Bears accept Corporate Community BUILDer award at BUILD gala

Since 2012, the Bears have fostered a strong partnership with one of Chicago’s leading gang intervention, violence prevention and youth development organizations, BUILD (Broader Urban Involvement & Leadership Development). Through after school activities, summer camps, mental health care, educational support and a sense of community, BUILD reaches over 6,500 youth and families a year.

As proud supporters of BUILD’s mission, the Bears have provided financial assistance though the team’s charitable arm, Bears Care, and given youth opportunities to visit Halas Hall, attend training camp and learn about the organization.

BUILD honored the team’s commitment Friday night at their annual gala on the city’s Southwest side by naming the Bears and Bears Care this year’s Corporate Community BUILDer, an award which is presented annually to an organization that believes in supporting young people on their quest to grow into someone great.

The Bears are now in the company of prestigious philanthropic groups in Chicago, as recent winners of the award include BMO Harris Bank, Baird and the Target Corporation.

“We know the Bears have been not only big supporters of BUILD, but also have brought our young people in to give them an idea and opportunity to think about what their future could be in sports,” BUILD CEO Adam Alonso said. “You don’t have to be the player on Sunday or Monday Night Football. You could actually be the people behind the scenes, and you need all of those positions. There’s an investment in young people. We appreciate that BUILD and the Bears are partnered together for young people in the City of Chicago.”

Bears chairman George H. McCaskey attended the gala with his wife, Barb, to accept the award on behalf of the entire organization. They were joined on stage by Bears associate writer Gabby Hajduk, customer service coordinator Kareema Hill and director of community & alumni relations Matt Simeone.

McCaskey thanked Alonso and BUILD for their impactful work in the community, adding: “Keep building hope. Keep building lives. Keep building futures.”

“It’s a great opportunity for us to see what can be done to make the greatest city in the world even better,” McCaskey said on the Bears’ ongoing support of BUILD. “The work that BUILD is doing at a grassroots level is very impressive. It’s just an honor for the Bears to be associated with that work.”