It’s been a year of rebuilding and reinvention for Playworks Illinois, and we’re proud to have successfully closed out another school year positively impacting the lives of children across Chicagoland.
Through all the changes in our local landscape, this year reaffirmed our resilience and unwavering commitment to our mission.
We didn’t just adapt—we advanced.
We established new partnerships, deepened our relationships with long-standing schools, and expanded into a new region—meeting new leaders, reaching new students, and planting seeds for continued growth. At the core of our work is a belief that every partner is an extension of our mission. We don’t just deliver programming—we build capacity, support implementation, and engage deeply. What sets us apart is our high-touch, values-driven approach to collaboration, and we are proud of the momentum we’re building in this area.
This year, we also:
- Served 12,343 students statewide, over 63% of whom qualify for free or reduced-price lunch—ensuring our reach remained focused on communities with identified needs.
- Provided support and services for 28 partner organizations, including four Team Up partnerships that embedded our staff on-site for hands-on coaching and collaboration throughout the school year.
- Hosted our most successful Kickball Tournament yet, bringing together seven cross-sector teams (eight paid registrations) and exceeding our fundraising goal by over 65%!
- Welcomed new leadership to our Illinois Advisory Board, bringing fresh energy and ideas with a focus on deeper engagement and thought leadership.
As we prepare for the upcoming school year, we’re focused on expanding partnerships, increasing visibility, and staying rooted in what works: persistence, high-quality delivery and a spirit of collaboration. You can count on us to bring more play to more children and remain a trusted, mission-aligned partner to the communities we serve.
Thank you for being a part of this journey.
With gratitude,
Phasha Spencer
Executive Director
Playworks Illinois
