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Bright Promises Friendraiser at Quarles & Brady

Bright Promises Foundation begins the summer season with a Friendraiser at Quarles & Brady

On Thursday, June 8th, new friends of Bright Promsies Foundation gathered on the 40th floor of the downtown offices of Quarles & Brady to meet, mingle, enjoy stunning skyline views and learn more about the many exciting ways that Bright Promises is working to create opportunities for every child in Chicago to reach their full promise and potential.

The gathering was hosted by one of Bright Promises newest Board Directors, Tony Stienike, who joined the Board in December and has already shown great leadership during our recent strategic planning process. Tony began the evening by sharing his desire to do something that helps that children of Chicago, and how this desire led him to join the Bright Promises' Board of Directors. 

Tony highlighted the organization's forward-thinking approach and dynamic impact on the child-serving system as a few of the many reasons he chose to support Bright Promises.

Wisdom from proud father & Bright Promises program participant Rich.

Poor outcomes for disadvantaged children are not inevitable.

Executive Director Iris Krieg spoke passionately about Bright Promises
first-of-its kind approach (and one-of a kind approach) that combines the right people with the right tools and information -- along with the right resources -- to create new solutions that break down the complex issues affecting our children. 

Iris shared how Bright Promises is engaging parents, caregivers, educators, and child-serving professionals to work together to better serve the 1 in 3 children in Chicago who are growing up in poverty, struggling every day against the inequalities that divide our city. 

"We cannot stand back and watch any more bright futures being extinguished by community violence or a lack of access to quality social services and educational opportunities." - Iris Krieg

Working together to create new solutions.

Guests also enjoyed a brief presentation by Dr. Linda Gilkerson, Erikson Institute professor, expert in childhood trauma and founder of the Fussy Baby Network. Dr. Gilkerson explained how Bright Promises and Erikson Institute have been working together over the course of a multi-year partnerhsip to offer support and services to parents who feel like they are struggling to meet the needs of their children.

‍The FAN (which stands for “Facilitating Attuned Interactions”) illustrates core processes in one word: Feeling, Calming, Thinking, Doing, and Reflecting. 

With support from Bright Promises, Dr. Gilkerson developed the FAN assessment tool as a resource for professionals to use when working with children and families in the Department of Human Services invtervention system who have experienced trauma.  

Dr. Gilkerson and her team are using this tool to help children and families who have experienced abuse, neglect, and violence to begin to heal.

Dr. Gilkerson's presentation was followed by a lively discussion where guests shared their own experiences of the challenges of parenting young children and asked thoughtful and compelling questions about the work that Bright Promises is doing to support the needs of parents and children throughout Chicago and Illinois.

Bright Promises Foundation would like to extend our sincere gratitude to Tony Steinike for hosting, to Quarles & Brady for generously donating space and refreshments for the gathering, and to everyone who attended and shared part of their eveing with us. Thank you!

Photo Gallery

Dr. Linda Gilkerson and Executive Director Iris Krieg (center) pose with guests Adrienne Kalyna  & Quarles & Brady Managing Partner Ted Yi.
Guests from Quarles & Brady included Matthew Sloan, John Aramanda, Lindsey Millman, Michael Hearon and William Walden
Board Director DeRondal Bevly (left) with guests Christoper Combest & Tom McDonnell
Skyline views at sunset made for the perfect setting to meet, mingle, and learn something new!
Bright Promises Executive Director Iris Kreig (left) and childhood trauma expert Dr. Linda Gilkerson (right) present about Bright Promises Foundation.