Chicago, IL – Searle Funds at The Chicago Community Trust has officially renewed its commitment to the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation by committing $100,000 to support its Chicagoland Business Leadership Network (CBLN) program.

The CBLN is Illinois’ only business-led, business-focused organization that addresses specific needs relating to the inclusion of people with disabilities from a talent, customer, supplier diversity and community perspective. The CBLN serves as the bridge between businesses and people with disabilities, providing the robust educational programming, actionable information and resources, best practices, and constructive networking opportunities that enable greater disability inclusion.

“The Chamber and the Chamber Foundation are delighted and grateful for this renewed and generous support from the Chicago Community Trust,” said Theresa E. Mintle, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce.  “This grant represents a strong vote of confidence in our work to facilitate acceptance and inclusion of people with disabilities. The CBLN hopes to build on the momentum that was created from last year’s efforts.”

During its first year, the CBLN received strong support from 20 partners in Chicago’s business community. Serving as Charter Partners are AT&T, BlueCross and BlueShield of Illinois, Comcast, McDonald’s Corporation, and University of Phoenix. On board as Sustaining Partners are Allstate, Baxalta, Baxter, BMO Harris, Deloitte, Discover Financial Services, EY, Grainger, Grant Thornton, Hyatt, inQUEST, KPMG, ManpowerGroup, Northern Trust and Walgreens.

“This renewed grant, and the support of our dedicated partners, will allow the CBLN to continue to serve as the collective voice for Chicagoland businesses working to facilitate employment for people with disabilities,” said Ann Kisting, Executive Director of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “We will continue to build programs and events to help Chicago area employers more effectively recruit, market, and hire from the talented pool of job applicants with disabilities.”

The CBLN hosted its inaugural Disability Inclusion Opportunity Summit in November 2015, a sold-out event that brought together more than 275 human resources, talent acquisition, and diversity and inclusion leaders to learn, network and share best practices at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. A second annual Disability Inclusion Opportunity Summit will be held in 2016.

In July 2015, the CBLN welcomed the Disability Rights Museum on Wheels to Chicago for a special reception at the Shedd Aquarium, where attendees were able to network, see the nation’s first disability rights mobile museum, and learn about the activists, advocates and legislators who pioneered the disability rights movement.

Click here to learn more about the CBLN.

About the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation
The Chamber Foundation coordinates educational resources, programs, and research to advance the activities of the Chamber. Foundation initiatives allow the Chamber to collaborate with strategic partners and organizations to address key business issues, and extend the scope of our activities.

About the Chicagoland Business Leadership Network (CBLN)
The Chicagoland Business Leadership Network is Illinois’ only business-led, business-focused organization that addresses specific needs relating to the inclusion of people with disabilities from a talent, customer, supplier diversity and community perspective.  A program of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the CBLN is an approved affiliate of the U.S. Business Leadership Network.