ashley, a student who came to Esperanza with significant behavioral challenges. Thanks to the dedication of our staff and the supportive environment at Esperanza, Ashley has made extraordinary progress and no longer displays those behaviors — a true testament to the power of our mission!
We are deeply grateful to Impact Grants Chicago for this generous support and for recognizing the value of our work. This funding will help us continue advancing our mission: breaking down barriers and challenging perceptions for people with disabilities.