826CHI | A Non-Profit Writing & Tutoring Center in Chicago

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Vote for The Boring Store!

Vote DAILY 'til May 6th for our shot at $5K to create in-store installations, including pneumatic tubes, periscopes, and the revival of our heroic supercomputer—C.E.C.I.L.!
There I Am Looking at You With a Hungry Face

There I Am Looking at You With a Hungry Face (with Jeffrey Brown's cover art!) is now available in The Boring Store!

News & Events

Amazing Partnership with Whole Foods

May 7th—

From thoughtfully including us in their Eve Week bag promotion to donating healthy snacks to After-School Tutoring, Whole Foods’ generosity toward 826CHI knows no bounds. This time, they’ve gifted five hundred mini cupcakes and brownies to April’s Promic-Con, effectively sugarizing the Prom and providing our staff with frosting fixes for the week that followed. They didn’t stop there, though, and bestowed upon us a $500 cash donation.

Whole Foods’ investment is a big deal to us. Their frequent support allows us to continue the free programming we provide to Chicago Public School students; inspiring creativity, reinforcing learning, and empowering these young people through self-expression. 826CHI is committed to investing in a better Chicago and relishes any opportunity to partner with local businesses doing the same.

To see pictures of our students and tutors goofing around whilst enjoying mini treats, visit our Facebook:

And now, a haiku of gratitude:

Thanks for the brownies
we ate them all up. Your cup-
cakes, too, were tasty.

PROMIC-CON SUCCESS!!!

April 30th—

Promic-Con 2013 was a huge success, thanks to the incredible time and effort of hundreds of volunteers, interns, businesses, organizations—not to mention the nerdish dancing of more than 250 guests at the SAIC Ballroom!. Between ticket sales, the raffle, and our silent auction, we were able to bring in more than $15,000 for our programs! That's amazing. We'll have pictures up soon! Stay tuned!

Part-time Events/Outreach opportunity

April 24th—

826CHI woefully bids adieu to Olivia Gil-Guevara as she leaves to concentrate on her studies. Olivia has been a shot in the arm to the events process at 826, and with her departure we will seek another dedicated, talented person to fill this half-time position.

For more information and to apply, please email hiring@826chi.org.

826CHI in the Sunday Tribune!

April 21st—

WBEZ's Rick Kogan on 826CHI, 826 National, and Promic-Con. Big ups to our incredible volunteers who make 826 the magical place that it is. You can read his full column here.

Baterbys Presents: A Charity Art Auction

April 6th—

Baterbys Art Gallery is coming to Schaumburg on Saturday, April 6th for a huge Charity Art Auction, which benefits 826CHI. Come to the Chicago Marriott in Schaumburg (50 N Martingale Road) and scope out great deals on works by Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Salvador Dali, and more!

- Marc Chagall,
- Salvador Dali,
- as well as other well-known, up-and-coming contemporary artists.

Your attendance alone grants you access to FREE food, FREE drinks, and a raffle. You could win amazing framed artwork or a cruise for two! Auction bidding starts at 5:00pm.

For a free raffle ticket, RSVP by emailing schaumburgauction@baterbys.com. Call 888-682-9995 for more details.

Mission

826CHI is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting students ages 6 to 18 with their creative and expository writing skills, and to helping teachers inspire their students to write.

Our services are structured around the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with one-on-one attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

With this in mind, we provide drop-in tutoring, after-school workshops, in-schools tutoring, help for English language learners, and assistance with student publications. All of our programs are challenging and enjoyable, and ultimately strengthen each student’s power to express ideas effectively, creatively, confidently, and in his or her individual voice.

Mission

826CHI shares its space with the Boring Store, Chicago’s only undercover secret agent supply store. The Boring Store outfits its spy-entele with the latest and greatest in espionagical wares. Visit us in Wicker Park and pick up a fresh grappling hook, carrier pigeon, envelope X-ray spray, hollowed-out can of shaving cream, or weather-resistant notebook. All funds raised through the store go to support 826CHI’s free programming.