Hope Chicago Celebrates Five Years of Impact, Looks Ahead to Next Chapter at Annual Hopecoming Gala

First wave of debt-free college graduates take center stage as organization charts a future of expanded opportunity for Chicago families and Illinois’ workforce

CHICAGO -- Five years after launching a groundbreaking initiative to remove financial barriers to higher education for Chicago families, Hope Chicago celebrated its first wave of debt-free college graduates Thursday evening while looking ahead to an ambitious next chapter focused on continuing to expand opportunity while also strengthening Illinois' future workforce.

Hopecoming 2026, Hope Chicago's signature annual gala, was held at Obama Presidential Center Home Court and drew 500 civic, business and community leaders, and philanthropists to celebrate the organization’s first five years of impact and raised more than $1.5 million to fuel its next five years of innovation and growth.

"Our first five years have proven what’s possible when we invest in the talent and potential of entire families," said Dr. Aaron Kuecker, CEO of Hope Chicago. "We’ve seen students become college graduates with zero debt to their name, parents pursue their deferred dreams, and entire school communities transformed by opportunity. As we look to our next five years, we have the chance to benefit more families, strengthen our workforce and fuel Illinois' economic future. We have the talent, the educators and the employers. Now is the moment to bring them together."

Since launching in 2021, Hope Chicago has emerged as an innovative model for expanding postsecondary access, completion and economic mobility. Working with five Chicago public high schools on the city's South and West Sides and a widespread network of Illinois-based postsecondary institutions, Hope Chicago has helped exponentially improve educational outcomes for thousands of families.

In its first five years, Hope Chicago has:

• Supported more than 3,000 Hope Scholars and 440 Parent Scholars pursuing postsecondary degrees and credentials.

• Celebrated over 400 completed postsecondary programs amongst its first wave of Hope Scholars and Hope Parent Scholars, with hundreds more on the path to graduation over the next year.

• Helped drive a consistent 30% increase in college enrollment at its five partner high schools.

• Kept approximately 98% of eligible Hope Scholars pursuing higher education at Illinois-based institutions, strengthening the state's colleges, universities and future workforce.

Christopher “Prodigy” Redmon, Hope Scholar and 2026 debt-free graduate of Eastern Illinois University, delivered a particularly powerful message to the crowd about his journey as a first-generation college student. Redmon is now pursuing his master’s degree in political science, while serving as a graduate assistant to support other students navigating their postsecondary experiences. 

“I’m a first-generation college student. I couldn’t go to my mom, my dad, or my siblings and ask how they got through college. We were figuring this out for the first time. But Hope Chicago gave me a village,” shared Redmon. “I went from needing help finding my way through college to helping other students find theirs. Hope Chicago answered my calls. They helped me when I was lost. They introduced me to careers and experiences I hadn’t imagined for myself.”

The evening also highlighted the broad coalition of educators, policymakers, business leaders and philanthropic partners who are helping shape the next chapter of Hope Chicago's impact.

Wintrust Bank President Michael Harris was honored with the Hopecoming Partner Award for the bank’s leadership in supporting Chicago families and communities, and Illinois State Senator Bill Cunningham was honored with the Legislative Champion Award, recognizing his longstanding commitment to expanding educational opportunity for Illinoisans.

"I've had a front-row seat to what Hope Chicago can do over these past five years," Cunningham said in recorded remarks. "I firmly believe the investment Illinois has made, and should continue to make, in Hope Chicago is crucially important to our prosperous future for Illinois. The next five years will show the power of what happens when we flood the zone with debt free, college educated, civically engaged graduates entering our businesses and neighborhoods.”

Marty Ozinga IV, CEO of Ozinga and a Hope Chicago Board member, emphasized the importance of the initiative to Illinois businesses and the state's economic future.

"Hope Chicago is a radical talent retention strategy. For Ozinga, for our economy, and for Illinois and Chicago. We must invest to keep our talent here and ensure the future is built here. We depend on that. We all depend on that,” said Ozinga during the program. “When it comes to the talent that will lead our future, there is not a more productive approach to what businesses in this state need than Hope Chicago’s mission. The families in our city can fuel our future, when we make opportunity possible. The families in our city are our future.” 

The evening also featured remarks from Hope Champion and Illinois State Representative Lisa Davis, Illinois State Board of Higher Education Chair Pranav Kothari, Juan Carlos Ocon, Principal of Benito Juárez Community Academy, one of Hope Chicago's five partner high schools, as well as Hope Chicago Co-Founders and Co-Chairs Pete Kadens and Ted Koenig.

Guests enjoyed a performance by the Noble Johnson College Prep Drum Line, representing another Hope Chicago partner school, and the celebration concluded with a special performance by recording artist Montell Jordan.

"As we look to our next five years, we're focused on building stronger connections between education and employment, bringing together leaders across sectors to create more opportunities for Illinois families," added Kuecker. "Our vision is one where more students and parents can pursue their dreams, more talent stays and thrives in Illinois, and our communities and businesses are stronger because of it."

Hopecoming 2026 Sponsors
Hope Chicago gratefully acknowledges the generous support of its Hopecoming 2026 sponsors: Visionary Sponsors included CIBC, Geoff and Emily Curtis, FTI Consulting, Gelber Group, Jerath Family Foundation, Kadens Family Foundation, Koenig Family Foundation, Monroe Capital, Stephanie Morimoto and Matt King, and Ozinga. Champion Sponsors included ALDI, Diana DeMong Atkins and Bill Atkins, BMO, Eileen and Jamie Buckley, Fanatics Foundation, Caroline Grossinger, Eric A. Reeves and Family, and Karen and Jon Skinner. Advocate Sponsors included 2065 Capital/Sussman Family, Aon, Price-Bronson Family, Buckman Fun Filled Family Foundation, The Cass Family Foundation, DLA Piper, FGMK, Goldberg + Friends, Kearney, Levenfeld Pearlstein, Loop Capital, Ted & Anne Schwartz, Judy Wise, White & Case, and Wintrust. Friend Sponsors included Deloitte, The Gaynor Family, Graycor, JH Philanthropy, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Magellan, Mayer Brown, McDonald’s Corporation, and Larry Richman.

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