Horizons National Chicago (HNC) is on a mission to help transform the lives of Chicago's most vulnerable children through its community-centered summer programming. Our organization focuses on maintaining a high retention rate to serve students from as early as PreK and kindergarten to at least 8th grade, ensuring continuity and sustained impact on students' lives.
HNC offers a 6-week academic summer program, where students' progress is documented at the start and end of the program. The curriculum focuses on literacy, STEM, enrichment, and swimming, with classes led by professional teachers. Recognizing that drowning is a national health care crisis, especially among black adolescents who are three times more likely to drown than their white peers, HNC ensures that each participant receives at least 90 minutes of swimming instruction each week. This commitment to safety and education has contributed to a remarkable 97% high school graduation rate for Horizons graduates, nationally.
In 2025, HNC expanded the program to two new cohorts within the University of Chicago Charter Schools (which serve the Bronzeville and Woodlawn neighborhoods) and continued to grow the relationship at St. Catherine St. Lucy (which serves students from the Austin community). We hope to serve more than 160 students this upcoming summer.
HNC's vision is to expand its services within the Chicagoland area to approximately 1,200 students across 13 sites in the next six years. By raising awareness and expanding its reach, HNC is poised to make a significant impact on the lives of children in Chicago. Your support can help us achieve our goal of providing quality education and enrichment programs to those who need it most. Together, we can create a brighter future for many of Chicago's most vulnerable children!