OVER THE PAST 30 YEARS, THE CHICAGO AUTO SHOW’S FIRST LOOK FOR CHARITY BENEFIT HAS RAISED NEARLY $56 MILLION FOR LOCAL CHARITIES. ONE OF CHICAGO’S LARGEST SINGLE-DAY CHARITABLE EVENTS, FIRST LOOK, HAS BECOME THE PREMIER FUNDRAISER FOR MANY LOCAL CHARITIES. THIS YEAR, THE MONEY RAISED AT FIRST LOOK WILL BENEFIT 18 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS. HERE’S A LIST OF EACH CHARITY AND THE SERVICES THE PROVIDE.
Benefiting Charities
100 Club of Illinois
The 100 Club of Illinois provides resources, several forms of financial support, access to training, and moral support to both the families of first responders killed in the line of duty and active duty first responders throughout the state of Illinois. All sworn federal, state, county and local first responders stationed in Illinois are included.
Advocate Health Care
Advocate Health Care is a faith-based nonprofit health system in Illinois, operating nearly 400 sites of care and 10 hospitals with two kids' campuses close to home and a team of 6,300 doctors. Advocate contributed $863 million in charitable care and services to communities across Illinois in 2020. In 2018, Advocate Health Care merged with Aurora Health Care of Wisconsin to form Advocate Aurora Health, one of the top 12 not-for-profit health systems in the country.
ALS United Greater Chicago
ALS United Greater Chicago is proud to currently serve the ALS communities in Central Illinois, Greater Chicagoland, and Northern Illinois. We leave no stone unturned in search for the cure of this progressive neurodegenerative disease. Our mission is to unite the ALS community in our collaborative approach to foster bold research initiatives, advance national and state advocacy efforts, and provide comprehensive care and support to individuals and families affected by ALS. Our Chapter provides premier programs for our ALS community, and there is no cost to individuals living with ALS and their families for any of the services we provide, which include home visits, support groups, equipment lending, and more. We financially support six local ALS Multidisciplinary Clinics, tirelessly advocate for our patients, and fund cutting-edge research around the globe to find treatments and a cure for ALS.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago provides superior pediatric care in a state of the art hospital that offers the latest benefits and innovations in medical technology, research and family-friendly design. The hospital is ranked as one of the nation's top children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic support to fulfill its mission. Learn more at luriechildrens.org.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago
Since 1902 Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago has provided a safe haven for children and teens during the most vulnerable part of their day: after school. BGCC's mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Serving more than 20,000 young people each year at over 20 club locations throughout Chicago, BGCC provides children and teens ages 5 to 18 with the tools they need to become well-rounded, successful adults.
Cal's Angels
Cal’s Angels is a 501(c)(3) pediatric cancer foundation established in 2007 in memory of Cal Sutter, a 12-year-old who lost his battle with leukemia in 2006. Cal’s kindness and generosity inspired the start of Cal’s Angels with a mission of granting wishes, raising awareness, and funding research to help kids fighting cancer. Because we have lived the battle with pediatric cancer, we understand what these families are going through. The help that we provide these families through our programs is a great resource when they need it the most. Until we hear the words “There is A Cure for Cancer” we will continue to fight on behalf of these young warriors and their families. We ask you to join us in the W.A.R. on pediatric cancer… together we CAN make a difference! To learn more, please visit calsangels.org.
Folds of Honor
Folds of Honor is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that provides educational scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled military and first responders. Our educational scholarships support private school tuition or tutoring in grades K-12, tuition for college, technical or trade school, and post-graduate work, including a master’s degree, doctorate, or professional program. Since its inception in 2007, Folds of Honor has awarded more than 52,000 scholarships totaling about $244 million in all 50 states. Among the students served, 45 percent are minorities. It is rated a four-star charity by Charity Navigator and Platinum on Candid. Folds of Honor was founded by Lt Col Dan Rooney, the only-ever F-16 fighter pilot (with three combat tours in Iraq) and PGA Professional. He is currently stationed at Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service Detachment 1, at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas. For more information or to donate in support of a Folds of Honor scholarship visit foldsofhonor.org.
Franciscan Community Benefit Services
Franciscan Community Benefit Services comprises St. Jude House and the Madonna Foundation. St. Jude House is a 40-bed shelter for survivors of domestic violence and their dependent children. It provides safe haven, support and comprehensive services to enable clients to recover from trauma, achieve self-sufficiency and break the cycle of violence. All services are provided free of charge. The Madonna Foundation serves at-risk and underserved teen girls, providing partial scholarships and robust college readiness programming to Madonna scholars at its all-girls Catholic partner high schools in the Chicagoland area.
Glenwood Academy
Founded in 1887 by Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln, Glenwood Academy is a comprehensive residential education program for boys and girls. More than a school, Glenwood is a place where students can find counseling services, one-on-one tutoring, extracurricular activities, and community. We serve over 650 children and family members each year. 100% of students are at or below the national poverty level and 92% come from single-parent households. Glenwood provides a one-of-a-kind opportunity to good kids from challenging circumstances that have been hurt by the impacts of poverty, violence and failing educational systems, changing the trajectory of their lives through access to increased opportunity.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working throughout Chicagoland, across the United States and in 70 countries around the world. Habitat's vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live. We work toward our vision by building strength, stability and self-reliance in partnership with families in need of decent and affordable housing. Habitat homeowners help build their own homes alongside volunteers and pay an affordable mortgage. Habitat provides families and communities with a foundation for a strong future.
Jesse White Tumbling Team
The internationally renowned Jesse White Tumbling Team was created in 1959 to provide a positive alternative for at-risk, inner-city youth. Members must follow founder and head Coach Jesse White's strict rules, which include staying away from gangs, drugs, and alcohol, as well as staying in school and maintaining a minimum C average in their academic work. With seven units, the Team consists of more than 150 members - male and female - as young as age 6. Since its inception, more than 18,500 young people have benefitted from the program.
Lydia Home & Safe Families for Children
For more than 100 years, Lydia Home has provided compassion and care to vulnerable children. Through residential foster care and foster care placements, Lydia brings hope, healing and home to children in need. Safe Families for Children continues this tradition by surrounding families in crisis with caring, compassionate community to keep kids safe and families intact. Safe Families creates extended family-like supports for desperate families through a community of devoted volunteers.
Misericordia
Misericordia offers a community of care for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to realize their full potential. On its 35-acre Chicago campus, Misericordia provides a network of programs and services and a continuum of residential care for more than 600 individuals from diverse racial, religious and economic backgrounds.
Sertoma Star Services
Sertoma Star Services was established through a merger of New Star and Sertoma Centre, two agencies with rich histories of providing state-of-the-art services and programs for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and those living with mental illness. The organizations have provided critical vocational, educational, therapeutic, and residential programs and services to individuals in and around the Chicagoland area and northwest Indiana for a collective 125-plus years. Together as Sertoma Star Services, the commitment to delivering comprehensive services, choices, and opportunities to those we support in an environment that promotes self-advocacy and personal success remains constant and impactful.
Special Olympics Illinois
Special Olympics is a global organization that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sport, every day around the world. Special Olympics Illinois is a not-for-profit organization offering year-round training and competition in 18 sports for more than 23,100 athletes with intellectual disabilities and over 13,000 Young Athletes ages 2-7 with and without intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics programs enhance physical fitness, motor skills, self-confidence, social skills, and encourage family and community support.
Susan G. Komen, Chicago
Susan G. Komen is the world's largest breast cancer organization, funding more breast cancer research than any other nonprofit in the country, while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. We are working to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. Through events like First Look for Charity, we have raised critical funds which have enabled Komen to investment in research, advocacy and patient support that has increased early detection and helped develop more effective treatments.
Turning Pointe Autism Foundation
Founded in 2007, Turning Pointe Autism Foundation is a beacon of hope and excellence in the world of autism education. Our mission is to transform the learning environment for children and young adults with autism, creating spaces where independence flourishes, communication thrives, and socially appropriate behaviors are nurtured. We believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, and we are committed to making that vision a reality. This important work is made possible through the heartfelt support of volunteers, donors, school districts, and employment partners. Together, we are building a brighter, more inclusive future, ensuring that each student not only dreams of a better tomorrow but achieves it.
Violet Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer
Brain cancer claims more lives of children than any other disease. The Violet Foundation for Pediatric Brain Cancer seeks to change that. Violet Foundation is dedicated to funding critical research and supporting families whose child is being treated for a brain tumor. Founded in 2022, they have supported over 100 families in the fight and funded 12 research projects around the world to develop more effective treatments for the children diagnosed with this terrible disease.