Since the league’s beginning, WCR has been dedicated to bettering our community through donations of goods, money, and services to local not-for-profit organizations. We strongly believe in supporting Chicago organizations that promote community health, empower people, and call attention to underrepresented populations. During our home season, donations were made to the following organizations:

Bout 1 (1/31): Broadway Youth Center – The Broadway Youth Center is part of the Howard Brown Health Center, offering comprehensive services to all youth ages 24 and under. Daily programming includes drop-in services, counseling, and medical care; and their social and support groups focus on LGBTQ, HIV+, and homeless youth.

Bout 2 (2/20): Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation – This organization, founded in 1990, provides resources for economically disadvantaged Chicagoans. Their programs range from food distribution to nutrition and food-service education. For this bout, WCR also held a food drive and asked fans to bring in canned food donations.

Bout 3 (3/21): Inspiration Corporation – Through its supportive services, employment, and housing programs, Inspiration Corporation assists more than 3,000 individuals and families affected by homelessness and poverty each year - serving as a catalyst for self-reliance. WCR has worked with Inspiration Corporation several times, offering not just bout donations, but also providing volunteers for their Inspiration Café and their annual fund-raiser, One Inspired Evening.

Bout 4 (4/4): CircEsteem – CircEsteem’s mission is to unite youth from diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds and help them build self-esteem and mutual respect through the practice of circus arts. Several of CircEsteem’s young performers also provided a terrific pre bout show.

Bout 5 (5/2): American Cancer Society – For nearly 100 years, the American Cancer Society has been in communities across the country offering cancer programs and support. The Windy City Rollers have participated in the ACS Walk & Roll since our very first season. This year was no exception, as several of our members skated 10 miles along the lakefront two weeks later.

Bout 6 (5/30): East Village Youth Program – EVYP, established as a non-profit organization in 1989, is an award-winning college resource and support center working to increase the educational attainment of Chicago’s growing Latino population. EVYP strives to support these youth as they pursue their college degrees and enter professional careers.

Championship (6/20): Porchlight Counseling Services – Porchlight Counseling Services exists to help college sexual assault survivors achieve healing and wholeness. The organization’s goal is to provide high-quality, long-term counseling and services at no charge to the client, and to provide those services quickly in order to help survivors heal and get on with life.