Our work wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of our donor community. Our supporters help Uniting Voices Chicago empower the city’s youth and engage with our diverse communities.
Get to know some of our donors, sponsors, and partners. We thank them for their support and celebrate their lasting impact.
Joyce E. Stralow Reichardt was a gifted contralto soloist—first with the Northern Illinois University Concert Choir in the 1950s, then professionally with two San Francisco Bay choirs in the 1970s.
It became her dream to extend her love for children and music in order to extend empowering teaching, performing and foundation building for thousands of Chicago children still to be embraced by Uniting Voices Chicago. In the mid-2000s, together with her husband and daughter, she secured that pledge with The Joyce E. Stralow Reichardt and Kyrsten E. Downing Fund to benefit Uniting Voices Chicago through their family Trust.
Joyce's own future came to be shaped by Alzheimer's Disease. Now it was important to her that the fund also benefit Uniting Voices Chicago's mission today, supporting the thousands of children whose futures are currently being shaped through music.
This investment in Uniting Voices Chicago general operations helps build a strong foundation from which our staff, faculty and singers can create a more equitable future strengthened by song. As part of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s Chicago Commitment, this support celebrates Uniting Voices Chicago as part of the city’s network of diverse voices and creative community. Uniting Voices Chicago is grateful to the MacArthur Foundation for its commitment to creative people, effective institutions and influential networks building a more just, verdant and peaceful world.
Their long-term service, engagement and philanthropy have inspired generations of their own family and countless others to make a difference not just within Uniting Voices Chicago, but in the community at large.
Now retired, Mridu and Chandra have continued their involvement with Uniting Voices Chicago through their grandchildren’s participation. The couple attend nearly all performances and even travel internationally to see them perform.
Uniting Voices Chicago considers Mridu and Chandra its superfans and appreciates their longstanding engagement, including as generous donors to the Raising Voices Campaign. “My husband and I are at a stage in our lives where this is a wonderful legacy to leave to our grandchildren,” Mridu says. “It’s important to help the kids. The way Uniting Voices Chicago is working with the children is quite inspirational. It’s an institution that is really helping bring communities together.”
Through this unique collaboration, Uniting Voices Chicago singers benefit from William Blair’s expertise and commitment to local investment, volunteerism and community leadership while we share artistic inspiration and celebrate our collective impact. Uniting Voices Chicago is honored to be one of William Blair’s 11 global Community Partners, and is grateful to William Blair Managing Director and Client Services Officer Ellen-Blair Chube for her leadership on Uniting Voices Chicago’s Board of Directors.
Red Jacket Optional is Uniting Voices Chicago's largest fundraiser of the year. Our programs bring the opportunity for connection through the highest quality music education to thousands of diverse youth across the city of Chicago. Your investment empowers our students to make a lasting impact both at home and around the globe.
For any changes to your donor recognition listing, please contact Maria Sanchez at 312.849.8300 x126 or msanchez@unitingvoiceschicago.org.
