What We Do
The mission of Springboard Foundation is to provide financial and intellectual capital to selected, “grass roots” charitable programs that are focused on improving the lives of needy children, their families and their communities in the greater Chicago area.
In fulfilling this mission, the Foundation also benefits the community by training its members in the workings of successful philanthropy so that they can in turn provide leadership in connection with other charitable causes outside the immediate focus of Springboard.
Program Spotlight
Blackstone Bicycle Works (BBW) is the youth education program of the Experimental Station. BBW’s mission is to provide educational and recreational opportunities to local boys and girls (ages 9 and up) in the context of a retail community bike shop. Our year-round, summer, after-school and Saturday program offers participating youth training in bicycle safety, mechanics and repair, customer service, and entrepreneurial skills.
Parents miss an average of eight days of work per year due to a lack of afterschool care. Decreased worker productivity related to parental concerns about after school care costs businesses up to $300 billion per year. (Community¸ Families and Work Program at Brandeis University¸ 2004; Catalyst & Brandeis University¸ December 2006)