Make It Better Foundation

In many urban communities, many view lacrosse as inaccessible. Not too long ago, London Booker was driving through Rochester when something made him stop. In an abandoned lot, a group of kids was running lacrosse drills, fully equipped, calling out plays, and moving with confidence. He hit the brakes, put the car in reverse, and asked what they were doing. Their answer surprised him. They were part of a school program, and they played every week. Years earlier, that scene would have been impossible. Booker was one of the first players with Roc E6 Lacrosse, a volunteer-driven nonprofit providing free, year-round lacrosse, mentorship, and life development programming. Now, he serves as liaison for the program, using sports as a vehicle to open doors, build confidence, and create pathways for young people. What becomes possible when young people are given a place where they belong and the chance to imagine new possibilities for themselves? Let us know what you think, find ways to support youth and sports, and learn what sets the best youth sports programs apart at Better.net — link below. #roce6 #growthegame #youthlacrosse #makeitbetter https://lnkd.in/gHX4zAjA

Calling outstanding nonprofits! 📢 Tomorrow is the last day to submit a You Said It and qualify for a 2027 Make It Better Philanthropy Award — and earn $1,000 for your nonprofit. Our Philanthropy Awards are designed not just to recognize outstanding organizations, but to help them grow. Last year, we invested $1.25 million and a year of collaborative storytelling in 43 nonprofits making the greatest impact. To qualify for next year's Philanthropy Awards, submit a You Said It at Better.net (link in bio) by tomorrow — July 15 💛 meaningful ways. Submit a You Said It — similar to an op-ed — by July 15 to qualify your favorite organization for an award and to become part of Make It Better's funding and storytelling network. Learn more at Better.net. https://lnkd.in/gT23sNpV

July in Chicago means long days, late sunsets, and no shortage of things to do. 🎇 Whether you're chasing live music, fireworks, food festivals, or art exhibitions, this month brings the kind of high-energy, culture-packed calendar that makes summer here feel so electric. Find the full list at Better.net (link below), and be sure to tag us in your adventures! Chicago International Film Festival Goodman Theatre Citadel Theatre Company  https://lnkd.in/gR43v8rY

You said it! 📢 Hear from our readers this month — on everything from multiple sclerosis to support for mothers in Afghanistan to Alzheimer's to Lollapalooza and arts education — through these You Said It's. Make It Better leverages the power of stories to make the world a better place faster. And our readers guide us to the nonprofits working most efficiently to accelerate that change. We are seeking the most impactful nonprofits to apply for our 2027 Philanthropy Awards — and the deadline is coming up! Submit a You Said It by July 15 to qualify your favorite organization for an award and to join Make It Better's funding and storytelling pipeline. Learn more at Better.net (🔗 below). National MS Society Turquoise Mountain Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation Ingenuity - Chicago  #lollapalooza #socialinvestment #moneyvaluesimpact #makeitbetter https://lnkd.in/gFAcbbR3

Housing and mental health care are often treated as separate challenges. For veterans, they rarely are. As communities across the country look for better ways to support veterans, two Chicago organizations, both Make It Better Foundation 2026 Philanthropy Award winners, are demonstrating what a more integrated approach can look like.  Rush University’s Road Home Program helps veterans recover from trauma. A Safe Haven Foundation helps them find a place to call home. Together, they’re working to make both easier to access. “What therapists do — help someone come to terms with the past, teach them how to cope with emotions or think differently about themselves — can only really work if a person’s basic needs are met”, says Dr. Brian Klassen, clinical director of the Road Home Program. Want to support veterans? The Rush Road Home Program is one of the featured veteran-serving organizations participating in Rockin’ For Our Vets: America 250, a benefit concert in Wheaton, IL, on July 11 featuring Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band and special guest HunterGirl! Find details and read more on Better.net. https://lnkd.in/gzXdmKsB

Only two weeks left to qualify your nonprofit for a 2027 Philanthropy Award! Make It Better uses the power of storytelling to make it easier for generous people to find and support organizations that are solving real problems in meaningful ways. Submit a You Said It — similar to an op-ed — by July 15 to qualify your favorite organization for an award and to become part of Make It Better's funding and storytelling network. Learn more at Better.net: https://lnkd.in/gT23sNpV

✨ This principal is in the talent business. LEARN charter schools are tuition-free and open to all — and each of their 11 campuses across the Midwest and Washington, D.C. are the highest performing schools in their communities. For Sharanda Morehead, principle at LEARN Romano Butler in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood, retaining talented teachers is a key piece of the puzzle. Many LEARN educators have remained for years or even decades, and some were LEARN students themselves. As for the students, Morehead, who greets each child passing in the hallway by name, maintains high expectations. Some students are from homes that have experienced trauma. Grandparents are raising some. Many will be the first to attend college. But the important thing is leveling the playing field and building connections that students know won't end at graduation. Morehead noted the impact of individuals like renowned designer Mick De Giulio, who has supported the school for decades and recommended LEARN Charter School Network for this article through his sponsorship of the Philanthropy Awards. "It's important that the work does not stop here," Morehead says. "We are their family. We are their support system." 💛 Explore how LEARN charter schools are making long-term investments in students, alumni, teachers, and their communities on Better.net — link below. And tell us about an educator who made an impact on your life below! ⬇️ #LEARNCharter #publiceducationmatters #moneyvaluesimpact #mickdegiulio #degiuliodesign https://lnkd.in/gJEnJmKP

🏌️♂️ Chicago has long been one of America's great golf cities. The roots run deep.  Within a few hours' drive, players can experience Ryder Cup venues, U.S. Open sites, nationally ranked resort courses, and some of the Midwest's most ambitious new golf developments.  Whether you're planning a day trip, a long weekend, or a buddies or couples getaway, the Chicago-Wisconsin corridor offers a collection of public golf experiences few regions can match. Explore the 13 best public golf courses in Chicago and Wisconsin on Better.net (link below) — and support great causes while you golf with these upcoming charity golf outings. Do you have an upcoming charity golf outing? Drop a comment below or tag Make It Better Foundation to be featured in Better Magazine. https://lnkd.in/e3f5dSS

Make It Better's Philanthropy Awards are designed not just to recognize strong nonprofits, but to help them grow. The goal is simple: make it easier for generous people to find and support organizations that are solving real problems in meaningful ways. In 2026, we awarded $1.25 million and a year of collaborative storytelling to 43 nonprofits doing just that. And we are looking ahead to 2027! To qualify your favorite nonprofit for a 2027 Philanthropy Award, submit a You Said It — similar to an op-ed — by July 15.  Visit Better.net to learn more and become part of Make It Better's funding and storytelling network. https://lnkd.in/gT23sNpV

The roar of a lion. The song of a humpback whale. The layered quiet of a forest at dawn, or the unsettling quiet of an ecosystem in collapse. The sounds of our living world are everywhere, and science is revealing what many of us have always sensed: that truly listening to nature changes us. It deepens our connection to the animals we share this planet with. It builds our empathy. And empathy, it turns out, may be one of the most powerful conservation tools we have. Conservation Nation — a 2026 Make It Better Philanthropy Award winner — created the Sound Science Series to introduce the next generation to the hidden language of nature — and inspire them to protect it. From Bioacoustics 101 to Listening to Wolves, these lessons teach students what scientists know, but also how to hear — and in hearing, how to feel. Explore bioacoustics, access free lessons, and help build the next generation of conservation leaders at Better.net (link below). #ecowarriors #conservationmatters #conservationeducation #bettermakers #philanthropyawards https://lnkd.in/gKynytzC