Orland Park Teen Center Wins $75K Grant With Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award

ORLAND PARK, IL — The Bridge Teen Center has been awarded a Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award, receiving a $75,000 grant from Chick-fil-A, Inc. to further its mission of positively impacting teen lives across Chicago’s south suburban communities.

The funding will help The Bridge continue offering free programs, events, and job readiness opportunities to students in 7th-12th grade, the organization said.

"Chick-fil-A has stood by the mission of The Bridge Teen Center for 16 years, and we are humbled to be one of just 56 organizations nationally who were recognized with this True Inspiration Award,” said Priscilla Steinmetz, Founder and Executive Director of The Bridge Teen Center.

Local Chick-fil-A restaurants in Orland Park and Tinley Park have been longtime partners of The Bridge, supporting the organization through fundraising opportunities, donating food for ongoing Friday night events, leading afterschool programs, and championing previous True Inspiration Award recognitions in 2018 and 2020.

“Kevin and his teams in Orland Park and Tinley Park understand the impact our mission has on thousands of local teens, and we are honored by their unwavering support," Steinmetz said.

Chick-fil-A One Members voted for operator-nominated nonprofit organizations in the Chick-fil-A App, which plays a part in the final scoring process. Members have the opportunity to vote for nonprofit organizations in their regions and this year, a record nearly 700,000 votes were cast in the app, the company said in a release Tuesday.

The company awarded $6 million in grants to 56 nonprofit organizations selected through the votes.

“Serving is at the heart of what we do, and the True Inspiration Awards reflect our belief that strong communities are built through consistent, caring action,” said Andrew T. Cathy, Chief Executive Officer for Chick-fil-A, Inc. “These organizations inspire us with their relentless commitment to serve, innovate and uplift the people and communities around them. We’re proud to support their work and invest in a stronger future for people and places around the world.”

Since 2010, The Bridge Teen Center has offered more than 350+ free afterschool programs and events each year to help suburban teens find hope, purpose, and direction. Program varieties include interactive STEM programs, art programs, music lessons, culinary programs, trade-focused programs, community service programs, social hangout events and more. All programs are designed to encourage teens to explore new interests, navigate life’s challenges, and discover who they were created to be all within a safe and welcoming environment.

To carry out its mission, The Bridge Teen Center must raise approximately $875,000 annually. In recent years, the organization has taken major steps toward self-sustainability with Thrift Store locations in both Frankfort and Orland Park. However, the stores only support approximately 35 percent of the organization's annual budget.

The remaining $570,000+ must be raised through private donations, grants, community sponsorships, and donations like this incredibly generous grant from Chick-fil-A. Whether making a monetary donation, volunteering time at one of our Thrift Stores, or getting your company or church involved, The Bridge needs your help to support their life-changing mission.

"Raising the support we need to keep our programs free for the families we serve is no small task. This generous grant will go a long way in supporting The Bridge this year, however, we need more help to continue our mission. We need the whole community behind us to continue empowering the students we are privileged to serve," said Steinmetz.

To get involved, please visit https://thebridgeteencenter.org/donate or email info@thebridgeteencenter.org.