PeacePlayers Chicago was awarded a $6,500 grant from the 2026 Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities to support PeacePlayers’ summer programming to bring neighbors together and help make our community safer this summer. PeacePlayers Chicago is among 232 local, grassroots organizations that will receive a total of $1.3 million in grants to host programs and activities in 24 neighborhoods on Chicago’s South and West sides hardest hit by gun violence. 

This year marks 10 years of investing in community-led safety, healing, and peace across Chicago’s South and West Sides. Since 2016, the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC) has invested nearly $13 million through the Chicago Fund to support more than 1,900 grassroots projects building stronger, safer, and more connected neighborhoods across 24 communities.

The $6,500 grant will support PeacePlayers Chicago’s 6-week-long summer program, which teaches participants leadership, teamwork, and violence prevention skills through the power of sports. With this grant, young leaders will gain a critical positive outlet during the long summer months, and get the chance to develop their own project to address a local need and bring their community together.  

“We are honored to be among the esteemed organizations selected by the Chicago Fund for Safe and Peaceful Communities. The summer months pose many challenges for young people in our communities, and we are proud  that together we can create a safe and fun alternative for youth. More than just providing an outlet, our programming gives young people the tools to prevent and positively resolve conflict in their daily lives.”

PSPC is working with partners to identify and support community-led, evidence-based solutions to addressing gun violence. Since its 2016 founding, PSPC has committed more than $203 million to anti-violence efforts in Chicago. In addition to the Chicago Fund, PSPC’s four-point approach also includes neighborhood-based initiatives, including street outreach and transitional jobs; reimagining and reforming public safety systems; and creating a supportive policy environment for comprehensive violence reduction. 

See the full list of grantees and find out more at www.safeandpeacefulchi.com. 

About PeacePlayers 

For twenty-five years, PeacePlayers has used the power of sport to bridge divides and develop leaders in communities around the world affected by conflict and social division. Founded in 2001, the organization operates year-round programs across the United States, the Middle East, South Africa, and Northern Ireland, reaching more than 5,000 youth annually—over half of whom are girls. Through basketball and leadership development, PeacePlayers equips young people with the skills to build connections, foster understanding, and create lasting change in their communities.

Media Contact:
David Cassel
dcassel@peaceplayers.org

(708) 250-4957