The Bears are proud to announce Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County (CAC) as the recipient of the 2024 Community All-Pros $105,000 grant. The non-profit, based out of Hoffman Estates, Arlington Heights and Skokie, Ill., is a child-focused, trauma-informed non-profit bringing help, hope and healing to young survivors of abuse or violence and their non-offending family members.

Established in 1989, CAC of North and Northwest Cook County has been a pillar within the community, having served over 1,000 individuals this year. CAC's mission is to empower children to overcome trauma from physical and sexual violence through empathetic collaboration and culturally sensitive services for the victims and their families. They provide children with a safe space to process abuse or violent incidents and reclaim their childhoods.

The Community All-Pros program launched in 2019 and awards a grant to a fan-nominated non-profit in the Chicagoland area to help the long-term success of their local initiatives. This season, nearly 100 applications were received and narrowed down to 10 finalists by a group of Bears season ticket holders, who selected CAC for the award. In celebration of the Bears' 105th season, the non-profit received a $105,000 grant to help fund their program services.

On Friday, Dec. 20, at Halas Hall, Taylor Kanara and Rachel Gilmore of CAC were surprised by former Bears offensive lineman James "Big Cat" Williams with a check. In addition to the grant, four members from CAC attended and were recognized at Thursday night's game against the Seahawks at Soldier Field.

"We are deeply honored to be selected as the recipient of the Chicago Bears Community All-Pro Grant," said Melanie Pignotti, CEO of CAC of North and Northwest Cook County. "This recognition is especially meaningful, as it highlights the critical and life-changing services we provide to young survivors of abuse and violence. It reflects the unwavering dedication of our team, whose hard work makes an essential difference in the lives of those we serve. We are incredibly grateful to the Bears for their support, which enables us to continue our mission and create a lasting impact in the community."

The grant will go to help fund CAC's work to intervene the short and long-term effects of childhood trauma by working to provide services including forensic investigation, advocacy and therapy services alongside law enforcement and the judicial system.

The Chicago Bears Community All-Pros grant is a key initiative designed to support local organizations making a meaningful impact within the community. The grant is part of the Bears' broader commitment to community engagement, focusing on critical areas such as education, health and wellness, youth development and social justice. By providing financial assistance to deserving organizations, like CAC, the Bears aim to support them in continuing their essential work.

To learn more about the Community All-Pros award and CAC, please visit https://www.chicagobears.com/community/all-pros and https://www.cachelps.org/.