2024–2025

Impact
Report

Growth. Community. Relationships.

7,265

In the 2024–25 school year, VOCEL reached

children across Chicago

…continuing to raise the bar for high-quality, play-based learning experiences for young kids and the adults who nurture them. Through relationship-driven partnerships, this year, we’ve reached more parents, teachers, and school leaders than ever before.

Join me for a look at how VOCEL is doubling-down on community-centered growth and innovation — working with our partners to ensure every child has the foundation to learn, grow, and lead.

Jesse Ilhardt
Executive Director & Co-Founder

Imagining a New Future for All Children

In Chicago, 75% of children from households with limited economic resources start kindergarten behind.

At VOCEL, we’ve been working to combat this inequity for more than a decade, and we’ve learned that to create change, we need to use the same skills we teach our children. One that has been a driving force over the past year? Imagination. Only by thinking expansively and rejecting the status quo can we propel all of our children to social, emotional, language, and academic success.

An Ecosystem Approach

At VOCEL, we know there are no simple solutions. To advance equity in early childhood education across Chicago, it’s critical to support the individuals in a child’s life who have the greatest potential for impact: parents, teachers, and school leaders. Over the past year, we’ve deepened our partnership with these everyday changemakers.

VOCEL’s Impact

in partnership with parents, teachers, school leaders, and investors

Our school readiness and parent support programs extended learning from home to school, reaching 200 parents.

PARENTS

Patricia

VOCEL Parent Leader
Davis Elementary

Already deeply engaged as a volunteer at her neighborhood elementary school, Paty was one of the first to sign up as a parent leader when Powered by VOCEL launched at Davis. Three years later, she's amazed by not only how the program strengthens the bonds between parents and children, but also how it emphasizes social-emotional well-being for both groups. Children are encouraged to play and connect with their own emotions, and parents take charge of their learning while forming a supportive community. This past summer, she already had fellow parents reaching out to her, excitedly asking when classes are beginning in the fall. “I love it,” she said.

“Giving children time to play and learn — I think it’s the best thing we can do. VOCEL gives us the guidelines to learn.”

Our teacher fellowship for pre-K–2nd grade teachers expanded social-emotional learning opportunities for kids (and for 40 teachers themselves).

TEACHERS

Haley Ford

Former VOCEL Teacher Fellow
Director of Teacher Development

When Haley participated in VOCEL’s Early Educators for Thriving Children fellowship as a special education teacher, she was immediately struck by its emphasis on the well-being of educators.

“I've done lots of different fellowships and programs over the years, and VOCEL’s focus on the educator as an individual first and foremost is so unique.”

This orientation mirrored the approach the program took with students, which encouraged teachers to see the whole child and incorporate play into every aspect of their curriculum. “Kids have to be in a headspace where they're comfortable in the classroom. That’s the foundation of everything — being able to advocate for yourself, being confident, pushing yourself when things are difficult. If you don't have those skills or that toolbox of strategies, kids are not going to grow to their full abilities.”

We trained, coached, and supported 30 administrators to lead quality early learning in their schools.

SCHOOL LEADERS

Cynthia Sanchez

Current VOCEL School Leader Fellow
Little Village Elementary

Cynthia Sanchez has been an educator in Little Village for 20 years, but through VOCEL’s Building Early Learning Leaders fellowship, she found new ways to strengthen partnerships across her school community. Participating alongside her assistant principal, Cynthia learned from fellow CPS leaders and received one-on-one coaching from former CPS educator Callie Crump.

“It [was] great! Callie knows the field like the back of her hand.”

With VOCEL’s support extending to fellow teachers and families as well, Cynthia saw practices reinforced both at school and at home — creating meaningful, consistent impact for students.

We partnered with thoughtful, community-focused leaders and funders who provide the strategic and financial support we need to deepen our impact.

INVESTORS

Bryan Stokes II

Education Portfolio Director
Robert R. McCormick Foundation

In 2023, the Robert R. McCormick Foundation partnered with VOCEL to establish All In For Kids: a two-year pilot initiative that layered VOCEL’s parent, teacher, and school leader-facing programs in six schools across Englewood and Little Village.

“VOCEL is unique in being able to respond to the needs of communities. As we work to better support kids during the early years of their lives, VOCEL's work is a positive model for what needs to exist in our education system all across the state.”

Community-Tailored Innovation

This past year, Managing Director of Programs Kayla Villalobos conducted extensive research on why so many fewer Black families than Latine families were enrolling in VOCEL’s parent-child classes. Supported by a grant from the Sagalyn Family Fund, she interviewed community members and analyzed neighborhood and school data, and from her findings, VOCEL is evolving our program and marketing to reach more families. This includes a new partnership with Teamwork Englewood, a longstanding neighborhood organization.

Celebrating Emerging Leaders in All Forms

Watch the video for a special glimpse into a VOCEL classroom!

The VOCEL Way

Our Foundational Beliefs

This past year, our foundational beliefs inspired countless experiences and programs for children across Chicago.

BELIEF #1

free

Children should be

…their needs, ideas, beliefs, questions, comments, feelings and boundaries should be respected and taken seriously.

Freedom in Practice

Most people imagine hallways as places of silence and order, but in partnership with VOCEL, Davis Elementary School is making hallways a place of joy and celebration. VOCEL parents even planned a hallway parade where young children and parents showed off their family art projects with pride.

BELIEF #2

Play

is a right

…and all children deserve access to learning environments that center the power of play.

Play in Practice

After experiencing the power of play firsthand through VOCEL’s Child Parent Academy, parent Angie Maciel-Wright opened her own business in Brighton Park—La Casa Playroom, the first bilingual playroom on Chicago’s southwest side. She now hosts regular playdates for VOCEL families.

BELIEF #3

& cultures.

relationships

Children develop in the context of

These relationships and cultures should be valued, embraced, and should inform the child’s learning.

Empathy in Practice

Relationships and community are at the heart of all of VOCEL’s work, so it’s no surprise that these values took center stage at our annual end-of-year celebration for teachers and school leaders. VOCEL was proud to recognize educators’ hard work and dedication as they completed VOCEL’s two-year fellowships.

BELIEF #4

competent

Children are

& capable

individuals and communicators

…even as infants. It is our job as adults to notice and respond to their communication.

Responsiveness in Practice

Day in and day out, all of VOCEL’s programs help parents and educators leverage nurturing, responsive relationships and play-based instruction as conduits for exemplary language development in children.

BELIEF #5

everywhere

Learning can happen, and is happening

& all the time

…(at home, out and about, at school, etc.). School is not the center; the child is the center.

Predictability in Practice

Through our partnership with ParentPowered, all parents and caregivers participating in VOCEL’s programs receive research-based tips customized to their child’s age and delivered via text messages that affirm and enhance their learnings from VOCEL.

Our Staff & Boards

Lists as of June 30, 2025. Visit Staff & Board to view updated lists.

LEADERSHIP
Nick Scodro
RBN Insurance Services
Chair
Jeannine Cleary
S.L.A.M. Supporting Literacy and Math
Secretary
Jason Mueller
JP Morgan Private Bank Chicago
Treasurer
MEMBERS
Jonathan Dhanawade
Mayer Brown LLP
Grant Gochnauer
Vodori
Justin Hance
Harris Associates
Lindy Hirschsohn
The Boston Consulting Group, Alumna Partner
Dr. Marisha Humphries
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)
Frank Karl
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors
Elizabeth Keigher
GEM Realty Capital, Inc.
Carrie Littman
The Boston Consulting Group
Anajah Philogene
Teach For America Greater Chicago-NWI
Kelly Powers Kelly
Hatch Gemini LLC; VOCEL Co-Founder
Viki Rivkin
SHALVA
Adrian Segura
The Luminary Collective

Amy Cahill
Char Damron
Jonathon Fellows
Stacey Gillett
Louis Hellebusch
Jack Krasaeath
Barbara Koren
Lisa Kueng
Phyllis Lee
Ellen Morgan
Ashley Pletz
Kelly Powers Kelly
Aminah Wyatt-Jones

LEADERSHIP
Rachel Berkowitz
Hoffmann Family of Companies
President
Haley Ford
Chicago Public Schools
Vice President
MEMEBERS
Drew Blackmun
PwC
Zach Bradford
KeyBanc Capital Markets
Lori Cole
Berwyn North School District
Mary Evers
PwC
Samuel Muñeton Jr.
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Jenna Munger
JP Morgan Private Bank Chicago
Praneeth Penmetsa
GTCR
John Schmidt
GEM Realty Capital, Inc.

Cristen Brown
Director of Child & Family Learning
Maritza Castillo
Community Leadership Specialist
Edith Contreras
Teacher
Callie Crump
Director of School Leader Development
Cintia Cruz-Alvarez
Family Support Specialist
Raha Dempsey
Managing Director of Strategy
Claribel Diaz
Family Support Specialist
Ryan Edwards
Manager of Educator Supports
Anais Gonzalez-Fang
Director of Development
Jamie Huenink
Director of Teacher Development
Jesse Ilhardt
Executive Director & Co-Founder
Deb Perez
Director of Partnerships
Aleisha Ramos
Program Support Specialist
Julio Rodriguez
Manager of Member Experience & Events
Alicia Stipe
Community Leadership Specialist
Maria Dolores Vaca
Family Support Manager
Nelly Ventura
Director of Parent & Community Leadership
Kayla Villalobos
Managing Director of Programs
Sandi Weiskirch
Managing Director of Finance & Operations
Paige Williams
Senior Manager of People & Culture

Financials


Cash and Equivalents	$928,277.71
Accounts Receivable	$1,489,693.98
Growth Reserve	$341,253.49
Operating Reserve	$679,658.64
Other Current Assets	$68,679.93
Other Assets	$102,440.88
Total Assets	$3,610,004.63
Total Liabilities	$250,914.69
Total Equity	$3,359,089.94
Total Liabilities and Equity	$3,610,004.63

FY25 Revenue and Expenses


Total Revenue	$3,593,760
Total Expenses	$2,196,152
Net Revenue	$1,397,608

Click on graphs to view larger.

Grow

Our 2024 Benefit Dinner

In September 2024, the VOCEL community came together at GROW — our annual benefit dinner — and raised over $500,000 to enable equitable early learning excellence across Chicago. During the celebration, we reflected on our growing aspirations to change the conversation about play and joy and excellence in early childhood education in our city.

Scroll to read some quotes from our program participants about how VOCEL has supported their growth and see some photos from the celebration! Click here to view our incredible GROW sponsors.

“VOCEL has helped me strengthen my core belief that children learn best through play and has allowed me to tap into a network of like-minded educators, resources, and funds, in order to make this belief a reality in my classroom.”

– Teacher in VOCEL’s educator fellowship

“VOCEL has helped me grow emotionally and I’ve gained more self-awareness as a parent. This growth has helped my son thrive as he tackles his milestones.”

– Parent in VOCEL child-parent class

“I have been able to connect with others passionate about this work and I have learned so much while feeling understood and supported. VOCEL gave me a space where I felt comfortable saying I really wanted to learn more. And I knew I was talking to real experts.”

– Principal in VOCEL’s school leader fellowship

Let’s invest in scalable, science-based solutions to support every child.

Donate Today →

Thank you to all of our supporters!

Our Community of Supporters

All donors to VOCEL between July 1, 2024 and June 30, 2025. Listed alphabetically.

Individual, Corporate and Foundation

A Better Chicago

AbbVie

Allison Ackerman-Guberman & Daniel Guberman in honor of Sandi Weiskirsch

Tilia & Pedro Albuquerque

Maril Alsup & Joe Patt

Jennifer Alter Warden & Robert Warden

Anonymous Donors (6)

Emilio Araujo

Helen & Michael Arkes

Gayle Arlen

Gerardo Arriaga

Baird

Steve Balash

John Banke

Steve & Carol Barron in honor of Lindy Hirschsohn & Chris Coetzee

Greg & Lois Basil

Rachel Bates

The Catherine J. Benjamin Trust

Rachel Berkowitz

Kirsten & Charlie Berkowitz in honor of Rachel Berkowitz

Ellen Berkowitz & Steve Auman

Katherine Beyer

Xerxes Bhote

Brian & Laura Binder

Drew Blackmun

BlackRock

Patricia Blanco

María de Lourdes Blanco Sánchez

Craig Bondy

Neil & Sharon Book

Etta Boot

Boston Consulting Group, Inc

Zach Bradford

Marc Brenner

Alan Bromberg

Tracy & Tom Brooker

Debbie & Matthew Brown

Abby Brunner

Paul Brunswick

David & Lisa Burik

Brandon & Jennifer Bush

Elwanda Butler

Amy & Gabe Cahill

Beth Callis

Canon Solutions America

Michelle & Johnny Carlson

Rich Carpenter

Mandy & Matt Casamassima in honor of Liz Keigher

Brian & Andrea Cercek

Craig & Ana B Channell

Michael Chen

Hillary Child

Tameeka Christian

Joan & Kevin Christopher

William Cleary

Mia Cleary & Dylan Remick

Mary Lynn Cleary

CME Group Foundation

Stephanie Cohen

Nancy Cohen in honor of Rachel Berkowitz

Lori & Justin Cole

Tricia Collins

Kevin & Linda Conway

Kaitlin Cordes

Alexandria Craig

Crown Family Philanthropies

Char & Larry Damron

Denise Castillo Dell Isola

Raha & David Dempsey

Bob & Terri DiMeo in honor of The Fellows Family

Discover Financial Services

Kate Donaldson

Kris Drankiewicz & Lili Macias

DRW Foundation

Ravae Duhaney

Tim Elberfeld

Nick & Christy Etz

Mary Evers

Gillian Evers

Thomas & Mary Evers

Seth & Rachel Feinberg

David & Acasia Feinberg

Beth & Lee Feingold

Lawrence & Brenda Feis

Jonathon & Valencia Fellows

Patricia & Jerry Fellows

Finnegan Family Foundation

Whitney Fogelberg

Fogelson Family Foundation

Susan and Stephen Baird Family Foundation

Haley Ford & Todd Dummett

Josephine Fox

Andrew Franklin

Frechette Family Foundation

Stanley & Ruthie Friedell

Jennie Funk & Brian Jansen

Dana Galati

Rosalba Garcia

Terri Gartenberg

Paul Gearen in honor of Barbara Koren

Michael & Rachel Geller

GEM Realty Capital

Molly Gilbride in honor of The VOCEL Team

The Gochnauer Family Foundation

Anais & Riley Gonzalez-Fang

Lillian and Larry Goodman Foundations

Google

Therese Grady

Josh & Elena Grotto

Jason & Laura Grover

Nancy & Kurt Gutfreund

Christina & Adam Hachikian in honor of Jesse Ilhardt & Kelly Powers Kelly

Justin Hance & Shannon Halloway

Terry Hart

The Hartford

Lou & Meredith Hellebusch

Idris & Chelsea Herring

Christina Herzog

Lindy Hirschsohn & Chris Coetzee in honor of Nick Coetzee

Benjamin Hockenberg

Josh Hoen & Blair Hannah in honor of Anais Gonzalez-Fang

Jacqueline Horn

Houlihan Lokey

Rebecca Hsu Ahern

Doug & Bonnie Ilhardt

Ben & Jesse Ilhardt

Lane Imberman

IMC

Impact Grants Chicago

Invesco

Kevin & Julia Jakopchek

Carolyn Jones

JP Morgan

JP Morgan Chase Foundation

JSSI

Dana Kamerling

Ankeet & Lauren Kansupada

Frank & Lauren Karl

Katten Muchin Roseman LLP

Calvin & Mary Katter

Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors Foundation

Elizabeth Keigher

Lindy & Michael Keiser

Erin Kelly

David Kelly & Kelly Powers Kelly in honor of The VOCEL Team

Mike & Arlene Kelpsch

Candice Kemeny

Jane & Jason Kenyon

Monica Khol

Shelby King

Kyle Kirk

Tyna Korcz Ferretti

Barbara Koren

Katherine Korey

Vickie Korey

Jerry & Elizabeth Koutavas

Jim Kozlowski & Rachel Mendoza

Jack & Becky Krasaeath

Lisa Kueng & Tony Green

Prath Kulkarni

Jonathan Lamarre

Mary Lanciotti

Leigh Anne & Andrew Larsen

Latham & Watkins

Tena Latona

Carolyn & Mike Laughlin

Leslie Layman

Stacey Leadley

Phyllis Lee

Bridget Lee

Marni Levine

Matt & Mia Lewisman

Tom & Jess Lisnich

Carrie Littman & Nelson Iginla

Kim & Tom Littman

Stacy Loewe

Katie Lonze

Stephanie & Greg Lowe

Bill & Diane Lowe

Madera Technology Advisors

Derek Malley

Kyra Marcano

Jonathan & Stephanie Marks

Brian Marks

Bob Marshall

Kathyrn Mattie

Mayer Brown LLP

Robert R. McCormick Foundation

McCormick Institute for Early Childhood

William McIntosh

Ann McNally

Ravi Mehta & Reshum Panchal

Cynthia Melk

Katie Mendoza

Luis Mendoza

Alejandra Menendez

Merchant Giving Project

Debra Michaels

Christopher & Amanda Miller

Peter Mishos

Lauren Modahl

Alberto Morales

Ellen Morgan & Sheldon Zenner

Alex & Brenna Moss

Amy Moy

Carrie Muehlbauer

Christina & Jason Mueller

Samuel Muñeton Jr.

Jenna Munger

Neal & Stacey Nath

Northern Trust

Laura Novaczyk

Persio Nunez

Brian O'Connell

Ms. Kristen O'Rourke

Flynn Okner

Timi Omotunde

Origami Works Foundation

Destiny Ortega

Joyce Pae

Broderick Palan

Thania Panopoulos

Michelle & Anu Parekh in honor of The Fellows Family

Sabrina Partridge

Christian Payant

Praneeth Penmetsa

Mark & Dawn Perres

Wesley Pesantez

Lisa Pluchrat

Patricia Pluchrat

Chad Podkulski

Angelica Pop

Allison Pospesel

Sally & Tom Powers

Robert & Molly Powers

Sean Prestipino

Kevin & Rachel Price

Kyle Prokup

Pulte Family Charitable Foundation

PwC

Clay Ragon

Juan Ramirez

Mary Beth Rampolla

Jake Randle

Sarah & Lou Rassey in honor of The Scodro, Kansupada & Fontes Families

Keviyona Ray

RBN Insurance

Dean Ricker

Viki & Tom Rivkin

Michele & Larry Rivkin

Laura Roberts in honor of Jesse Ilhardt

Julio Rodriguez

Teresa Rodriguez

Maribel Rojas

Rodolfo Rojas

Roth Capital Partners, LLC

Matthew & Beth Rubin

David & Stacey Rudd

Cailie & Jeff Ryan

Sagalyn Family Foundation

Salesforce

Hilary Sallerson

Ryan & Laura Sandahl

Ewelina & Shiva Sandill

Andrea Sarther

Carly Schirber

Cathryn & Justin Schmaltz

Johnathon Schmidt

Schreiber Philanthropy

Jackie Schwartz

Linda Schwartz & Alvin Dodek

Nick & Ariele Scodro

Adrian Segura

David & Rachel Shapiro

Bryce Shields

Gina Shields Pacheco

Maureen Shinners-Gearen & John P. Gearen

Lexi & Robert Silver

Greg Smith

Alan & Andrea Solow

Colin Stanley

Megan & Eric Stavriotis in honor of Jeannine Cleary

Steelcase

Sharon & Michael Stein

Matthew Steinmetz

Bobby Steinsdoerfer

Rachel & David Sternberg

Joseph Stokes in honor of Lisa Kueng

Rachel & Rush Sturges

Scott & Patti Swakow

Vanessa Swakow

Mandy Tahvonen & Benjy Ward

Pauline Taylor

Cleary ten Brink Family Foundation

Stephanie Thai

Chad & Virginia Thomas

Michael & Taylor Thomas

Susan Toth

Shawn Trimble

Zach Udischas

Jennifer Uner

United Airlines

United Way of Metro Chicago

Vivo Foundation

Emma Vogeler

Dirk & Donna Vos

Matthew Wallin & Nicole Rogers

Bridge Academics

Nicole Weber

Sandra Weiskirch

Nate Weiskirch

Eli Weiskirch

Laura Werner

Steve Wierema

Matilda Wilhoite

Paige Williams

Catherine Willis

Nick Wilson

Lucille Wilson

Jodi & Chris Wine

Joe Winner

Josh Winters

Wolter Investment Co LLC

Worldreader

Patrick Zacchea

Christine Zantiny

David Zivan in honor of Lisa Kueng & Tony Green

Ronna & Steven Zoll

Francisco Zozaya

Parents for VOCEL

Maril Alsup & Joseph Patt

Rachel Bates

Amy & Gabe Cahill

Whitney Fogelberg

Jennie Funk & Brian Jansen

Grant Gochnauer & Gabriel Fontes de Faria

Brittany & Jerry Graunke

Ankeet & Lauren Kansupada

Frank & Lauren Karl

Alex & Brenna Moss

Irene & Rich Parisi

Amy Perkal

David & Kelly Powers Kelly

Matthew & Beth Rubin

David & Stacey Rudd

Cathryn & Justin Schmaltz

Nick & Ariele Scodro

Rachel & David Shapiro

Megan & Eric Stavriotis

Nicole Yeska & Matt Adams

Grandparents for VOCEL

Greg & Lois Basil

Bill & Diane Lowe

Ellen Morgan & Sheldon Zenner

Kim & Bruce Scodro

Lisbeth Stone

Scott & Patti Swakow

Frank ten Brink & Jeannine Cleary

Tilly Wilhoite

In-Kind Donors

Amy Krouse Rosenthal Foundation

DRW

Gabriel Rojas Photography

IMC

Katten Muchin Roseman LLP

Motion Source

Share Our Spare

Gift of Joy Supporters

Mia Adesiji & Preston Miller

BBR Partners

Rachel Berkowitz

Jess Bohorquez

Zach Bradford

DRW

Valencia and Jon Fellows Family & Friends

Haley Ford & Todd Dummett

Employees of GEM Realty Capital

The Holman Family

Jesse Ilhardt & Friends

JMB Insurance

Kayne Anderson Private Credit

The Lux Family

Vicki & True Markham

Mayfair Target