As a graduate of two exceptional schools (Saint Mary’s College in Notre Dame, IN and Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management) where the founder Mary Liz learned about the power of education, community and the responsibility we all bear for philanthropy, this commitment extends to the business of PERCHANCE Boutique. Through special events and programs, PERCHANCE Boutique dedicates a portion of its proceeds and resources to entities that promote education, leadership and empowerment in women and children, especially those in need. For 2008-2009, the boutique will continue to support at least four spectacular organizations (please learn about these special entities below). Additionally, as a local resident, PERCHANCE also continues to support many local area schools and community efforts.

• Young Women’s Leadership Charter School of Chicago (YWLCS) inspires urban girls to engage in rigorous college preparatory learning in a small school focused on math, science and technology that nurtures their self-confidence and challenges them to achieve. To learn more about YWLCS visit www.ywlcs.org.
• Teach For America, Chicago
  Teach For America is the national corps of outstanding recent college graduates and professionals of all academic majors and career interests who commit two years to teach in urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity. TFA's mission is to enlist our nation's most promising future leaders in the movement to eliminate educational inequality. To learn more about TFA visit www.teachforamerica.org
• Dress for Success, Chicago promotes the economic independence of disadvantaged women by providing professional attire, a network of support and the career development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. To learn more about this organization visit www.dressforsuccess.org.
• LEAP math and science school in South Africa
  LEAP represents a solution to one of South Africa's key problems; the acute shortage of skills, particularly amongst the previously disadvantaged. As the only privately funded MST (Math, Science and Technology) school in South Africa, LEAP has a clear focus to create and maintain a structured learning environment that will allow each young person to develop fully as a human being and to develop a positive, caring lifestyle and appropriate work ethic. LEAP's aim is to enable each student to gain access to tertiary study opportunities, to be successful in the chosen career path and to develop as a socially responsible citizen of South Africa. LEAP students do this by graduating from the school with a university exemption; with Science, Maths and English on the higher grade.
• Many local area schools and organizations including Blaine, Anshe Emet, Temple Shalom, Sacred Heart, Francis Parker, Sheil Park, Lincoln Park Zoo, Children’s Memorial Hospital, Make A Wish, The Enterprising Kitchen, Mary Meyer School, Park West Cooperative Nursery School, St. Clement, etc.

To learn more about how you can help us support these fantastic organizations throughout the year, and to find past/future events specifically benefiting any of these organizations, please see our Events Calendar.