Our Partners & Sponsors
Standing With Us. Building With Us. Believing In Us.
At Chicago Emerging Stars, our mission to uplift and empower youth isn’t something we do alone, it's something we do together. Every step we take, every event we host, and every young life we reach is made possible because of partners and sponsors who believe in our vision and choose to stand beside us.
These aren’t just logos or names. These are organizations filled with people who show up with heart, purpose, and real commitment. Whether through generous sponsorship, strategic collaboration, or shared investment in youth development, their support reminds our young people that they are seen, valued, and worth every ounce of effort poured into them.
To every partner and sponsor listed here: thank you. You’re helping us shape futures, open doors, and light the path for the next generation of leaders.
Our Partners
My CHI. My Future.
My Chi My Future is a citywide initiative working to make sure every young person in Chicago has access to rich, safe, and youth-centered out-of-school experiences that help them discover their passions, build skills, and explore real pathways to their future.
This partnership reflects what we believe at our core: youth deserve opportunities that meet them where they are, honor who they are, and expand what they can become. Together, we’re building a more connected and equitable ecosystem so young people across Chicago can grow, lead, and thrive beyond the classroom.
World Business Chicago
World Business Chicago is the City of Chicago’s economic development organization, focused on inclusive growth, job creation, and ensuring that opportunity reaches every neighborhood, especially the South and West Sides.
Through our partnership in Workforce Development, we’re creating stronger bridges between young people and the world of careers, entrepreneurship, and long-term economic mobility. Their commitment to equitable talent development aligns directly with our mission to prepare youth not just to dream, but to build futures that are sustainable and powerful.
Together, we’re helping youth see the bigger picture of what’s possible in Chicago and giving them the tools and exposure to step into it with confidence.
Our Sponsors
1-800-Truck Wreck
More than a law firm, 1-800-Truck Wreck is a true believer in what’s possible when community comes first. Their support goes far beyond sponsorship; they invest in real change by standing with families, uplifting grassroots organizations, and showing young people that their futures matter.
At the heart of that impact is Amy Witherite, the founder and visionary behind 1-800-Truck Wreck. Her generosity has been a turning point for our organization.
We met in a moment that felt like fate during a winter coat giveaway, where our founder Jaqueza Thomas shared his dream of building something for youth in Chicago. Just months earlier, at 18 years old, he had funded his very first backpack giveaway out of his own pocket. The love from the community, and the way young people responded to being poured into, lit something even deeper in him.
He didn’t realize he was speaking with Amy Witherite herself. But she listened. She believed. And as they walked together, she introduced him to her team with a simple phrase: “Maybe we can help.”
She didn’t just help, she sponsored the entire event.
Since that day, Amy and the 1-800-Truck Wreck team have stood with us through some of our biggest moments from our annual Back-to-School Bash to our first-ever Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway. She saw a young Black boy from the SouthSide with a real vision, and chose to believe in him, support him, and help bring it to life.
Amy’s kindness, trust, and continued investment didn’t just fund events they helped ignite a movement.
We’re endlessly grateful to Amy Witherite and the entire 1-800-Truck Wreck family. Your belief in us helped get this organization off the ground. And because of your support, we’re not just reaching for the stars, we're building something big enough to change what youth believe is possible.
