In 2025, more than 30,000 children and young people participated in our sports-based youth development and educational programs. Through partnerships with over 100 local organizations, we reached over 325,000 Chicagoans across all 77 neighborhoods – deepening our shared commitment to building a stronger, more vibrant and more equitable city. Click here to read our 2025 Impact Report.

In January, Cubs fans, players, legends and members of the front office braved the cold weather for three days of festivities and special moments that cannot be experienced anywhere else but at Cubs Convention. The annual event serves as the unofficial start to the baseball season and provides fans with opportunities to meet players, learn more about the upcoming season and engage with the Cubs front office through Cubs Chats.

Cubs Charities had the honor of supporting Cubs Chats with two panels. The Look into Careers in Sports was moderated by Jennifer Dedes Nowak, Assistant Director of Cubs Charities and Michaela Parker, Senior Coordinator of Youth Academics.

A League of Their Own was moderated by Meredith Weber, Assistant Director of Development: Events & Communications, and highlighted women working in baseball. The panels gave a behind‑the‑scenes look into the moments seen on gamedays to the countless everyday details.

Cubs Charities’ 2026 Careers As Sports Executives (CASE) program saw our largest group ever of 125 students from 10 cohorts across the city of Chicago – a 40% increase! Cohorts represented schools from the city’s north, south and west sides of Chicago, including a new cohort from Englewood STEM Academy. The program kicked off in January with the opportunity for students to tour the Cubs front office and network with Cubs associates. Throughout the six-week program, CASE students learned about a variety of career paths from sports industry professionals and then demonstrated all they learned through final presentations in front of their peers at Wrigley Field.

New this year, a select group of interested students will join an inaugural extended program to stay connected with professionals and receive further career support.

Thank you to our 2026 CASE instructors from the Atlanta Braves, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago Fire FC, Philadelphia Phillies and congratulations to all our CASE students!

Cubs Charities is expanding its support for youth in communities where the Cubs are part of the neighborhood. In Mesa, Arizona, home of Cubs Spring Training at Sloan Park, Cubs Charities is partnering with the Mesa Hohokams in celebration of their 75th anniversary to provide matching donations for local youth baseball and softball programs. In the Dominican Republic, home to the Chicago Cubs Academy, Cubs Charities is supporting facility upgrades at Escuela Juan Antonio Alix, helping create better spaces for students.

It’s time to win big! The Cub Charities 50/50 Raffle is back for the 2026 season. From March 21-29, Cubs Charities will host a special Cubs Charities 50/50 Raffle commemorating the Cubs 150th anniversary with a $150,000 guaranteed jackpot. Beginning today, fans in Illinois can purchase raffle ticket entries online at www.cubs.com/raffle. For the Nationals series, raffle tickets will also be available for purchase in person at Wrigley Field from a Cubs Charities Raffle Ambassador when gates open through the bottom of the eighth inning. The winning ticket will receive half of the net proceeds, with the remaining half benefiting Cubs Charities.

This spring, Cubs Jr. All-Stars (CJAS) and Cubs Jr. RBI Workshops are coming to the Pullman and Austin neighborhoods. To kick off April, local little league coaches have the opportunity to participate in a Coaches Convention led by seasoned Cubs Charities coaches to practice fundamental Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) techniques, engage with other community coaches and act as participants as they take part in program drills and activities. For four weeks following, CJAS youth ages 5-9 years old will learn the basics of baseball and softball and Jr. RBI youth ages 10-12 years old will challenge existing skills while strengthening confidence, boosting teamwork and creating new connections in their community. CJAS and Jr. RBI are more than a game – they offer access to teammates, trusted mentors and safe places to play. To sign up, click here for CJAS or here for Jr. RBI.

On April 18, the Chicago Bandits, Chicago’s first professional softball team, are bringing their expertise to youth ages 8-12 for a special clinic co-hosted by Cubs Charities at Intentional Sports. The AUSL is a premier professional women’s softball league in the U.S. that launched in 2025 and currently features six teams competing in a city-based model.