More than 150 members of the Team IMPACT community came together from around the Midwest region for the third annual Chicago Field Day hosted by Shriners Children’s Chicago. Sponsored by Silver Medal Sponsors Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation and GCM Grosvenor and Bronze Medal Sponsor Ariel Investments, Chicago Field Day included games and activities for all ages and abilities, a live DJ, and pizza donated by Happy Camper for a day that united children, family members, student-athletes, and supporters. Local families who are matched through Team IMPACT, as well as prospective families and patient families from Shriners Children’s Chicago, enjoyed a day of fun, excitement, community, and awareness.
For the second year in a row, Shriners Children’s Chicago was the Event Partner for Team IMPACT’s Chicago Field Day. “At Shriners Children’s, recreational therapy places significant emphasis on socialization and inclusion, supporting and connecting patients as they work toward functional goals together,” said Darlene Kelly, Director of Recreation Therapy/Child Life at Shriners. “Opportunities such as Team IMPACT bring fun, connection and sports together for a child beyond the hospital setting. To date we have signed 12 patients from Shriners Chicago with Team IMPACT.”
Alexis Randall, Team IMPACT’s Midwest Regional Executive Director, seconded the power of community through this alignment with Shriners Children’s Chicago. “Each year, our staff, families, and teams look forward to Chicago Field Day, and each year, the event gets better and better,” Alexis said. “Dozens of Team IMPACT families were referred to our program from Shriners Children’s around the country, and we are excited to come together to celebrate this collaboration together and spread awareness for Team IMPACT’s program.”
This was the event’s biggest year yet, with more than 150 participants from schools across the Midwest region, including Northwestern University, University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University, DePaul University, and Purdue University Northwest. This collaboration from campus to campus and state to state emphasizes the importance of events like Chicago Field Day for student-athletes and families alike. “We always enjoy supporting Team IMPACT, as it has brought us together with the biggest asset on our team in Nick!” said Jordan DeGouw, a member of the Purdue Northwest hockey team. “You get to learn more about other Team IMPACT matches from outside your team and hear stories from other families as well as share your own stories with people interested in Team IMPACT.’
With more than 300 matches across the Midwest region, Chicago Field Day serves as a day of celebration of the community that comes with team. At Team IMPACT, we pride ourselves on being All In, All Together; and we know that events like Chicago Field Day would not be possible without the support of our sponsors.
“Our family foundation is proud to be on Team IMPACT’s roster again for this year’s Field Day,” said Tony Pritzker, Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation, a Silver Medal Sponsor of Chicago Field Day. “It’s a celebration of resilience, connection, and the power of play—where kids, families, and athletes come together to create lasting memories. Supporting this mission is like being part of a championship team: every moment counts, and the impact goes far beyond the field.”
“GCM Grosvenor extends a special thank you to Team IMPACT for fostering positive opportunities for children across Chicago,” said Silver Medal Sponsor GCM Grosvenor. “It’s an honor to contribute to creating unforgettable experiences that embrace and support local families.”
Ariel Investments, a Bronze Medal Sponsor of Chicago Field Day, was also proud to be part of the impact and help make the day special for all attendees. “Ariel is thrilled to join forces with Team IMPACT to uplift our community by ensuring that all youth, regardless of their abilities, have access to meaningful opportunities,” said Ayuana Orr, Ariel’s Director of Community Affairs. “Together, we can make a lasting difference in the lives of young people.”
Thank you to Shriners Children’s Chicago, Anthony Pritzker Family Foundation, GCM Grosvenor, Ariel Investments, Happy Camper, and all our families, teams, staff, and supporters who make days like this possible. We look forward to many years to come, knowing just how much we can achieve when we work, celebrate, and have fun, together.
