Photo from Storycatchers Theatre, Pick Fund Grantee |
"In summer, the song sings itself"
-William Carlos Williams
Here at The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund, we have had a busy summer but have set aside time for rest and relaxation, as the sweetness of the season is so fleeting. We hope our grantees and community partners have made time to unplug and disconnect a bit as well.
As we celebrate the remaining warm summer days, we are also mindful of those most vulnerable who may have been negatively impacted by the extremely hot temperatures we've experienced throughout the country and last week in our city. It's a reminder of why we must stay steadfast in our mission to improve the quality of life for all Chicagoans. Summer also provides an opportunity to raise awareness and honor our community members through the recognition of LGBTQ+ Pride Month in June, Disability Pride Month in July, World Humanitarian Day on August 19th and celebrate Black Philanthropy Month in August! In fact, yesterday marked the sixth year of the #Give828 annual campaign to support the work of Black-led and Black-benefitting grassroots organizations, and helps mark the culmination of Black Philanthropy Month. Be sure to read the message from the Pick Fund's executive director to learn more.
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Message from the Executive Director |
Dear Grantee partners, Foundation colleagues and Friends of The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund,
Summer in Chicago is like no other! It’s one of our city’s best kept secrets and visitors are always amazed when they learn about and experience all there is to do and enjoy – much of it offered for free and accessible to everyone! However, we also know that summertime in Chicago, like in other cities across the country, often comes with increased gun violence, senseless deaths and concerns for public safety. Joy and sorrow represent a complex duality that, unfortunately, too many of us have learned to live with, and one that philanthropy, by definition, is well-positioned to address.
It is why this year’s theme for Black Philanthropy Month – Love in Action – resonates with my heart and soul. It reflects the true broader definition of philanthropy: love for humankind. You don’t have to be financially wealthy to be a philanthropist. You just have to embody love for and service to humanity.
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For the first time, The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund has utilized a Letter of Inquiry process in order to quickly assess whether there is a match between the foundation and potential grantees, alleviating some of the burden of submitting an entire application. In an effort to streamline applications, simplify processes and hopefully create less burden on grantee applicants, we launched the LOI submission process in May. We were overwhelmed by the response and number of applicants (150!). It was an honor to review the Letters of Inquiry, all submitted by worthy organizations doing critical work in and for the communities of Chicago. Ultimately, the Fund’s Board of Directors had to make some difficult decisions in order to narrow the pool down to 59 organizations who have been asked to submit applications. The 2023 awards will prioritize existing Albert Pick, Jr. Fund grantees, though we hope to make room for new grantees in the near future.
Award decisions will be made at the Fall Board Meeting for Arts and Education grants and at the Winter Board Meeting for Civic Activism and Health and Human Services grants.
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Getting to Know Foundation Source |
As many of you know, The Albert Pick, Jr. Fund began working with Foundation Source earlier this year to manage many of our back office functions and operations.
Recently, Foundation Source has updated its online grant management system and renamed it Impactfully. The web-based platform offers the same features as Foundation Source Online (FSOL), but look out for the new name!
Grantees and applicants will likely most often interface with Giving Hub, Foundation Source's new portal that allows applicants to access their applications, view their status and track and save documents.
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Since 2021, we have had the honor of supporting the work of Girls Inc. They have recently celebrated five years of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold! Through their work in under-resourced Chicago public schools, Girls Inc. provides programming designed to empower girls and help them thrive, with a focus on mental wellness. The Pick Fund is proud of our partnership with Girls Inc. and excited about the impact they continue to have in our communities. | |
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Pick Fun Facts - Philanthropy in support of the Arts
The genesis of Albert Pick, Jr.'s philanthropy in the arts was inspired by his wife, Corinne Frada Pick, who was a trained concert pianist and was known for hosting concerts featuring world-renowned musicians in their home. As a gift for their 50th wedding anniversary, Albert wanted to erect a concert hall in her name at the University of Chicago, his alma mater. However, after several fits and starts, the concert hall was built at Northwestern University, Corinne's alma mater, in partnership with his brother-in-law Charles Staiger and named in honor of both Corinne and Albert's late sister, Pauline. The Pick-Staiger Concert Hall is a jewel of Northwestern's campus and is known for its elegant architecture and acoustic excellence. The dedicatory concert on October 26, 1975 featured Ralph Votapek, an international award-winning pianist who was the first recipient of the Corinne Frada Pick music scholarship while a student at Northwestern.
Source: "The Indestructible Crown: The Life of Albert Pick, Jr." by Judith Barnard.
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