The Chicago Headline Club is happy to report that we’ve handed out 110 grants to struggling Chicago-area journalists, totaling $50,500—just above our $50,000 goal. This was our response to the COVID pandemic and the damaged it caused to already shrinking newsrooms.
Thanks to Greg Karp, our indomitable treasurer, who designed and headed up the program, and to everyone who reviewed applications. This effort was funded by the Chicago Headline Club and our sister 501(c)3 organization, the Chicago Headline Club Foundation.
And thanks lastly to our grantees, for your courage and dedication—and for continuing to fight the good fight.
Below, we’ve listed some feedback we received from our grantees.
“Thank you! This is going to be a huge help…Hopefully, this pandemic nightmare will be a distant memory by the time the 100th anniversary dinner rolls around. I am looking forward to seeing you all then.”
“Thank you so much! God bless you. I really appreciate all your help and hope I can continue to uplift marginalized voices!”
“Thank you so much. I am so humbled. This makes me not want to give up. It’s so hard trying to be a multimedia journalist who has to maintain expensive and current equipment with a large family. I’ll keep plugging away.”
“Wow, thank you so much. I know how bumpy and chaotic things are for everyone everywhere—this really means so much.”
“This means so much and I’m so grateful for it. It’s so important to have these programs and supportive organizations in Chicago. I will pay it forward when I can.”
“…thank you and [I] so appreciate the support of the Chicago Headline Club during this unprecedented and difficult time. I have been a member of the Headline Club for about 20 years and want you to know it is much appreciated.”
“I really appreciate the help with these bills, and it’s wonderful to know that an organization like this exists for struggling media workers. It added a bright spot during these sometimes dim days”