When people talk about the possibility of the Chicago Bears building their new stadium in Arlington Heights, we understand why it stirs emotions. Chicago’s teams are woven into the fabric of our lives, from Sunday game day traditions to the pride of wearing their jerseys.

As leaders of Chicago organizations who work every day to uplift and support our communities, we want to offer a different point of view: Regardless of where the Bears play on Sundays, what matters is what the organization does the other six days of the week. Our experience shows that they will continue to be partners in building up our city.

Since 1979, the Bears have been headquartered in Lake Forest. Yet in that time, they have poured not just money but also time, attention and care into the communities that need it most. For nearly 15 years, through its charitable arm Bears Care and other initiatives, the team has invested $41 million in youth development, violence prevention, health access, education and economic empowerment in Chicago alone.  

At the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corp., we have worked with the Bears since 2016 on initiatives that address educational needs, provide senior services and revitalize neighborhoods. Their contribution of more than $600,000 was critical to our ability to build the Healthy Lifestyle Hub, which is home to a full-service health center that treats approximately 30,000 patients annually.

At Imagine Englewood If and We Grow Chicago, Bears Care has been more than a funder; it has been a true partner for over a decade. From player visits to capital investments, the team’s support helped us transform the We Grow Chicago Peace Campus into a safe and healing space for kids, families and neighbors. Today, it is a vital resource hub offering youth programs, wellness and mental health activities, community connection, and essential resources.

Hope Chicago, which provides debt-free college scholarships to CPS students and their parents, received $400,000 from Bears Care in the last two years. The Bears show up by welcoming students to their training home at Halas Hall and encouraging them to dream big. And at YMCA Chicago, the Bears are a longtime partner in our youth wellness programming, including our popular Mini Monster Clinics. At these camps, kids across the city learn healthy habits through the fun of football.

We represent just a few of the many organizations that have benefited from the Bears’ loyal partnership for more than a century. In the last 20 years alone, they have:

Partnered with BUILD in Austin on youth development and gang intervention for 14 years.
Funded Leo High School through the Big Shoulders Fund since 2016.
Co-created Mini Monsters Clinics with Advocate Health Care and others to teach young people healthy habits.
Supported the Chicago Park District’s Junior Bear Football Program from day one.
Invested in Austin Harvest, a fresh food market run by the By the Hand Club for Kids.
Supported organizations such as My Block, My Hood, My City; Youth Guidance; Firebird Arts Center; Target Area; and the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, providing everything from scholarships and food to technology and art space.

The Bears actively identify and invest in new organizations every year, seeking out those who do bold, necessary work. This commitment leads to deep, multiyear partnerships rooted in trust, shared mission and impact. 

In other words, they don’t just write checks. They show up consistently and use their platform to elevate the causes that elevate Chicagoans. And that will be true as long as they wear our city’s name on their jerseys. 

Our support for the Bears isn’t just about their support for our organizations — it’s also about economic vitality. We believe the Bears’ plan to build a state-of-the-art stadium and entertainment district in Arlington Heights is a powerful opportunity for Chicago and the entire state. The project is estimated to bring a $10 billion boost to the Illinois economy. The benefits won’t just trickle down. They will be poured directly into communities such as ours through tens of thousands of well-paying careers and contracts for local businesses and local union labor.

We know some might still feel uneasy about the prospect of the Bears building a stadium in Arlington Heights. But if we measure commitment only by geography, we miss what matters the most: impact.

We stand with the Bears because for decades, the Bears have stood with us. We believe the next chapter for the Bears will lead to more opportunities for our communities.

Carlos Nelson is CEO of the Greater Auburn-Gresham Development Corp. Michelle Rashad is CEO of Imagine Englewood If and We Grow Chicago. Jahmal Cole is CEO of My Block, My Hood, My City. 

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