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Press Release - May 27, 2026

Hope Chicago Celebrates First Wave of College Graduates Across Illinois

Group photo of various Illinois State Hope Scholar gradutes

Hope Chicago News Archive

Press Releases

Media Coverage

Photo of two black female Hope Scholars smiling in front of orange and blue balloons.
Photo of many Hope Scholars holding "Lead with Hope" signs down in Springfield, Illinois.

Chicago Sun-Times:

Hope Chicago Scholarship Program Pays Off

WBEZ Chicago Reset:

Hope Chicago makes strides in raising college enrollment on South and West sides

MSNBC’s Katie Phang Show:

Retired Millionaire To Send 30,000 Chicago Students To College For Free [Video]

WGN-TV (JUNE 7, 2022)

Hope Chicago Providing Full College Scholarships [Video]

JUNE 6, 2022 PRESS RELEASE:

Hope Chicago Formalizes Partnerships with 23 Illinois Institutions

CBS NEWS: 60 MINUTES

Hope Chicago: Charity sending students from Chicago high schools to college for free (Video)

CBS NEWS: 60 MINUTES OVERTIME

Going to College with a “Hope” Scholarship (Video)

PR NEWSWIRE

Hope Chicago Completes Historic Week Awarding Debt-Free College Scholarships to 4,000 Students at 5 Chicago Public High Schools

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

'This is really the shot in the arm that we needed.’ Five CPS schools partner with Hope Chicago to help send roughly 4,000 students to college debt-free.

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Students at 5th city school learn of full-ride scholarship pledge from Hope Chicago

EBONY

New Initiative Gives Chicago Public Schools Hope Through Scholarships

NPR

5 entire high schools in Chicago get full college scholarships

TELEMUNDO

"Van a poder tener el éxito que merecen": Este programa de becas beneficiará a miles de estudiantes latinos... y a sus padres

FOX 32

4,000 Chicago students and parents receive full ride college scholarships

CHICAGO SUN TIMES

Thousands of Juarez High School Students Receive Full College Scholarships

ABC 7

Free college ride awarded to 1,700 Chicago high school students at Benito Juarez in Pilsen

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO

Every Morgan Park High School Student Can Go To College For Free Thanks To Surprise Scholarship

TELEMUNDO

"Es como un sueño". Estudiantes latinos de Chicago reciben beca para la ir a la universidad

GOOD NEWS NETWORK

Students in Five Chicago High Schools Surprised With Free College Ride–All Expenses Paid–And For Some Parents, Too

NOVEMBER 17, 2022 PRESS RELEASE:

Hope Chicago wins 2022 Chicago Innovation Award

MAY 22, 2023 PRESS RELEASE:

Hope Chicago Releases Report Demonstrating Economic, Social Benefits to Scholars, and City, and State Economies.

WBEZ Chicago:

Father and son are heading to college with a surprise scholarship.

WTTW Chicago Tonight (TV):

CEO Janice Jackson on Creating Equitable Access to College

CNN This Morning:

CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson on SCOTUS Affirmative Action Decision

BLOCK CLUB CHICAGO

All Noble Johnson College Prep Students, And Some Of Their Parents, Will Receive Full Rides To College

CHALKBEAT CHICAGO

In Chicago, free college for 4,000 students and their parents: ‘This means so much’

WTTW

Janice Jackson Named CEO of HOPE Chicago, Nonprofit Seeking to Provide $1B in Scholarships

YAHOO FINANCE

BMO Financial Group Announces $1 Million Donation to Hope Chicago

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

New college scholarship program led by former CPS CEO will offer students and their parents full tuition, housing and food assistance

CRAIN’S CHICAGO BUSINESS

New Nonprofit Led by Former CPS Chief Taps Businesses for College Scholarships

Press inquiries?

press@hopechicago.org