Army to Benefit from Sweet Home Chicago Telethon Hosted by Chicago CEO COVID-19 Coalition

May 8, 2020

The Chicago CEO COVID-19 Coalition, founded by John Koudounis, is uniting Chicago business leaders in a humanitarian campaign for COVID-19 relief and recovery benefiting Chicago charities in four critical areas: food; shelter/homelessness; counseling services; and PPE.

The Coalition is excited to announce that Wintrust Financial and Cinespace Chicago Studios have joined Calamos Investments as Founding Circle members, the Coalition’s highest sponsorship level. Additional benefactors and sponsors joining Calamos Investments include GCM Grosvenor, Northern Trust, Madison Dearborn Partners, Mesirow Financial, Astor Investment Management and PNC, among others. Most of the participating firms are following Calamos Investments’ example and will be matching their employees’ contributions.

John Koudounis said, “The positive response and level of participation we have received in the brief time since we launched the campaign has been overwhelming. Chicago’s business leaders are eager to demonstrate their support for our beloved city during this crisis, and we continue to grow the roster of businesses giving back to our community.”

“These are incredibly challenging times for our area,” said Wintrust Founder & CEO Edward J. Wehmer. “As Chicago’s Bank, we’re committed to this area always, and we want to make sure our communities know they have our support. The Sweet Home Chicago telethon is a great way for us all to come together to support the organizations who are helping so many survive right now.”

The Coalition also welcomes the support of its local media partners, including Entercom Chicago’s 104.3 JAMS, 670 The Score, 93XRT, B96, US99 and WBBM Newsradio.

The Sweet Home Chicago telethon will feature appearances by Chicago’s celebrated athletes from teams such as the Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, Bears, and White Sox, along with other celebrities and musical performers, including Common and the classic rock band Chicago. The event will be hosted by Chicago’s own Deon Cole, star of the TV shows black-ish and grown-ish and Emmy-nominated writer of the Conan O’Brien show. Airing on May 16 at 5PM CDT on NBC Sports Chicago, the telethon will also simultaneously stream on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Chicago charities to receive the donations raised are: the Chicago Community COVID-19 Response Fund; Greater Chicago Food Depository; the Salvation Army Metropolitan Division; The Night Ministry; Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of Chicago; Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Chicago; Jewish United Fund; Metropolitan Family Services; the 100 Club of Chicago; and Howard Brown Health.

For more information or to donate, log on to www.chiccc.org or donate through the Coalition partnership with GoFundMe: charity.gofundme.com/sweethomechicago.


Help The Salvation Army Do the Most Good

Donate to Our COVID-19 Response      Fundraise for Good

Learn about all the ways The Salvation Army is responding to the coronavirus – as well as how you can help – at salarmychicago.org/coronavirus.

For tax purposes: The Salvation Army Metropolitan Division EIN is 36-2167910.


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