Forty Years of Quiet Bravery: Celebrating Hector Perez

For forty years, Hector Perez has stood beside the children of Chicago with the same steady heart he carried as a boy in Arecibo. His story is one of grit and tenderness. Of working nights and walking into school with almost no sleep. Of finding a way forward when no one was paving the road. Of giving children the safety and encouragement he wished someone had given him.

Your gift today honors the journey that shaped him.
Every amount connects to a moment in his life.
Every dollar strengthens the future for a child who needs the very love and steadiness he has offered for four decades.

Want to read Hector’s story before giving?
His journey is a testament to resilience and the extraordinary power of care.

Read Hector’s Story

$40 – The Mask Gift
For the little boy dancing in his sister’s dress to help feed his family.
Your gift honors the courage it takes for a child to survive hardship with hope.

$80 – The Flight Gift
For the eleven year old who arrived in Humboldt Park with no English and no sense of belonging.
Your gift creates safe spaces where children feel welcomed and seen.

$120 – The Datsun Gift
For the teenager teaching himself to drive in a borrowed car because no one else could show him how.
Your gift helps youth build confidence and independence.

$200 – The Keys Gift
For the moment Jose “Hippie” Pagan welcomed him into the Barreto Club and changed his life.
Your gift ensures more young people find mentors who believe in them.

$400 – The Strength Gift
For the forty years Hector showed up for kids who needed someone steady.
Your gift fuels consistent programs that protect and uplift thousands of youth each year.

$800 – The Full Circle Gift
For the man who once mopped floors in a furniture shop and later owned the store.
Your gift builds long term stability for the Clubs and the families we serve.

Your gift in Hector’s honor is a reminder that love does not end with one person.
It spreads. It lifts. It creates possibility.

Thank you for honoring his legacy by investing in the futures of Chicago’s youth.
Chicago needs Club kids. And Club Kids need you.