Partnership Focus
WGN-TV Family Charities is focused on creating opportunities for children and families to help them fulfill their potential. We hope to bring awareness to various organizations and to enlist community support to help make a difference in the lives of families throughout the Chicago area.
WGN-TV Family Charities fundraises on behalf of six different charities: Greater Chicago Food Depository, Off the Street Club, Christmas in the Wards, Chicago Habitat for Humanity, Chicago Scholars and the American Red Cross.
In 2024, we supported two charity drives, the WGN Morning News Food Drive and WGN-TV Toy Drive. Including the Foundation’s match at fifty cents on the dollar, WGN-TV Family Charities donated the following in January 2025:
- Greater Chicago Food Depository: $19,200
- Off the Street Club: $1,725
- Christmas in the Wards: $1,725
The toy drive also received toys that were shared between Off the Street Club and Christmas in the Wards.
McCormick Match
The McCormick Foundation matches funds raised at 50 cents on the dollar. We pay all campaign and administrative expenses, so one hundred percent of all donations, plus the match is granted to qualified nonprofit organizations.
2024 at a Glance
Partnership Established
2021
Total Funding
$318K
in grants paid to date
Programs Funded
4
nonprofit organizations benefitted in 2024
Average Grant Size
$36K
in 2024
Our Grants Support
WGN Morning News Food Drive
The annual WGN Morning News Food Drive raises money to benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository, a network of food pantries and similar programs serving the many Chicago families experiencing food insecurity.
WGN-TV Toy Drive
The annual WGN-TV Toy Drive accepts toy donations and monetary contributions, both of which benefit Christmas in the Wards and Off the Street Club.
Yollocalli Arts Reach
An initiative of the National Museum of Mexican Art that strengthens the creative and cultural capital of teens and young adults in Little Village and Pilsen.
Disaster Relief
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families.