SAVE THE DATE! Friday May 3, 2024
New Location, Same Heart!
See you at The Geraghty!
2520 S Hoyne Ave. Chicago, IL 60608
2023 Gala Moments
On May 5, 2023, 600 friends and supporters gathered at Chicago’s Navy Pier to celebrate the power and resilience of BUILD youth. We honored three generations of the Abbey Family as Lifetime BUILDers and scholarship donors, and youth speakers Zack and Tauri shared their own powerful stories of persistence. Alumni Abbey Tiu-Kemph revisited her experience in a gang as a teen, and how BUILD negotiated her detachment and helped her back to school.
We celebrated these lives and raised over $800,000 unrestricted for BUILD’s greatest needs. Thank you to the whole community!
Hear BUILD Youth Voices tell their stories
Youth Speaker: Zack, age 19
"Thanks to BUILD I can stay on my own path and be who I want to be."
Youth Speaker: Tauri, age 14
"This program has helped me work through negative behaviors, anger and emotions and has taught me valuable problem solving and conflict resolution skills."
Alumni Address: Abbey Tiu-Kemph, MA, LCPC
Born in the Philippines, Abbey’s large family migrated to Chicago when she was eleven, in 1996. It was a challenging time for the family, and after becoming gang-involved she crossed paths with BUILD and Felix Jusino, an Intervention Specialist who would become her advocate and mentor.
Abbey eventually earned her GED, a bachelor’s degree in psychology, and a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lewis University. Passionate about mentoring and uplifting vulnerable youth, she founded her own clinical therapy practice ‘Wounded Healers Counseling Service’, while also moving confidently into the restaurant industry through her two restaurants, “Leilani Asian Fusion” and “Little Leilani” in Aurora, IL. As an avid foodie, gardener, and mother of six, she inspires youth and communities to blossom with her fierce spirit and drive to build a better world.
Thank you to our current 2024 sponsors!
John & Christine Bakalar
Alonso / Levy
Chris Griffith
Bud Schwarzbach
Matt Fisher
John Nitschke
John Wilson
Shannel Clubb
Raymond Rushing
Jack Segal
Pat Spratt
Baird Capital
Baird Foundation
Leila Whitley Kerrigan
Chase
