Hermanowski Family Foundation Initial Request Form

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Organization Name: Chicago Voyagers
Legal Name (if Different): TFK Chicago Voyagers
Also Known As:
Mailing Address: 534 Pratt Ave N
City: Schaumburg
State: Illinois
Postal Code: 60193
Main Phone: 630-283-0146
Main Fax:
Organization Website: chicagovoyagers.org
Employer ID Number: 75-2986724
Organization Tax Status: nonprofit 501c3

Proposal Information

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Today’s Date: 3/1/2023
Requested Amount: $10,000

Project Title: Journey Program
Project Description:

At Chicago Voyagers (CV), our mission is to empower youth through adventure therapy programs that foster healthy relationships and skills for life success. Within a unique program model rooted in therapy and behavioral health best-practices, CV weaves physical and emotional challenges together with the healing power of the natural world. Our programming inspires personal growth, teamwork, and healthy lifestyles while increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in outdoor adventure therapy. Many of our youth participants are trauma-survivors and the majority are Latinx (53%) and African American (23%) and from low-income backgrounds (91%). Our unique, trauma-informed approach provides youth the support and guidance needed to cultivate critical life skills such as self-empowerment, problem solving, and belief in their ability to achieve and overcome challenges. CV provides programming year-round at no cost to our participants.

Our Journey Program provides long-term support and leads to deep, meaningful impacts and outcomes for our participants’ social-emotional development. Each of our Journey Programs are designed to provide youth the consistency and stability necessary for personal growth and improvement. Journeys engage the same group of students for six months or more for outdoor adventure therapy activities in which they work together, build healthy relationships, and help each other reach their potential. Staff support and guide groups of nine students or less with a 2:1 youth-to-adult ratio. Our staff mentor each student individually, helping them set goals and achieve success. Each Journey has a theme, such as motivation, decision making, or leadership, which is matched to group needs. Staff incorporate the theme into activities, journal questions and group reflections. Our Journey Program addresses the immediate need of our youth while providing them with long-term support and empowerment.

Total Project Budget: $451,399

Other Funding
Sources For The Project (Committed & Potential): Arc’Teryx $5,000; Cabela’s $7,500; Enterprise Holdings $2,500; Flowers for Dreams $21,607; Zaranti Foundation $10,000; IMC $40,000; Red Canoe Foundation $3,000; Gorter Family Foundation $20,000

Project Duration: Chicago Voyagers provides programming year-round.
Geographical Area Served: greater Chicagoland area, Illinois
Age Group To Be Served: 12-18 years

Contact Information

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Contact Prefix (Mr,Mrs etc.): Ms.
Contact First Name: Liz
Contact Last Name: Jansen
Contact Title: Grants and Marketing Manager
Contact Phone: 616-634-4907
Contact Email: liz@chicagovoyagers.org