Community partner spotlight
Thresholds
Thresholds provides innovative behavioral and primary health care that promotes empowerment, well-being and full participation in community life.
The organization has worked with Chicago’s most at-risk populations for over 60 years, helping people living with mental health and substance use
conditions find home, health and hope.
Thresholds integrates evidence-based practices and strategic partnerships throughout their 30+ programs, including the Veterans Project.
This program ensures that veterans have the access they deserve to lifesaving services like supported employment, peer-driven support,
substance use treatment, integrated physical and mental health services, and trauma-based therapies. Peoples Gas was the first corporate
seed funder of the project in 2010 and has funded the program for the last 14 years.
Learn how you can get involved with Thresholds.
Thresholds >
Erie Neighborhood House
Peoples Gas is proud to support another long-serving community partner, Erie Neighborhood House.
Through their educational, health, legal and family services, Erie Neighborhood House is helping Latino immigrants,
alongside individuals and families of all backgrounds, to create powerful, just and inclusive communities.
Learn how you can get involved with Erie Neighborhood House or how their
services can help you or someone you know.
Erie Neighborhood House >
Forest Preserve Foundation
Peoples Gas is proud to support the Forest Preserve Foundation, the philanthropic partner of the
Forest Preserves of Cook County. Our focus is on the Conservation Corps programs, which nurture the next generation of
environmental advocates in Cook County. In 2022, the programs welcomed 140 Cook County youth to participate in environmental
work such as invasive species removal, river cleaning and mulching, as well as nature-based recreational activities and
environmental education. Through these programs, youth are exposed to green industry careers and Forest Preserves amenities.
Forest Preserve Foundation >
Chicago Youth Programs
Peoples Gas is a proud supporter of Chicago Youth Programs (CYP). Not only do we provide funding to CYP, but we also have employees who participate in the tutoring program.
CYP’s mission is to improve the health and life opportunities of economically disadvantaged, at-risk youth through a comprehensive set of volunteer initiatives. For over a decade, Peoples Gas employees have been participating in CYP’s tutoring program with one-on-one instruction for children from first to fifth grade through their SCORE Tutoring program.
We fund expansion and quality improvements to the first- through 12th-grade education component of CYP’s comprehensive approach, including SCORE Tutoring, Teen Tutoring programs and Teen Career programs, for low-income youth across CYP’s four community areas.
Chicago Youth Programs >
Chicago Fire Foundation
As part of our inaugural season sponsoring the Chicago Fire FC, Peoples Gas will support a new community initiative,
"Scores for Sustainability." For each Chicago Fire FC goal scored during the season, Peoples Gas will make a
contribution to the Chicago Fire Foundation, the team’s charitable arm. These funds will support the foundation’s ongoing work in
underserved neighborhoods, while helping raise awareness for the Peoples Gas Energy Efficiency Program
within those communities. The Chicago Fire Foundation’s programming includes its award-winning P.L.A.Y.S. (Participate, Learn, Achieve, Youth, Soccer)
Program, which has provided more than 250,000 hours of soccer across 50 Chicago Public Schools, serving more than 1,200 youth annually.
Chicago Fire Foundation >
Field Museum of Natural History
Peoples Gas supports the Field Museum of Natural History’s Keller Science Action Center
and the Field Museum’s Women in Science Luncheon.
Keller Science Action Center applies Field Museum science — both biological and social — to bring about lasting
advances in environmental conservation and cultural understanding. The Keller Center provides conservation programs
for young people that connect them to nature and enhance science learning through student experiences in nature.
These opportunities also provide leadership experiences and offer chances to explore future career paths in the
environment and science. The museum works in partnership with more than 30 schools and organizations to implement
environmental education programs and fulfill conservation priorities throughout the region.
The Women’s Board of the Field Museum, founded in 1966, raises funds for Women in Science programs at its annual
luncheon. Field Museum scientists not only impact their disciplines through groundbreaking research but also
provide meaningful opportunities — paid internships, insightful mentorships, and exciting programs — for women
pursuing scientific careers.
Field Museum of Natural History >
Youth Guidance
Peoples Gas supports two Youth Guidance programs: Becoming A Man (BAM) and Working On Womanhood (WOW).
BAM provides strength-based intervention programs that support boys and young men of color in grades 6-12 in building their social emotional resiliency.
WOW supports the health and wellness of girls and young women of color, who are living in communities that experience high rates of violence, trauma and poverty — and where females are often the silent victims and at-risk of being both aggressors and victims.
The objectives for both of these programs are for students to gain greater psychological and social-emotional well-being; higher school engagement and academic achievement; and increased utilization of safe and healthy behaviors.
Youth Guidance >
United Way of Metro Chicago’s United Neighborhoods Equity Fund
Peoples Gas is the founding sponsor of the United Neighborhoods Equity Fund (UNEF), launched by United Way of Metro Chicago in 2021.
Ten small BIPOC-led nonprofits, predominantly located on the city’s South and West sides and in the south suburban region, are connected to new investment
opportunities. Peoples Gas believes that investing in community-based organizations is essential to the prosperity, not just of
each neighborhood, but also of the entire region.
Ten grantees per cohort are awarded $50,000 of unrestricted funds over a two-year cycle to be used according to the needs of each nonprofit, along with two
years of intensive capacity building with the support of DePaul University’s nonprofit management program.
Visit United Way of Metro Chicago’s website to learn more about the program
and the organizations in the first two UNEF cohorts.
United Way of Metro Chicago’s United Neighborhoods Equity Fund >
Angel Tree — Casa Central and Chicago Commons
Each year, Peoples Gas employees donate hundreds of gifts for children at local community agencies. This year, Peoples Gas chose Casa Central and Chicago Commons as Angel Tree partners.
In addition to Angel Tree, Peoples Gas supports Casa Central’s Adult Wellness Center (AWC), which addresses the specialized needs of low-income Latino older adults, who often face significant barriers to healthy and independent aging. The AWC provides a structured day program, which aims to maintain, improve and/or restore the physical, emotional and mental health of participants. The AWC is the only adult day center of its kind in Chicago and nearby suburbs, with a unique ability to provide culturally competent care to Spanish-speaking and low-income older adults. Casa Central was established in 1954 to address the needs of Chicago’s growing Hispanic population. Its network of social services propels a diverse population of all ages toward self-sufficiency and a higher quality of life.”
Additionally, Peoples Gas supports Chicago Commons’ multigenerational approach, which includes three core programs: Early Education, Family Hub, and Senior Services. Chicago Commons provides the highest quality early education programs because of their enormous potential to change the life trajectories of young children. The Family Hub empowers parents through workshops and individual coaching, strengthening families’ economic mobility, financial security, and health and well-being. For seniors and adults with disabilities, Home Care and Adult Day Services help people stay in their homes, maintaining their independence and quality of life.
Casa Central’s Adult Wellness Center (AWC) >
Chicago Commons >
Nourishing Hope (formerly Lakeview Pantry)
With cold weather and the holidays fast approaching, funding from Peoples Gas supports crucial programs provided by Nourishing Hope.
Formerly known as Lakeview Pantry, the organization’s new name reflects its plans to grow and serve more people throughout the city of Chicago. In addition to providing free food, Nourishing Hope helps individuals with mental wellness counseling and other social services, such as job and housing assistance. Historically a North Side organization founded in 1970, Nourishing Hope is building strategic partnerships on the city's South and West Sides to serve more of our Chicago neighbors in need of assistance.
Before the pandemic, Nourishing Hope provided 2.3 million meals annually. Last year, it provided an incredible 4 million meals — reaching more than 45,000 new clients. While responding to the pandemic, it experienced exponential growth and exceeded goals set in its 2018 strategic plan.
For more information, visit https://www.nourishinghopechi.org/.
Nourishing Hope (formerly Lakeview Pantry) >
American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer
The American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event raises funds and awareness for breast cancer research and patient programs.
For the past five years, Peoples Gas has sponsored the event, and the company’s Women’s Development Network has created a
team to raise funds and participate in the walk.
The purpose of Making Strides Against Breast Cancer is to celebrate survivors, remember those that have been lost to breast cancer, provide
encouragement and strength to the newly diagnosed, and raise funds for innovative research and free programs to cancer patients and families.
This year’s walk takes place Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022, at Soldier Field. For more information or to get involved, visit
makingstrideswalk.org/chicagoil.
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer >
National Museum of Mexican Art
Peoples Gas supports the National Museum of Mexican Art (NMMA) in the Pilsen neighborhood,
the heart of Chicago’s Mexican American community. The NMMA is dedicated to promoting the appreciation of Mexican art
and culture from both sides of the border. The museum’s programs and exhibitions capture the wide range of Mexican
cultural expressions and art forms, from ancient to modern. NMMA represents the Mexican community from its own point
of view and in its own voice through a large permanent collection of Mexican art, rich visual and performing arts
programs, high quality education programs and resources and professional development of Mexican artists. NMMA’s
exhibitions and programs draw extensively from the Mexican tradition of utilizing the transformative power of art
to examine complex social issues.
National Museum of Mexican Art >
Utility Workers Military Assistance Program
Ten graduates of the Utility Workers Military Assistance Program (UMAP) started operations internships at
Peoples Gas this summer as the job training initiative for veterans celebrates
its 10th anniversary. UMAP helps military veterans transition to civilian careers and provides
Peoples Gas with highly qualified candidates for job openings. Since 2012,
488 vets have completed internships at Peoples Gas after graduating from the
program, and 97% subsequently were offered full-time jobs. UMAP is a partnership between Peoples Gas,
Gas Workers Local 18007, City Colleges of Chicago and the Utility Workers Union of America’s Power for America Training Trust Fund.
Participants take classes in the fundamentals of the natural gas industry at the Dawson Technical Institute of Kennedy-King College.
Graduates who accept internships at Peoples Gas spend four weeks paired with employee mentors
receiving on-the-job training. Successful interns are offered full-time positions as utility workers. Seven of the
current class of 10 interns served in the Army, and three in the Marines.
Utility Workers Military Assistance Program >
After School Matters 2022 summer program
Since 2017, Peoples Gas has supported programming for Chicago teenagers at After School Matters.
For the third consecutive summer, Peoples Gas is sponsoring a program that engages 75 teens in
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. The program is a collaborative effort with After School Matters and
Project SYNcERE, and exposes teens to various disciplines of engineering through project-based, hands-on learning.
The curriculum includes an hour per week during which Peoples Gas employees teach the
students about natural gas safety and maintaining the company’s delivery system. The students also learn about careers
in the natural gas industry and visit the Peoples Energy Training Center in Little Village. After School Matters
programs provide young people with opportunities to earn monetary stipends for their efforts. By providing out-of-school
programming, After School Matters connects teens with adult mentors, reduces educational inequity and helps break the
cycle of poverty.
After School Matters >
Center on Halsted
Center on Halsted is the Midwest's most comprehensive community center dedicated to the health and well-being of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. The center provides a safe and welcoming environment to more than 1,000 people
daily. Programs at Center on Halsted include volleyball, dance performances, yoga and cooking classes, rapid HIV testing, group
therapy, vocational training and job placement. Located in the Lakeview neighborhood, Center on Halsted partners with other
local and national organizations to provide additional programming for the community. The center also serves as an incubator
for a number of smaller LGBTQ nonprofit groups, providing operational support, space and resources to help the organizations grow.
Center on Halsted >
K-12 Environmental Education at Garfield Park Conservatory
The Garfield Park Conservatory is one of the largest conservatories in the nation, with two acres of public greenhouse space and 10 acres of outdoor gardens.
Peoples Gas partners with the conservatory to offer a full schedule of programs and events to educate local students with
nature-based family activities, school field trips centered on plant science, and a teen docent program that stresses STEM learning and job skills
training for local high school students. They offer an online resource center for teachers, parents and caregivers who are looking for plant science
and nature-focused activities for their students and children. They also provide nature play kits “to go,” enabling families with young children to
engage in meaningful nature learning and conservation activities in their own homes.
Garfield Park Conservatory >
Cubs Charities/White Sox Charities
Each baseball season, Peoples Gas partners with the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox on the company’s
Ks for a Cause initiative to support the charitable organizations of both teams. Both partnerships work on the same principle:
the more strikeouts the Cubs and Sox pitchers get during home games, the more money Peoples Gas
contributes to Cubs Charities and
White Sox Charities respectively. Over the past five years,
Peoples Gas has contributed more than nearly one million dollars in total to the charitable organizations
through the Ks for a Cause program. The contributions support the general fund of White Sox Charities, which makes
grants to life-changing organizations in the areas of health and wellness, education, child abuse prevention, and
cancer research and treatment. The contributions to Cubs Charities are earmarked for the
RBI Scholars program, which helps student athletes
develop the skills needed to succeed in school, maintain game eligibility and maximize potential for earning college scholarships.
Cubs Charities >
White Sox Charities >
Special Olympics Chicago
Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas employees participate in the Chicago Polar Plunge each year in early March
to support the programs of Special Olympics Chicago. Since 2016, the volunteer fundraisers have raised
more than $700,000. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and athletic competitions, as well as life-enriching programs and
activities for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. More than 7,500 athletes throughout Chicago participate
in Special Olympics programs in 22 sports, 27 parks, 150 Chicago Public Schools and through 23 agencies. Approximately 70% of the athletes
are at or below the poverty line. Peoples Gas also provided corporate support for Special Olympics’ 50th Anniversary
celebration in 2018, attended by Special Olympians from around the world.
Special Olympics Chicago >
Black Creativity program at the Museum of Science and Industry
The Museum of Science and Industry’s Black Creativity Program celebrates African American achievement in science,
technology, engineering, art and medicine. Black Creativity offers a wide range of targeted, culturally relevant
STEM education through programs and exhibits that reach over 10,000 students, teachers and family members in underserved
Chicago neighborhoods each year. Peoples Gas provides support for the Black Creativity Innovators program.
Museum visitors learn more about the creative and exciting work happening in the community featuring local Black innovators who are
helping transform Chicago and inspiring the next generation of youth in our city.
View Black Creativity program at the Museum of Science and Industry >
