As many of you know, I have the privilege of being involved with an incredible organization, Share Our Spare, whose mission it is to ensure that every child in Chicago has the essentials they need to thrive in the first five years of life. As the board chair, I'm excited to support our 2023 annual fundraising event, the Shared Future Gala, every child deserves a strong start. The heartbreaking reality is that 1 in 3 children in Chicago have an unmet diaper need – that’s nearly 65,000 children. Since 2011, SOS has been a citywide leader committed to breaking the cycle of generational poverty that impacts the trajectory of a child’s life. Your support will bring us closer to a world where all of Chicago’s children have their basic needs met, allowing parents to shift their focus from crisis management to nurturing, bonding, and caring for their children. Today, Share Our Spare is partnered with over 150 non-profit agencies serving more than 10,000 unique children each year creating a meaningful impact in our community: 92% of our families are less stressed about baby essentials 83% of our families have been able to purchase more food and other essential supplies 71% of agencies report that their families have increased meeting personal goals Despite these successes, the need remains staggering with an additional 8,500 children on our waitlist. Proceeds from our annual gala will go directly to our Signature Essential Needs program and expanding our services to the thousands of children currently requesting support. Please consider helping us continue to do this incredibly important work.