Credit to Empower Illinois for stepping up to address several necessities to ensure this program does what it's supposed to do - providing access, opportunities, and resources for students to attend the schools that best meet their needs. EI does the important work of raising money, facilitating scholarships to families, and supporting schools to be at their best and provide quality education. This organization puts the power of choice into the hands of parents who desire and deserve the very best for their kids.
Review from Guidestar
Empower IL helped make history when Illinois became the first large blue state to pass a tax credit scholarship--since August they have worked around the clock to set up the largest SGO in IL based on, and in, conjunction with the successful 15 year SGO model in Florida. With the launch they will help over 10,000 kids and parents have a choice in their education for the first time in IL and hopefully grow the program in subsequent years to stengthen both public and private school outcomes--bravo EI!
Why is a crony from Cicero a Board Member of this fund? That raises serious red flags. Per reports in the Tribune and Sun Times, Dan Proft has been an advisor to crooked Larry Dominick of Cicero and received lucrative no-bid contracts from him. Through Dominick, Proft also received contracts from the mob-connected Jeff Pesek of the Morton school districts. Pesek was caught on FBI surveillance tape discussing mob-bombed businesses. If this fund is legit, it had better revisit who it allows to be on its board. Until then, I would pass on giving this organization money.
Review from Guidestar