Lend-A-Hand's Mission is to promote one-on-one mentoring relationships that foster consistent, long-term relationships between the mentor and young person.

The various means by which the we accomplish our Mission include:

Help make a difference and "Lend-A-Hand" to a young person in need...

OUR HISTORY

In 1994, Thomas A. Demetrio created the Lend-A-Hand Award of Excellence, with a desire to impact the lives of Chicago’s underprivileged children by recognizing the efforts of exceptional tutor/mentor programs in the Chicago communities. From this Award was born the Lend-A-Hand Program.

The Chicago Bar Foundation (CBF), with the leadership of the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), initiated the Lend-A-Hand Program in 1995 and it has continued to evolve ever since. Since its inception, the Lend a Hand program has encouraged the legal community’s support and furtherance of exceptional mentoring programs for disadvantaged youth in the Chicago area. The Program invites attorneys to volunteer their time as mentors and tutors with numerous Agencies throughout the City. In addition, through the “Tickets for Kids” Program, the Lend-A-Hand Program is able to direct donated tickets for sporting and cultural events to participating mentoring agencies and the youth they serve. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the Foundation awards dozens of grants, annually, to deserving grassroots mentoring programs. Over the years, the grants have totaled in excess of $350,000.

In 2003, the Lend-A-Hand Program was re-launched with a $100,000 contribution from the CBF, made possible by a major gift from the Hon. Abraham Lincoln Marovitz Trust. The CBF is continuing its support of Lend-A-Hand as the Program prepares for its planned transition to an independent charity.

Consistent with the CBA’s historic commitment to community service and its ongoing goal of encouraging more minority and disadvantaged young people to pursue careers in the legal profession, the Chicago Bar Association will continue with its leadership role in the Abraham Linclon Marovitz Lend-A-Hand Program.

To facilitate and further our goals, we have partnered with www.tutormentorconnection.org to utilize their years of tutor/mentor experience.