Funds will support free meals, wellness checks, medical transportation, and other critical services to individuals and families in need. The Community Action Partnership of Central Illinois (CAPCIL) has received an unrestricted $5,000 grant from SBB Research Group, a Chicago-area investment firm that recently launched a monthly grant program supporting impactful nonprofits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Headquartered in Lincoln, Illinois, CAPCIL’s mission is “to empower persons with low income and the aged” with numerous vital services to thousands of families across five counties. As an Essential Business under Governor Pritzker’s executive orders, the organization has continued to operate and serve the community throughout the public health crisis. The agency’s efforts have been especially impactful during the pandemic. CAPCIL’s Meals on Wheels program delivers nutritious food to elderly individuals, a population that is particularly vulnerable to the virus. The organization also operates food pantry co-ops at six different locations. In addition to its nutrition services, CAPCIL provides job training and career planning, wellness checks, emergency kits, medical transportation, and many other forms of life-changing assistance to low-income families. Since CAPCIL’s largest annual fundraiser had to be canceled due to COVID-19, the organization has been deprived of much-needed funding. As a result, the agency said that SBB Research Group’s donation could not have come at a better time. “We are grateful to SBB Research Group for offering a financial opportunity to support vital programs and agencies during these challenging times,” said Breann Titus, CAPCIL’s Director of Agency Development. “We are proud to support CAPCIL at this critical time,” said Sam Barnett, Ph.D., SBB Research Group’s CEO. “Giving back to the community is an important value of our firm, and we are pleased to know our support will be put to such good use by CAPCIL’s dedicated team.” For more information about CAPCIL, please visit https://www.capcil.info. To apply for a grant from SBB Research Group, please visit https://www.sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is encouraged to apply and grants are awarded to different organizations every month. This story first appeared on Business Wire

Share Our Spare is the latest recipient of a $5,000 grant from SBB Research Group, a Chicago-area investment firm that awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations during the pandemic. Serving the Greater Chicago area, Share Our Spare collects and distributes essential baby items to families living in poverty, helping their children thrive early in life. Through its network of dozens of agency partners and corporate sponsors, Share Our Spare provides over 25,000 children with much-needed items such as diapers, wipes, formula, clothing, toys and other critical supplies. Since its founding in 2011, Share Our Spare has become a vital resource for new parents and their children. Alex Goodfellow, Executive Director of Share Our Spare, said they are “grateful to be chosen by SBB Research Group for their generous monthly COVID-19 grant program” and the funds will help “ensure every child has the essentials they need to thrive in the first five years of life.” In particular, Share Our Spare is combating an unmet diaper need that affects one in three children in Chicago, and the urgency of this issue has only increased with the economic uncertainty from COVID-19. This year, Share Our Spare has distributed over 500,000 diapers to local families in need. Matt Aven, SBB Research Group’s COO and a father of two, said he cannot imagine how difficult it would be to take care of young children without the essential supplies like diapers and wipes. “Share Our Spare has a tangible and immediate impact on the families they serve,” said Aven. “We are honored to contribute to their efforts.” For more information about Share Our Spare, please visit shareourspare.org. To apply for a grant from SBB Research Group, please visit sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is encouraged to apply and grants are awarded to different organizations every month. This story can be found on ED Times

Chicago-based investment management firm’s national scholarship program helps students create lasting impact through the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). SBB Research Group, a Chicago-based investment management firm, has named Aishwarya Atmakuri as the recipient of the company’s inaugural SBB Research Group STEM Scholarship. The $5,000 award empowers students to create value for society through their pursuit of higher learning, especially through interdisciplinary combinations of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). “We are thrilled for Aishwarya and could not have imagined a more deserving individual to receive our first scholarship,” said Sam Barnett, Ph.D., SBB Research Group’s founder and CEO. Selected from more than 1,600 applicants, Aishwarya Atmakuri is a sophomore at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), studying Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology with a minor in Global Health. Since beginning her studies at UCLA, Aishwarya has continued her involvement in cancer research and strives to help others through the power of medicine and healthcare. This includes working with the Fellowship for International Service and Health, a student-run organization that provides health and educational services to Maclovio Rojas, an underserved community near Tijuana, Mexico. She also works on improving the quality of patient care through quantitative research with The Healthcare Improvement & Innovation in Quality (THINQ) Collaborative at UCLA. Aishwarya plans to utilize technology to increase access to healthcare through advancements in telemedicine and affordable medications. “The level of passion and commitment Aishwarya has already shown toward science, medicine, and her community is truly inspiring,” said Matt Aven, the firm’s COO and CCO. “We hope our STEM Scholarship propels Aishwarya’s efforts to improve the health and lives of others.” Four additional finalist recipients will be named in the coming weeks and each will receive $1,000. To be eligible for the SBB Research Group STEM Scholarship, applicants needed to be full-time students pursuing a degree in STEM, maintain a 3.5 grade point average or higher, and complete a 500-word essay on their STEM experience and how they would use STEM principles to benefit the world. SBB Research Group also plans to launch the next round of its scholarship program on November 8, 2020, which is recognized as National STEM Day. For more information and to learn how to apply for the SBB Research Group STEM Scholarship, please visit https://www.sbbscholarship.com/. This story was featured on ED Times

Over two billion people—more than a quarter of the global population—do not have access to safe water. As part of Chicago Water Week, nonprofit Surge for Water and investment firm SBB Research Group will discuss their long-term partnership to provide safe water to thousands of people in Kaberamaido, Uganda. Shilpa Alva, executive director of Surge for Water, founded her organization in 2008 to address the global water crisis. She will be joined at Chicago Water Week by SBB Research Group’s Jordan Robinson, who has spearheaded the firm’s collaboration with Surge for Water since 2015. Their projects together have repaired wells, distributed hundreds of water filters, and provided vital educational resources, which has resulted in 1,953 people now having access to safe water in their community. "Surge for Water has a tremendous impact on so many lives," said Robinson. "We are proud to partner with them and look forward to discussing our work together at Chicago Water Week." To make a tax-deductible donation to Surge for Water, visit surgeforwater.org/donate This story first appeared on Business Wire

SBB Research Group is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Greater Chicago K-12 Chess Championship for the seventh consecutive year. Hundreds of students will compete for the title of "City Champion" at the City of Chicago's official chess championship on February 6, 2021. SBB Research Group is grateful to partner with the Renaissance Knights Chess Foundation, the Kasparov Chess Foundation, and the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Academic Chess Program for this annual tournament. SBB Research Group’s support for scholastic chess tournaments, which dates back to 2013, has been spearheaded by Sandeep Navalgund, the firm’s principal engineer. "Chess is a phenomenal conduit through which to teach kids important concepts, such as persistence, planning, and patience," Navalgund says. "We hope that the kids who engage with chess will become lifelong learners and develop their abilities and skills into a successful future." Given COVID-19 health and safety considerations, the tournament will be held online this year on the ChessKid platform ( www.chesskid.com ). Players will compete in groups based on age and experience levels. The format will consist of a five-round Swiss-system throughout the day. Unlike last year, players are not required to be US Chess Federation members. Even with the online format, trophies will still be awarded to top finishers. The trophies will be delivered to schools for distribution to CPS students and mailed directly to non-CPS students. Online registration is required. For details, please visit http://greaterchicago.rknights.org/ . SBB Research Group's partnership with CPS Academic Chess provides free entry to all participating CPS students and students from Title I under-resourced schools. This story was featured on Business Wire

Family Matters is the latest recipient of a $5,000 grant from SBB Research Group, which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations during the pandemic. Based in northwest Chicago, Family Matters offers underserved school-age children academic and social programs that engage them through transformative educational experiences. In partnership with the local community, Family Matters works to close the education gap by guiding students through each stage of school and preparing them for college and careers. Through programs such as Boys to Men and Girl Power, the organization inspires youth to build leadership, academic, social justice and career skills with the goal of developing resilient, responsible, and accountable community leaders. “We are excited to partner with SBB Research Group as we continue our work of bringing youth, families, and our community together” said Ann Hinterman. Family Matters believes that youth development depends on holistic family involvement. Staff and volunteers work to nurture meaningful and life-changing relationships within homes, schools, and the community using Family Matters’ “Principles of Leadership”: positive thinking, peaceful conflict resolution, and responsible decision making. “SBB Research Group is proud to support Family Matters and we share their values,” said Matt Aven, SBB Research Group’s COO. The company selected Family Matters for this grant because obstacles for Chicago-area students have multiplied during the pandemic. Aven added, “COVID-19 has made it difficult for students to sustain their academic and social progress, particularly while in-school learning is restricted.” With limited exceptions since March 2020, Chicago Public Schools have only provided remote instruction. Ann Hinterman, Director of Grants Management and Community Engagement at Family Matters, said, “Family Matters is deeply grateful to SBB Research Group for their generous support of Family Matters’ transformational youth education and community leadership program.” She goes on to say, “We are excited to partner with SBB Research Group as we continue our work of bringing youth, families, and our community together.” For more information about Family Matters, please visit familymatterschicago.org. To apply for a grant from SBB Research Group, please visit sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is encouraged to apply and grants are awarded to different organizations every month. This story first appeared on ED Times

Caring 4 Kids Clothing (C4K) is the latest recipient of a $5,000 grant from SBB Research Group, which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations during the pandemic. C4K founder Christine Thompson said that "SBB Research Group’s contribution will help Caring for Kids Clothing support many local families with a variety of clothing, household, and school supply needs." For over ten years, C4K has provided much-needed clothing items to over 500 school-age children in Northern Illinois, such as gym shoes, school uniforms, coats, and boots. Working directly with local school administrators and teachers, C4K serves children who are most in need of clothing support. During the pandemic and the subsequent closing of area schools, C4K began delivering clothing directly to children’s homes. The clothing recipients tell C4K’s volunteers that it is "better than Christmas" as they lace up a pair of shoes with proper soles or zip up a warm winter jacket. Their bright smiles tell it all. "Throughout the pandemic, we have focused on the needs of children and families," said Matt Aven, SBB Research Group’s COO. In addition to its latest grant to C4K, the firm recently supported Family Matters, which offers academic and social programs, Mobile Care Chicago, which provides free health and dental treatment to underserved children, and Share Our Spare, which distributes essential infant products. Thompson highlighted the significance of this donation to C4K, adding that this grant "provides immediate relief for families and children struggling during these difficult times." For more information about Caring 4 Kids Clothing, please visit c4kclothing.org. To apply for a grant from SBB Research Group, please visit sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is encouraged to apply and grants are awarded to different organizations every month. This story can be found on Business Wire

Automotive Mentoring Group (AMG) is the latest recipient of a $5,000 grant from SBB Research Group, which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations during the pandemic. Since 2012, the AMG has recruited gang members off of Chicago's streets to teach them to restore classic cars. The organization focuses on mentoring young men and women, and getting them back in school and eventually enrolled in colleges that have automotive programs. Depending on their age, the mentees are trained on model cars, bicycles, and refrigerators, before moving to classic vehicles. Most importantly, AMG instills dedication, confidence, and experience as foundational components of the mentees’ future careers. The program requires a five-year commitment from its members and has achieved an 85% success rate of no gang affiliations or arrests. "The Automotive Mentoring Group is grateful to be among the winners in SBB Research Group's COVID-19 Grant Program, said Alex Levesque, AMG’s founder. "AMG works in conjunction with the Chicago Police Department to encourage young men and women to participate in our classic car restoration training program as a pathway out of gang-related activities." SBB Research group's contribution will support much-needed heating and other utilities so AMG can continue to provide educational services for its mentees, even on Chicago’s coldest winter days. "We were inspired by Alex Levesque's journey," said Matt Aven, SBB Research Group's COO. "Every one of their beautifully restored cars are symbols of AMG’s lifesaving work." For more information about the Automotive Mentoring Group, please visit AMG's website. To apply for a grant from SBB Research Group, please visit sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is encouraged to apply, and donations are awarded to different organizations every month. This story can be found on Business Wire

Aspiritech, a pioneer in autism advocacy, acceptance, and meaningful employment opportunities for neurodivergent adults, has received a $3,000 grant from SBB Research Group LLC (SBBRG), which awards monthly grants to support impactful organizations during the pandemic. Apiritech employs over 120 men and women on the autism spectrum in their software testing facility. Aspiritech’s website advertises that its employees have "intense focus, attention to detail, strong visual processing abilities, exceptional technical expertise, and a lack of boredom with repetitive tasks" — ideal talents for providing software quality assurance (SQA) services. Global corporations trust Aspiritech with critical work that directly impacts their bottom line, such as regression testing, data migration, test design, compatibility testing, design consistency, and other SQA services. Aspiritech is proud to provide best-in-class deliverables while helping fill a vital employment gap. "SBBRG's donation makes a real difference in their lives. It is vital during this very uncertain year, as we continue to challenge the stereotypes and misconceptions about neurodivergent individuals with autism." Executive Director Brenda Weitzberg says she is "grateful to SBBRG for this grant opportunity. SBBRG's gift helps Aspiritech realize our mission of empowering individuals on the autism spectrum to fulfill their potential through meaningful employment combined with social opportunity." Weizberg continues, "SBBRG's donation makes a real difference in their lives. It is vital during this very uncertain year, as we continue to challenge the stereotypes and misconceptions about neurodivergent individuals with autism." The SBBRG grant will make a significant contribution to the company's ACE Fund that: Assists with transportation, housing, or short-term unexpected medical, family, and other emergency expenses Changes the quality of life of the company staff by funding programs incorporating fitness, health and wellness, and independent living Empowers Aspiritech employees through funding continuing education opportunities, advocacy programs, and other social services "As a technology-driven organization, SBB Research Group understands the importance of software testing and analysis. We are excited to support a local organization that employs adults on the autism spectrum that takes advantage of their unique skills," said Matt Aven, SBBRG's COO. For more information about Aspiretech, please visit www.aspiritech.org To apply for a grant from SBBRG, please visit sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. Any 501(c)(3) non-profit organization is encouraged to apply, and donations are awarded to different organizations every month. This story can be found on Business Wire

SBB Research Group is excited to recognize three Chicago-area charities as the April 2021 finalists of its monthly grant program that supports impactful nonprofit organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic (in alphabetical order): Henry Williams Love Foundation (Hazel Crest) supports and advocates for underserved children and families through various programs and services. Stand Strong Coalition (Buffalo Grove) empowers teens to build a safe and healthy community by providing education, advocacy, and other resources to decrease alcohol and drug use. YWCA Metropolitan Chicago (Chicago) offers programs for women and families that focus on wellness, education and training, and economic sustainability. These finalists will give brief presentations via videoconference to the investment firm's staff, who will ask questions to learn more about each of these important causes. The employees will then vote to allocate the company's monthly grant awards. Each finalist will receive at least $1,000 in donations. Last month, Bounce Children's Foundation received $5,000 to improve the overall wellbeing of children with chronic illnesses. SBB Research Group's CEO, Sam Barnett, Ph.D., said, "Bounce's support system and programs help so many children and their families during extremely challenging times." Any 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is encouraged to apply at sbbrg.org/apply-for-grant. This story can be found on Business Wire