October 7, 2026
2026 Summer Classes
It was an exciting and busy summer for our students, filled with creativity, learning, and new experiences.
Our Basic Class took its first two-day camping trip to Glenhagen Farm Retreat. It was wonderful to give our students and student leaders the opportunity to experience something outside of the city, build connections, and enjoy the outdoors together.
The Advanced Class focused on individual creative projects. Each student designed a book based on their personal project, giving them the opportunity to develop their ideas and see their work come together as a finished piece.
The students in our Applied Techniques & Lighting Classes put their skills into practice by photographing our 10th Anniversary Benefit. Through hands-on experience, they strengthened their understanding of lighting, camera settings, and composition while learning to create more intentional images and capture moments in a professional event setting.
We were also excited to receive another grant to hold our CoGen Class, bringing together five students and five seniors. Each student was partnered with a senior, and together they created a project and contributed to a class book. The class is designed to be a learning experience for both students and seniors, encouraging them to share their knowledge, ideas, and perspectives with one another. The CoGen and Basic Classes proudly showcased their work at the Ravenswood Art Walk in September.
We are also proud to continue our partnership with A Knock at Midnight in Englewood. This summer, we participated in a 20-hour-per-week work program through Chicago Youth Works, funded by the City of Chicago. Students are paid to participate in the program, giving them valuable work experience while developing their creativity and skills.
Alumni Dinner
We hosted our Annual Alumni Dinner again this summer, bringing together FreshLens students from the past 10 years.
It was a wonderful opportunity for alumni to reconnect with old friends, make new connections, and share memories from their time with FreshLens.
Illinois Arts Council Grant
We are pleased to announce that we have received a generous $7,500 grant from the IAC for general operation in 2027! We also received another $2,720 grant from IAC for Youth Employment in the Arts.
This support helps us continue providing tuition-free photography education to Chicago youth, giving students access to the tools, instruction, and creative opportunities they need to grow their skills and confidence.
We are grateful to the Illinois Arts Council for investing in FreshLens Chicago and supporting our work in the community.
FreshLens Receives $30,000 NBCUniversal Local Impact Grant
We’re thrilled to celebrate a major milestone for FreshLens: for the first time, we’ve been selected to receive a $30,000 NBCUniversal Local Impact Grant!
As part of the 2026 NBCUniversal Local Impact Grants, Comcast NBCUniversal and NBCUniversal Local awarded $2.5 million to 80 nonprofits across the markets served by 11 NBC and Telemundo-owned stations.
This unrestricted grant is an exciting investment in FreshLens, giving us greater flexibility to strengthen our programs, expand our community impact, and create more opportunities for the people and communities we serve.
This year’s recipients were recognized for work in youth education and empowerment, next generation storytellers, and community engagement, areas that closely reflect the heart of FreshLens and our belief in the power of local storytelling.
We’re incredibly grateful to NBCUniversal Local for believing in our mission and investing in the work we’re building together. This $30,000 is more than a grant, it’s a celebration of our community, our storytellers, and what’s possible when their voices are supported.
We can’t wait to put this support to work and share what comes next with the FreshLens community!
Cheers to 10 Years!: 2026 FreshLens Fundraiser
Once again this year, we hosted our Cheers to 10 Years Fundraiser at SPF Pickleball, bringing our community together for an evening of celebration, connection, and support. Guests enjoyed the party and had the option to play pickleball while learning more about the inspiring work of our students.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who donated goods and services to our silent auction. Your generosity helped make the evening a tremendous success. We are especially grateful to SPF for their generosity and support for opening up their space to us. Their partnership helped make it possible for us to host such a wonderful event.
We are thrilled to share that FreshLens met its goal and raised $75,000! Thank you to everyone who contributed, attended, supported, sponsored, and celebrated with us. Your generosity makes a meaningful difference in the lives of our students and helps FreshLens continue its mission.
Save the Date: Focus on the Future 2027!
Mark your calendars! On October 9, 2027, FreshLens will host Focus on the Future, our biennial fundraiser, celebrating the creativity and talent of our students, professional artists, and other exciting auction items.
We are thrilled to announce that next year’s event will be held at Dank Haus in Lincoln Square, a beautiful and historic Chicago venue that will provide a wonderful setting for an evening dedicated to art, community, and supporting FreshLens’ mission.
More details about the event will be coming soon.
We can’t wait to celebrate with you!