50th Anniversary Gala Video

Tonise Paul, CEO and President of Energy BBDO, accepts her award at MEF's 25th Annual Reach for Excellence Awards Dinner. "I learned a profoundly important lesson from Petra: "Once children know you love them, they will let you teach them." That must be why there is so much love at MEF: it's part of what is taught and it's part of how the students are taught. It shows itself in helpfulness, friendship, faith and diversity. Every day at MEF love shows up along with tutors, advisors, friends and parents, to help young lives envision and unlock their potential."

Claudia Valencia, a 2008 Metro Alum talks about seeing her potential at Metro.

Midtown opened for Leo Gomez. "We need these programs in Chicago. When I look at myself as a father, husband, coworker, friend... all of those things are still being influenced by Midtown."

Al Castaneda, a 1975 Midtown alum, talks about life in the Chicago Pilsen neighborhood in the 1970's and how Midtown changed the trajectory of his life.

"Since 8th grade I wanted to be a dentist and nothing was going to stop me. Metro encouraged me to accomplish this." --Yaa Owusu 1999 Metro Alumna & Pediatric Dentist

"Midtown & Metro develop kids to be the best they can be." - Jeremy Malone, 1997 Midtown Alum

Check out Chip Mulaney of Skadden, Arps, Meagher & Flom LLP, on his remarks from the 27th Reach for Excellence Awards, “…[He], expressed his love and passion for MEF. Mulaney, a longtime MEF board member, told two stories about students at Metro & Midtown, describing the hardship both endured and the success they both have found in joining the MEF family. In a word, Mr. Mulaney described the students as heroes.” To read more on the 27th Reach for Excellence Awards please click here.

400 guests joined the Midtown Educational Foundation Auxiliary Board on Friday, May 18 at Ravenswood's Architectural Artifacts for a spectacular evening of live music by David Rothstein Music, food and drinks, a silent auction and a $5,000 Raffle for the Kids. Over $70,000 was raised to support the after-school and summertime virtue-based academic enrichment programs for over 1,100 of Chicago's low-income youth at Midtown & Metro. Special thanks to the event's Gold Sponsor, Riveron Consulting!! Learn more at midtown-metro.org/volunteer Video Produced & Edited By: Alex Donewald Royalty Free Music "All That" Provided by Bensound Additional footage provided by: Gunnar Curry

An excerpt from an interview with Tom Sosnof on Bootstrapping in America

"When I went to Midtown I found a family...I quickly learned at Midtown that they accepted me for being myself. Places like Midtown give people hope that they can achieve their own vision for the future and not settle for the vision that others see for you."