Our Initiatives
Windy City Youth Ensemble focuses on organizing musical performances, charity concerts, and community events to raise funds for breast cancer research. We also partner with local senior homes including assisted living facilities for individuals with Alzheimer's disease to create moments of connection through music.
​
To see our impact read below...
Blown Away! $15,000 Fundraising Goal Crushed!
Charity concert at Northwestern Medicine Prentice Women's Hospital, Chicago, IL
Over $20,000 raised. Words cannot describe how grateful we are.
​
Thank you to everyone who attended our concerts, donated, or simply shared our mission with others. Every gesture—no matter how small—has helped us support meaningful research and honor those whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. Thank you to the care team who provided our mom with the utmost compassion and a successful recovery. Your kindness fuels our mission more intensely and we hope to continue long into the future. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to all of you for standing with us in this journey.
​
To read more, visit:
https://www.cancer.northwestern.edu/news/2024/youth-ensemble.html
Interview with WCYE and Soohyun Han, Breast Cancer Survivor
News Coverage on ABC 7 Chicago
.jpg)
_HEIC.png)
Our senior home partners
Every month we perform for senior residents at these locations, bringing a mix of classical and popular music to brighten their afternoons and foster a sense of connection.
North Shore Place, Northbrook, IL
"Performing at The North Shore Place has been a special experience for me because it feels like we’re not just providing entertainment, but creating a shared moment that lifts everyone in the room. Many of the guests strike up conversations with us after a performance, telling us how our performance reminded them of songs from their youth."
​
- Teddy
North Shore Senior Center - House of Welcome, Northfield, IL
​The House of Welcome (HOW) at the North Shore Senior Center provides care to those experiencing memory loss and early stages of Alzheimer's disease. Per facility policy, photos were not permitted to respect the privacy of the residents.
"A profoundly bittersweet experience.
On one occasion, a man asked us the same question after each song in our repertoire. Each time, I offered the same warm reply, and each time his eyes brightened with the same spark of interest. Even if the music cannot restore what has been lost, it can still create moments of connection—moments where the past briefly comes alive, and the present feels intact."​
- Nathan
How you can help
By supporting Windy City Youth Ensemble, you're investing into the future of breast cancer research, bringing hope to cancer patients around the world.
​
We sincerely thank you for considering our cause. With your help, we can continue to make a difference, one note at a time.
​
​