(AllHipHop News) Chance The Rapper’s mission of serving as Chance The Philanthropist adds another important effort.
Following his $1 million donation to Chicago Public Schools and establishing his Social Works summer music courses for students, Chance is once again assisting the young people in his hometown.
The “Angels” performer is teaming with Chicago Beyond for the second annual Go Innovation Challenge.
Chance and Chicago Beyond Managing Director Liz Dozier announced the initiative on Facebook.
“Chicago’s young people possess tremendous potential and deserve every opportunity to thrive and succeed,” says Dozier in a press release. “We’re looking for nonprofits who are working to unleash that potential and we’re making it easy for any organization to apply. You don’t need sleek production. All you need is a camera phone and a great concept.”
Individuals interested in participating have to record a 90-second video explaining their concept, and then send the clip to Chicago Beyond.
The challenge is open to organizations inside and outside of Chicago as long as the program, idea, or approach can be implemented in Chicago.
“Our responsibility to Chicago’s kids is not over when school is out,” adds Chance. “It’s more important than ever to find programs making a real difference in the lives of young Chicagoans. Our city can’t let the status quo continue, and Chicago Beyond’s investments in these life-changing programs will help break the cycles that keep kids from realizing their potential.”
Winners of the Innovation Challenge could each receive up to a $2 million investment and will get to work closely with Chicago Beyond to grow their program, idea, or approach.
The 2016 winners included The Dovetail Project, Genesys Works Chicago, and Storycatchers Theatre with them receiving investments that totaled nearly $3 million.
“Chicago Beyond has been an incredible partner in our effort to reach more court involved youth by enhancing and expanding our programming,” says Meade Palidofsky, founder and Artistic Director of Storycatchers Theatre. “Their investment and partnership has allowed us to expand to a year-round employment program, and has also given us the capacity to refine and evaluate our model based on real data gleaned by connecting us with Urban Labs. We are confident that Chicago Beyond’s investment will move us closer to our long-term goal of growing Storycatchers into a statewide program.”
Chicago Beyond is a venture philanthropy fund that helps organizations transform the lives of young people by focusing on youth safety and educational attainment.
To submit an idea for the 2017 Chicago Beyond Go Innovation Challenge visit chicagobeyond.org. The deadline for submission is 11:59 pm CT on July 7.