Our Story
Center for Companies That Care is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing educational equity and cultivating socially responsible, inclusive employers. It’s a win-win-win: good for individuals, good for communities, good for businesses.
For more than 20 years, we have partnered with businesses, schools and community organizations to create opportunities that change lives. Our signature programs – AIM High and Invisible Differences – focus on maximizing college graduation rates for students of color from historically disenfranchised communities and students with noncognitive learning differences.
We also educate and inspire employers to align their values and practices to support the needs of society and business profitability. By following our Characteristics of Socially Responsible Employers, employers can create inclusive work environments that enable all individuals to thrive and build prospering communities.
1999
Stuck on a plane on yet another business trip, management consultant Marci Koblenz sketched out her plan to engage the business community to improve lives.
2002
Center for Companies That Care was officially founded as a 501(c)(3) organization by Marci Koblenz, Sandra Cunningham and Mary Ellen Gornick.
2006
Dr. Marvin Hoffman shared a University of Chicago study that found that fewer than 3% of minority Chicago Public School ninth-graders graduated from college and invited Companies That Care to help change this trajectory.
2011
When the Institute of Education Sciences reported that only 1/3 of college students with learning disabilities graduate, Companies That Care created programs to serve students with noncognitive differences.
2012 – 2014
Continued to expand programming.
2014
First cohort of Companies That Care college students graduated.
2014
Selected to participate in White House Champion of Change Conference.
2018
City of Chicago funded Companies That Care Career Awareness Internship.
2020
After George Floyd’s death, introduced a three-pronged strategy to overcome systemic racism playing a key role in the dismal college graduation rates for youth of color and diverse learners.
Now
Engage growing community of employers, parents, guardians and caring adults to provide customized, hands-on support that enables students to overcome barriers and succeed in school and life.