ABOUT

MILITARY VETERANS FORGE A POWERFUL BOND WITH AN UNEXPECTED GROUP FROM CHICAGO.

Off The Street Club, a refuge for inner-city children in Chicago, relies on donations to stay open. But while 2016 saw a record number of homicides, people had become desensitised to the violence, which threatened to reduce donations the Club desperately needed.

Children in Chicago’s most violent neighborhoods have higher rates of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) than American combat troops. Writing about traumatic experiences and sharing them with a group is therapeutic for veterans. On October 8th, as part of their therapy, we asked veterans to read trauma statements written by another group. Then we revealed they were written by children. On Veteran’s Day, we released The Toughest Letter, which documented our experiment and introduced the nation to another brave group that needed help.

RESULTS
The city of Chicago rallied behind our campaign making it the most successful fundraiser in the Club’s 116-year history.
It raised enough money to keep the Club open for years to come.
Created an ongoing mentor program between Veterans and the children.
Prevented over 3,000 children from being recruited by gangs.