About Us
Our Purpose
Chicago Chapter Charities Foundation, Incorporated is a registered 501(c) 3 public charitable organization formed in 1988. The mission of the Chicago Chapter Charities Foundation (CCCF) is to positively impact the lives of African Americans in Chicago. Through our philanthropic support, we provide financial resources to non-profit organizations. CCCF also supports the community service initiatives of The Links, Inc. We generate philanthropic funds through signature fundraising programs and general fund development.
“You don’t make progress by standing on the sidelines whimpering and complaining. You make progress by implementing ideas.”
- Shirley Chisholm
Our History
CCCF was founded November 3, 1988 as the Chicago Links Foundation to provide structure to the fundraising efforts of a well-established African American professional women’s service organization in Chicago. The name was changed in 1994 to Chicago Cotillion Charities Foundation, and again in 2017 to Chicago Chapter Charities Foundation, to capture the growing breadth of the foundation’s fundraising and philanthropy.
Historically, the foundation generated funds through the annual Debutante Cotillion program, a highly successful fundraiser and teen mentoring program. Today, the foundation generates funds via the highly regarded, annual Power & Purpose Chicago (PPC) luncheon program, which brings together civic-minded Chicagoans to collectively activate around critical issues and recognize grassroots non-profits addressing those issues.
CCCF operates with a board of directors and officers. It operates exclusively for charitable and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501 (c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended.
Chicago Chapter Charities Foundation, Incorporated
Board of Directors
President
Kimbra Bell Balark
Vice President
Joy West
Secretary
Rene Alphonse
Treasurer
Kristen Broady
Financial Secretary
Vanessa Weathersby
Parliamentarian
Denise Gardner
Member At Large
Catrena Slaughter
Immediate Past President
Mia Hardy
Power & Purpose 2026 Chairs
Tammi Bedolla
Alexandra Daniels
Loren Johnson