National Chums support children because they are the cornerstone to our future. Embracing their essence and helping them to realize their talents, helps our communities to grow and flourish.  The Chapters of Chums Incorporated have creative ways to support our communities through the building up of our children.  The statistics are staggering when it comes to our children that are minorities, disenfranchised or come from low socio-economic backgrounds. 

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According to many sources like the national census, United States Interagency Council on Homelessness (USICH), National Dropout Prevention Center/Network (NDPC/N), Union Rescue Mission, US Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy and many other credible sources, many of the troubles our society faces, stem from:

•    High school drop-out rates
•    Illiteracy
•    Child homelessness

 

The statistics say that 1.2 million students drop out of high school every year, many falling into a cycle of poverty, unemployment and violence. Drop-out rates are also related to higher rates of imprisonment, with minorities disproportionately affected. Studies show that high school drop-outs are eight (8) times more likely to be incarcerated. 

Even with the staggering statistics and studies, there is hope!  Chums Incorporated is a group of women who invest their time and use their influence to make our communities and society better places to live as a whole, by listening to our children and doing our part to enrich their lives. 

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We establish relationships with schools, churches, child care services.  We partner with different organizations to identify the needs of our children and leverage our efforts to remove distractions that keep them from focusing on school, increase their confidence levels and assist with them with having strong relationships with their parents and family. We have projects that address children’s social skills and future educational needs, especially with the STEM programs.  

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LOCAL CHAPTERS' ACTIVITIES:

• Family Adoptions (Multiple Chapters)

• Chums Reading Fest (Orlando)

• Dr. Seuss Reading Day (Roanoke)

• Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas baskets (several chapters)

• Back Pack programs (several chapters)

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PARTNERSHIPS:

• Count Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

• Big Brothers and Big Sisters

• Black and Missing Foundation, Inc.

• Boys and Boys Club

• Oprah's Angel Network

• Children's Defense Fund

DONATIONS:

• Black Girls Code - $5,000

• Life Pieces to Masterpieces - $5,000 

• National and International Donations For Hurricane Relief Efforts

• Red Cross (Atlanta)

• Queen Louis Home for children on St. Croix, US Virgin Island (Orlando)

• Lend A Hand Bahamas (Los Angeles)

• NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund

• National African American Museum

• National Founders Day Scholarship

• Sickle Cell of America

• United Negro College fund

• Youthbuild

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2023 President's Award Winners:

 

1st Place         Hampton-Newport News (VA) Chapter

2nd Place       Oklahoma City (OK) Chapter 

3rd Place        New York (NY) Chapter

 

Honorable Mention -

 

Detroit (MI) Chapter

Los Angeles (CA) Chapter

Orlando (FL) Chapter

Philadelphia (PA) Chapter

Providence (RI) Chapter

St. Louis (MO) Chapter

 

2023 Donations:

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Year        Volunteer Hrs.      # of Local Scholarships                  Donations    

2023               9,394.5                              78                                         $165,340.03

2022                 7,216                               69                                         $135,030.19

2021               25,549                               66                                         $118,104.57

2020               32,584                               59                                         $118,875.75

2019               24,328                               79                                         $185,733.00

2018               24,613                               73                                         $159,905.00