About The Foundation
Our Mission
The West Suburban Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation, a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation, was founded in 2000 by area business leaders. The foundation works cooperatively with schools, businesses, and other institutions and organizations to foster programs for the benefit of educators and students, employers and employees, community leaders and residents in Chicago’s western suburbs. Business-education partnerships, and workforce education, leadership and economic development are the areas of the foundation’s focus.
Foundation History
In 2002, the foundation partnered with L.A.D.S.E./Division of Special Education Vocational Alliance to create EmployAlliance WSCCIF. In October 2006, EmployAlliance received the prestigious Innovative Solutions Award for building employment capacity in area communities for people with disabilities. The foundation recently partnered with L.A.D.S.E. on an Illinois Council on Developmental Disabilities’ grant to help teach self-advocacy skills to youth with disabilities.
The foundation also has sponsored a spring computer recycling drive in partnership with Lyons Township High School. Computers are properly recycled or refurbished for use by local nonprofit agencies including: Helping Hand Rehabilitation Center, Hodgkins Park District and CEP Youth Leadership.
The foundation supports Business-Education partnerships collaborating with local schools on programs to benefit students. Programs include: reading and banking programs, mentoring and job-shadowing, career education, classroom speakers, field trips to businesses and more.
