Whats Your Forte Foundation

IN 2013, MATT FORTE, ALL PRO RUNNING BACK FOR THE CHICAGO BEARS, ESTABLISHED THE MATT FORTE FOUNDATION WITH HIS CO-FOUNDER AND WIFE DANIELLE FORTE AFTER LEARNING THAT 14.7 % OF CHICAGO'S HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS WERE INCARCERATED, AND NEARLY 42,000 TEENS DID NOT RECEIVE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMAS. AS A CATALYST FOR CHANGE, AND TO MEET THE EVER-GROWING NEED FOR WRAP-AROUND SUPPORT IN SOUTHSIDE AND WESTSIDE NEIGHBORHOODS IN CHICAGO, THE FOUNDATION EXPANDED PROGRAMMING FROM SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION TO DIRECTLY FACILITATING ONGOING PROGRAMMING IN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, MENTORING, FINANCIAL LITERACY, WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, AND YOUTH EMPOWERMENT OPPORTUNITIES. THE EVOLUTION TO HIGHLY VARIED, DIRECTLY OPERATED PROGRAMMING; MOTIVATED THE NAME CHANGE FROM "MATT FORTE FOUNDATION" TO "WHAT'S YOUR FORTE FOUNDATION," AS IT IS KNOWN TODAY. THE WHAT'S YOUR FORTE FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO INVEST IN THE EQUITABLE ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT OF YOUTH AND FAMILIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP AND PURPOSEFUL RELATIONSHIPS. OUR VISION IS TO BE A POWERFUL LEVER FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, THAT FACILITATES TRANSFORMATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ON THE SOUTH & WEST SIDES OF CHICAGO. WE DO THIS THROUGH PHILANTHROPY, INNOVATIVE OPPORTUNITIES, ROBUST ENGAGEMENT, AND A CONTINUUM OF SERVICES. THE FOUNDATION HOLISTICALLY SUPPORTS THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE ARE NOT JUST ABOUT PROGRAMS BUT COMMUNITY-BASED PROJECTS. IT HAS BEEN OUR CHARGE TO SEEK OUT THE FORGOTTEN, DISCONNECTED(OPPORTUNITY YOUTH), AND MARGINALIZED. CENTERING OUR OUTREACH ON THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH IN THE MOST UNDERINVESTED NEIGHBORHOODS AND UPLIFTING THE FAMILY UNIT AS A WHOLE, WE UNDERSTAND THAT STRONG FAMILIES CAN TRANSFORM CULTURE IN POSITIVE WAYS THAT LAST FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.AS A PROUD GRADUATE OF TULANE UNIVERSITY, MATT UNDERSTANDS THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND OPPORTUNITY AND HOW IT CHANGES LIVES FOR THE BETTER. MATT BELIEVES THAT THROUGH AWARENESS, RELATIONSHIP-BUILDING AND YOUTH -FOCUSED EMPOWERMENT, SUCCESSFUL PATHWAYS CAN BE CHARTERED, AND A TRANSFORMATION OF STATISTICS AND FUTURES OF THE YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES CAN BE REALIZED.