Celebrating 20 Years of Impact

Chicago Thrives

Launching extraordinary futures in the Windy City

Our program prepares and supports high-achieving underrepresented students across Chicago to get into the nation’s Top 100 colleges – and graduate with the career skills and experience they need to thrive at the most innovative companies.

What’s at stake in Chicago?

Today there are 2,500 low-income students of color in Chicago with the academic qualifications to get into top colleges. To succeed at top colleges, these talented students deserve our full support — but there simply aren’t enough city-wide programs to support them all.

That’s why, as part of our strategic national expansion to serve as many students of color as possible, Thrive Scholars is proud to now call Chicago home.

Thanks to our Supporters in Chicago

Our expansion to Chicago would not be possible without the generous seed funding from key corporations and foundations. By supporting Chicago’s most talented and ambitious students of color today, they’re helping them to become the professional, business, and civic leaders of tomorrow.

*These companies also participate in our Corporate Sponsorship Program.

Some of the colleges Thrive Scholars attend

What Chicago Scholars Say

Kiara

Northwestern University, Class of 2024

As a first-gen, low-income student, I was worried about going through the college application process and transitioning to this next stage in my education on my own. However, my Thrive College Access Manager and College Success Manager have been with me every step of the way. The Thrive community is full of academic excellence and awe-inspiring success stories, which just make me more excited to pursue my own goals. I love my Thrive family for believing in me and pushing me to do my best.

What Chicago Corporate Partners Say

Danny Sharp, Partner

Head of Alternatives, The Client Group Wellington Management Company

We wrestle with how to help more kids of color find their way into leadership positions and careers in finance, law, and other corporate professions. Wellington has been a supporter of Thrive Scholars for years and has been impressed by their data-driven programming and results in getting motivated and talented youth of color into great colleges and helping them graduate ready to thrive in companies like Wellington. Wellington is excited to have played a part in bringing Thrive Scholars to Chicago. We hope other local firms will find ways to get involved and support Thrive in Chicago. Our problems as a City require us to harness the abilities of our most talented youth of color. We need them as much, or more, than they need us.

Chicago Board of Directors

Meet the committed leadership guiding our efforts to triple the number of students we serve in Chicago and nationwide.

  • Jared Banner

    Vice President of Player Development, Chicago Cubs

  • Dolores M. Muñoz

    Senior Relationship Manager, Cabrera Capital Markets LLC

  • Leo Harmon

    Senior Managing Director
    Chief Investment Officer, Mesirow Equity Management

  • Michael Henry

    Senior Director of IT Senior Business Advisor, UL Solutions

  • Olevia Mitchell

    Technology Strategy Manager, Accenture

  • Danny Sharp

    Head of Alternatives, The Client Group Wellington Management Company

  • Craig Slack

    Chief Investment Officer, City of Chicago

  • Michael B. Slade

    Partner, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

Explore Other Regions

Interested in learning more about our programming in Chicago?

Contact our Chicago Executive Director

Kylia Kummer