Our work wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our donor community. Our supporters help Uniting Voices Chicago empower the city’s youth and engage with our diverse communities.
Get to know some of our donors, sponsors and partners. We thank them for their support and celebrate their lasting impact.
David and Lesly Koo—fierce champions of our work and Red Jacket Optional 2022 honorees—activated a record-breaking $2 million in philanthropic support at our annual gala and generously committed a separate seven-figure gift in support of accessible and empowering music education programs. In his five years as Board Chair, David charted a path of growth and sustainability for Uniting Voices with whole-hearted enthusiasm and advocacy to match.
Uniting Voices launched Crescendo Fund, a multimillion dollar fundraising campaign in support of our five-year strategic plan. Former board chair and leader of this campaign Bob Fealy was one of the first to pledge one million dollars to this initiative. Bob and his wife Rose are passionate about building a harmonious Chicago and their investment has inspired others to support opportunities for education, expression and excellence.
Association of Fundraising Professionals Chicago Chapter honored Uniting Voices Board Secretary Ellen-Blair Chube with the Emerging Philanthropist Award. With nearly two decades of strategic leadership across government and the private sector, Ellen-Blair is a finance executive who brings a unique holistic perspective rooted in her experience in public policy, operations, and client-oriented work. She brings this experience alongside her passion for Chicago youth and a spirit of innovation and advocacy to her role on the Uniting Voices Board of Directors. In 2021, Board chair David Koo took home this same honor.
Joyce E. Stralow Reichardt was a gifted contralto soloist—first with the Northern Illinois University Concert Choir in the 1950s, then professionally with two San Francisco Bay choirs in the 1970s.
It became her dream to extend her love for children and music in order to extend empowering teaching, performing and foundation building for thousands of Chicago children still to be embraced by Uniting Voices Chicago. In the mid-2000s, together with her husband and daughter, she secured that pledge with The Joyce E. Stralow Reichardt and Kyrsten E. Downing Fund to benefit Uniting Voices Chicago through their family Trust.
Joyce's own future came to be shaped by Alzheimer's Disease. Now it was important to her that the fund also benefit Uniting Voices Chicago's mission today, supporting the thousands of children whose futures are currently being shaped through music.
This investment in Uniting Voices Chicago general operations helps build a strong foundation from which our staff, faculty and singers can create a more equitable future strengthened by song. As part of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Chicago Commitment, this support celebrates Uniting Voices Chicago as part of the city’s network of diverse voices and creative community. Uniting Voices Chicago is grateful to the MacArthur Foundation for its commitment to creative people, effective institutions and influential networks building a more just, verdant and peaceful world.
Their long-term service, engagement and philanthropy have inspired generations of their own family and countless others to make a difference not just within Uniting Voices Chicago, but in the community at large.
Now retired, Mridu and Chandra have continued their involvement with Uniting Voices Chicago through their grandchildren’s participation. The couple attend nearly all performances and even travel internationally to see them perform.
Uniting Voices Chicago considers Mridu and Chandra its superfans and appreciates their longstanding engagement, including as generous donors to the Raising Voices Campaign. “My husband and I are at a stage in our lives where this is a wonderful legacy to leave to our grandchildren,” Mridu says. “It’s important to help the kids. The way Uniting Voices Chicago is working with the children is quite inspirational. It’s an institution that is really helping bring communities together.”
Red Jacket Optional is Uniting Voices Chicago's largest fundraiser of the year. Our programs bring the opportunity for connection through the highest quality music education to thousands of diverse youth across the city of Chicago. Your investment empowers our students to make a lasting impact both at home and around the globe.
For any changes to your donor recognition listing, please contact Maria Sanchez at 312.849.8300 x126 or msanchez@unitingvoiceschicago.org.
