Art & Ambition: TA98's Annual Fundraiser

Art has the power to move people, and to move them to act. Art & Ambition is TA98's annual fundraiser, where creativity meets purpose to support hundreds of young people working to launch careers in the fields they dream about.

Join us for an unforgettable evening featuring a live auction, music, raffle prizes, and great networking. This event is exclusively for guests aged 21 and over.

Our Goal

Help us reach $75,000 to advance TA98's mission of reducing youth unemployment among 16 to 24 year olds through meaningful career opportunities. Every dollar raised expands our programs and helps young adults build careers in their chosen fields, opening doors to lasting economic and social mobility.

Why This Work Matters

In 2016, the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois at Chicago identified joblessness as a critical driver of violence in Chicago's disinvested neighborhoods. Just 5 of the city's 77 community areas accounted for a third of all homicides. In those same communities, youth unemployment reached 79 to 92 percent for teens and 49 to 70 percent for young adults.

The disparity persists. In 2021, 80 percent of Chicago teens were unemployed, compared to 67 percent nationally (Great Cities Institute, 2023). The root causes are systemic: decades of disinvestment, underfunded education, and limited access to workforce development. Research consistently shows that expanding youth employment is one of the most effective ways to reduce violent crime.

When you support Art & Ambition, you're not just attending an event. You're investing in a generation of young Chicagoans ready to build something better.