CHICAGO/ DECEMBER 20, 2018/ MB Financial Bank, N.A., announced that it has donated a former branch to the Chicago Urban League, along with $25,000 to help retrofit the building for the League’s use. The Chicago Urban League will use the site, which includes a 5,300-square-foot former bank branch and 26 parking spaces, to expand its youth development programs, which served more than 800 young people in 2018. The programs serve teenagers ages 13 to 18, with a focus on reducing youth involvement with the criminal justice system, decreasing school absences, and improving academic performance and socioemotional development.
“We are extremely grateful to MB Financial for this generous donation and for its investment in the future of the Chicago Urban League and the youth in our communities,” said Barbara Lumpkin, the League’s interim president and CEO. “This property provides a larger, more flexible space that opens up new opportunities for programming, as well as for increasing the number of youth we can serve.”
In commenting on the transaction, Vicky Arroyo, president of the MB Community Development Corporation, said, “MB has been part of the Back of the Yards community for almost 20 years. We are pleased to continue to give back to this wonderful community by providing this facility to the Chicago Urban League, an organization with a proven track record of helping people find jobs, affordable housing, educational opportunities, and resources to grow their businesses.”
The MB branch at 5100 South Damen became vacant when MB acquired Cole Taylor, resulting in two MB branches within a mile of one another. The 5100 South Damen branch was consolidated into the MB branch at 47th Street and Ashland Avenue, providing greater convenience to customers.
MB Financial has committed to partnering with the League to support programs and services to youth in the surrounding communities, which include South Side neighborhoods such as West Englewood, Back of the Yards, Roseland, Auburn Gresham, Woodlawn and Englewood.
Lumpkin said that, in addition to providing a larger and more convenient space for youth programming, the donation will ultimately reduce expenses for the League and reactivate a dormant commercial corner.