The mission of Children’s Place Association is building a secure and hopeful today so children facing health issues and poverty succeed tomorrow. We transform the lives of children in the very worst circumstances – those confronting illness and extreme poverty – helping them overcome challenges and lead their best lives. Children’s Place Association was opened in 1991 to help children affected by HIV/AIDS. We developed innovative programs to address the many challenges faced by low-income children and families coping with the illness. Over time, Children’s Place Association expanded its influence, applying our approach to help children and families facing other health challenges. Today we serve more than 350 Chicago-area children and caregivers annually, and our international program helps 330 children in the Caribbean. We’ve opened our doors to help children and families who struggle with a wide variety of conditions and disabilities. These include cancer, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, heart conditions, autism and spina bifida. Some children have developmental disabilities or delays. Others suffer the physical and emotional effects of abuse or neglect. And we continue our strong commitment to those affected by HIV/AIDS. While medical advancements have nearly eliminated transmission of HIV from mothers to newborns in the U.S., thousands of children are impacted by their parents’ HIV-related conditions. Children’s Place remains the Chicago area’s leading provider of children’s services for families living with HIV/AIDS. Besides health challenges, the common link among all those we serve is extreme poverty. Children’s Place Association targets these interrelated issues in order to break the cycle of poverty and illness. We believe children everywhere should have the chance to lead their best lives. This is the value upon which Children’s Place was founded – and one that continues to guide us.