Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois

About Us

Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois is a privately funded, DCFS-licensed, residential scholarship program providing family-like group homes, college-prep education, and college access to motivated students from impoverished families, mostly from Chicago’s South and West sides. We currently serve 24 young men and women (age 12-18) in three homes in Evanston (soon to be 32 young people in four homes). BHGH has a 45-year track record in Evanston with hundreds of successful outcomes. We make a 10-year commitment to each Scholar: from 7th grade through college graduation. We support 24+ Collegians at campuses across the country with scholarship funds; and academic, practical, and social-emotional support; career readiness and professional internship access. The program is competitive and open to academically-capable youth in need regardless of race, creed, ethnicity, or LGBTQIA+ status. These children are bright and eager to transcend difficult family circumstances through the transformative power of a high-quality education, a secure home, and caring persons to mentor and encourage them. BHGH works: 100% of our graduates attend college. 75% of our Collegians graduate with a degree (compared to 15% of their demographic peers from the lowest socio-economic quartile nationally). Our program takes grit. Our Scholars and Collegians have it!