Investing in Hope: Why Our Auxiliary Board Shows Up
- Nick Malone
- a few seconds ago
- 3 min read
For our Auxiliary Board, making time to give back to the city they call home is about more than fundraising or raising awareness: it's about becoming a better citizen, and learning to lead with compassion above all.
Each year, corporate volunteers from across Chicago join us at Association House High School for Career Readiness Day: a crash course in interview skills, resume building, and industry knowledge led by insiders. Our students gain new strategies to stand out in a job market that gets more competitive and challenging every day; and our industry-leading volunteers learn what's really on the minds of young people making their first steps into the working world.
Many of our volunteers have gone on to join our Auxiliary Board-- a dedicated team of Chicago professionals who take the time to participate in experiences like Career Readiness Day, and help address fundraising gaps by engaging their professional network directly.
We spoke with three members of our Aux Board-- Tayler, Zach, and Kristina-- about what keeps them excited about our mission, and why the work feels so important as we kick off the new year.
What drew you to Association House, and what keeps you here?
Zach: What drew me in is how unique the model is. The wraparound approach, where support doesn't end just because one goal has been achieved, rang true with what I felt was needed to combat poverty and inequality. But what keeps me here is that this place is relationship-centered. Before the numbers, everyone is a person first.
Tayler: It's easy to stay invested because the House is so dynamic. The world changes, and the House changes with it. I helped with Career Readiness Day three years ago, and now on the Aux Board, I have a hand in so much more than just the high school. It's special to be part of a place that's so open and welcoming to you being involved-- somewhere that really wants you to learn the ropes.
When did you first see the impact in real time?
Kristina: Seeing students evolve — looking at their resumes from a year ago to now — it’s incredible. You see the confidence. You see the new experiences they’ve added. You see them applying what we talked about.
Zach: Last ye ar, I met a senior who saved the arts program at their last school by lobbying Chance the Rapper for a $25,000 grant, and it worked. And she just mentioned it casually while we were doing a practice interview. We went off-book from there. I was like, "Every interview question you get from here on out — just bring it back to that story. Redirect to something you actually love to talk about." I volunteered at her graduation ceremony later that year and she remembered me. That full-circle moment — that’s when you feel the difference.
Why is showing up for this work so important right now?
Tayler: There are so many issues you could point to. It can cause analysis paralysis. But partnering with an organization that’s actively doing something — that’s how you move from feeling sad about a problem to being part of the solution.
Zach: I can’t fix national policy myself. But this work exists in a building, in a neighborhood, serving real people. That makes it actionable. The antidote is hope — but hope in the form of opportunity. You can’t do good schoolwork if you’re hungry. You can’t focus if you don’t have childcare. The wraparound model removes those barriers so young people can invest in their future.
Why do small, individual donations matter so much?
Tayler: When I think about my commute, it’s simple. I get in my car, and drive. One student told me she can’t use childcare services because taking two toddlers on the CTA is too difficult. So when we're putting our fundraising campaign together, and I hear that $25 covers transportation for a week — that’s a huge deal. If she can’t get here, she can’t graduate.
Kristina: Being here in person, speaking with students, looking at their classrooms, I see what's important: books, computers, transportation. But without unrestricted support, placed in the care of people who know what students need best, those gaps can go unaddressed.
This spring, our Auxiliary Board is fundraising for Association House High School, finding support for the things our students need most. A one-time donation of $25-$1000 can make a massive impact at every level of our high schoolers' experience.
Will you join our Aux Board in opening doors for young people in Chicago?
