Every holiday season, BUILD brings together a community of hope, generosity, and joy through our Holiday Giving Village — a special tradition that ensures every young person we serve feels seen, valued, and celebrated.
Our dedicated BUILD mentors spend time collecting heartfelt wish lists from the youth they work with every day — kids and teens from Chicago’s West Side who dream of simple gifts that bring them happiness, comfort, or inspiration. From art supplies to cozy winter gear, sports equipment to favorite toys, each wish represents a moment of care and connection.
That’s where you come in. As a donor, volunteer, or group sponsor, you have the power to make these wishes come true. Sign up as an individual, family, workplace team, or community group, and help fill our “Holiday Giving Village” with love and generosity. Together, we can turn wish lists into wrapped presents and transform the season into something truly magical.
Every gift, no matter how small, tells our youth that their dreams matter — that their community believes in them. Join us this holiday season to spread cheer, share kindness, and light up the lives of BUILD’s West Side kids.
BUILD
Since 1969, we have embedded mentors in schools and across neighborhoods to connect with youth who need support. Wrapping young people in the opportunities and care they deserve, we help them build hope, resilience, and a path to a promising future. We engage youth at every stage, with specialized teams dedicated to street violence interventions, gang detachments, creative after-school programming, academic school, college support, mental health care, community violence crisis response, and enrichment activities ranging from art and music to sports, podcasting, engineering, and gardening. Potential doesn’t discriminate, neither should opportunity.
Join us in BUILDing a better future: www.buildchicago.org