CHICAGO - (Business Wire) For Paul Miller, being a clown is no laughing matter; it
’s a pathway to a brighter future for hundreds of Chicago youth. Miller
’s CircEsteem, which he founded in 2001, has grown into a $700,000 non-profit organization that unites youth and empowers them through the unique approach of circus arts, and for his efforts he is
being honored with the Springboard Foundation
’s annual Springboard Award.
A former Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey clown, Miller created CircEsteem to bring together youth from different cultural, racial and economic backgrounds and teach them the skills they need to succeed in life. Through training and performance opportunities, CircEsteem participants become confident, curious, inventive and ultimately successful young adults with the ability to make a difference.
CircEsteem uses circus skills training as a way to build confidence, self esteem and leadership skills. The program is a jumping off point for participants to succeed in all areas of life, and provides support in the form of scholarships and financial management skills to extend what they learn outside of the performance stage.
“Paul has taken a wild idea and turned it into a shining example of how to work with and empower kids today,” said Springboard President Jack Keller. “How many other programs can boast a 100 percent high school graduation rate? And he ups the ante by providing college scholarships, paid positions where the participants become the teachers themselves and a college matching program that contributes $1 for every $1 saved towards college. And he has done it all with a focus on fun.”
For his commitment to providing a positive environment for Chicago-area youth to grow and succeed, Miller was honored at the foundation’s annual dinner on October 7, 2008. The Springboard Award, which comes with an unrestricted $15,000 grant, is given to a current or past recipient of a Springboard development grant who has demonstrated significant commitment to improving the lives of children in Chicago and who has shown the vision and leadership necessary to sustain a successful after-school program over the long term. Past winners include the Make a Difference Youth Foundation, Breakthrough Urban Ministries, JHP Community Center, and South Side Educational Center for Youth. For full descriptions of each grantee organization, visit www.springboardfoundation.org.
Springboard was started in 1998 by 10 young professionals, who founder Doug Mabie says, “wanted to do more than just write a check.” Since its first year, when Springboard made grants totaling $50,000, the foundation has distributed 193 grants totaling $2.6 million to 68 agencies. Today, Springboard provides funding to 20-25 organizations each year, with a team of Springboard members maintaining contact with each grantee, both to help assure that Springboard’s funding is being used to best effect, and also to help each group find other needed resources. Grants range from $5,000-$25,000 and are focused on assisting grantees in expanding programs, increasing staffing and reaching more children.
Historically, Springboard’s grants have been made possible by personal donations from each of Springboard’s members and a group of approximately 25 outside contributors. Annually, Springboard provides more than $350,000 in funding and other support to after-school programs in Chicago’s at-risk and impoverished areas. Outside contributions have become a significant additional source of funding, according to Keller: “We have gotten to the point where the generosity of outside donors has become an important part of our ability to support more people in more neighborhoods.”
The Springboard Foundation uniquely assists its grantees by being actively involved in the project-selection process throughout each grantee’s funding cycle. Springboard members take a hands-on approach, making site visits to each program to get a personal understanding of the environment, the leadership and most importantly the benefits being provided to children. A majority of grantees receive long-term funding from The Springboard Foundation that can last for up to five years, to promote growth and stability. The Foundation also provides grantees with access to capacity building resources from its network of partnering organizations that help not-for-profit groups with strategic planning, board development, fundraising, accounting and technology. When grantees utilize services through the partner network, the Springboard Foundation funds 70 percent of the costs.
“We find that the biggest hurdle for many of our grantees is to get past their first few years and onto the path of long-term stability,” said Keller. “Our aims are to both give them funding to sustain and grow their operations, and to help them learn management and organizational techniques that make for a stable future.”
About The Springboard Foundation
The Springboard Foundation was founded in 1998 by 10 young professionals who wanted to become personally involved in improving the lives of inner-city children in Chicago. Today, Springboard’s active membership numbers 40 men and women from Chicago and its suburbs. Springboard’s “venture philanthropy” approach is reflected in its mission of providing financial and intellectual capital to selected, grass-roots charitable programs that are focused on improving the lives of needy children, their families, and communities in the greater Chicago area. The Springboard Foundation is a Supporting Organization of the Chicago Community Trust. Learn more at www.springboardfoundation.org.
About The Chicago Community Trust
For 93 years, The Chicago Community Trust has connected the generosity of donors with the needs of the community by making grants to organizations working to improve metropolitan Chicago. With assets of $1.8 billion, the Trust made a record-breaking $114 million in grants in 2007. From strengthening community schools to assisting local art programs, from building health centers to helping lives affected by violence, the Trust works to enhance our region. Learn more at www.cct.org.
For more information, contact Eileen Rochford at The Harbinger Group for Springboard Foundation (773-463-2480, eileenr@theharbingergroup.com)
The Harbinger Group for Springboard Foundation
Eileen Rochford, 773-463-2480
eileenr@theharbingergroup.com
