Help Send Chicago Students to College - Prepared and Confident
Ada S. McKinley’s College & Career Preparation Program has been changing lives since the 1960s, when it was founded by the late Silas Purnell. His pioneering work helped thousands of Chicago students secure financial aid and admission to colleges nationwide. Today, our Educational Services team continues that legacy, beginning as early as 6th grade, with a full continuum of support: academic advising, tutoring, mentoring, college tours, career exploration, application and financial aid assistance, and more.
In 2008, former Chicago Bear Revie Sorey joined Ada and introduced our Trunk Scholarship initiative. After learning that many students arrived on campus without the essentials like bedding, towels, school supplies, and dorm room basics, he made it his mission to ensure no student started their college journey unprepared. Since then, hundreds of Trunk Scholarships have helped first-year college students start strong, focused on success rather than stress.
In 2025 alone, Ada helped students secure over $18 million in scholarships and financial aid. But this funding does not cover everything, and that is where YOU come in.
We need your support now more than ever. Make a gift today and help equip this year’s graduating seniors with the tools, supplies, and confidence they need to thrive in college. Let’s send students off with everything they need and show them their community is behind them every step of the way. Donate now. Invest in their future.
Questions? Please contact Lauren Youngblood at 312-221-9303 or lyoungblood@adasmckinley.org. For information regarding program sponsorship, please see our sponsorship packet.
Ways to Give
We are grateful for your support of Ada’s mission to empower, educate, and employ people to change lives and strengthen communities. In addition to online giving, there are several ways to make a charitable gift. Please choose the one that works best for you.
Give by Check
Please make checks payable to: Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc.
Mail checks to:
Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. Attn: Development
1359 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607
Give Through a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)
You can designate a grant to Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc. directly from your Donor Advised Fund.
- Legal Name: Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc.
- Tax ID / EIN: 36-2167906
- Organization Address: 1359 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607
Contact if requested by your DAF provider: Nakita Burrell, nburrell@adasmckinley.org
Donor Advised Fund grants cannot be used to purchase event tickets or sponsorships that include donor benefits.
Make a Gift of Securities (Stock)
You or your broker may transfer securities to our account at LPL Financial:
- Account Name: Ada S. McKinley Community Services, Inc.
- Account Number: 6713-9525
-DTC Number: 0075
- Broker Contact: Kurt Ro, 312-632-6548
- Remittance Confirmation: Nakita Burrell, nburrell@adasmckinley.org
Account information is provided solely to facilitate incoming charitable transfers.
Give via ACH or Wire Transfer
You can select ACH as a payment method on this giving page. Simply choose your gift amount and select ACH at checkout.
If you would like to initiate a direct ACH or wire transfer from your bank, we would be happy to assist you. Please contact Lauren Youngblood, lyoungblood@adasmckinley.org, for secure instructions.
Banking information is provided solely to facilitate incoming charitable transfers.