A Message from the McCormick Foundation

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

The pandemic and the social unrest of recent weeks have not only laid bare the grave challenges facing our city, but also have deepened the already profound disadvantages afflicting our black and brown communities. We could cite the litany of societal problems and the ugly history of racism that have brought us to this point. But we believe that now, more than ever, is the time for action.

The McCormick Foundation‘s mission has been, and will continue to be, to invest in communities so that families and children have the opportunities they need to flourish. Like you, we believe that neither race nor ethnicity should predict life outcomes.

In partnership with you, we believe we can make this a reality. Whether your business is providing job training, enhancing inner-city education, eliminating food insecurity, financing small business development, funding violence prevention and reduction, or building community strength and resilience, your efforts help address the poverty and inequity we all want to end.

Our current unprecedented situation reinforces McCormick’s commitment to this mission. In the weeks and months ahead, we will redouble our efforts — and substantially increase our financial investment — as we work with you to achieve these shared goals.

We realize you will face many challenges as we move forward. Our goal is to remain flexible and nimble as we work with you, our partners, with a sense of urgency dictated by the needs of Chicago’s most impacted communities.

In addition to continuing our work addressing longer-term root causes, we will provide, through you, emergency funds directly to neighborhoods racked by the loss of jobs from the pandemic and by the need to rebuild after the tragic losses of recent days.

Our team members are actively engaged across the city, particularly on the south and west sides. They are committed to assisting you to help those that you serve, and they will remain in contact with you. We are hopeful that your organizations will move our communities forward through this crisis and change Chicago for the better. We are honored to work alongside you and actively support your work.

Yours in partnership,

 

Dennis J. FitzSimons Chairman

Timothy P. Knight President and CEO