Obama Foundation facts for kids
The Barack Obama Foundation is a group based in Chicago that helps people and communities. It started in 2014. This foundation is building the Barack Obama Presidential Center. It also runs programs like the My Brother's Keeper Alliance, which Barack Obama started when he was president. Plus, it offers scholarships through the University of Chicago.
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|
| Formation | 2014 |
|---|---|
| Founders | |
| Type | Non-operating private foundation |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) organization |
| Headquarters | Hyde Park, Chicago, Illinois |
| Valerie Jarrett | |
|
Revenue
|
$143,158,266 (2019) |
| Endowment | $429,545,259 (2019) |
Contents
About the Foundation
The foundation had its first big meeting in Chicago on October 31, 2017. Barack Obama wanted his foundation to be a big part of his work after being president. He believed this work could be even more important than his time in the White House.
The first president of the foundation was Adewale Adeyemo. He is an economist who joined in August 2019. In 2020, he was chosen for a government role. Valerie Jarrett then took over as CEO of the Foundation in 2021.
The foundation has raised a lot of money to support its projects. By 2022, it had received $311 million in gifts. Since 2017, it has raised a total of $1.1 billion.
Barack Obama Presidential Center
The foundation's biggest project is building the Barack Obama Presidential Center. This center will be like a special library for former President Obama. In May 2015, the foundation announced the center would be built in Jackson Park in Chicago's South Side.
Some local leaders had concerns about the project. They wondered how it would help the community. They also felt the community was not involved enough in the planning. In February 2019, Chicago residents voted for a special agreement. This agreement would make sure the community benefited from the center.
New plans for the center were shared in 2019. These plans included changes based on feedback. The center will have four buildings. These will include a museum, public spaces, a public library, and a sports center. The buildings were designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien. Construction on the 19.3-acre campus is expected to be finished in October 2025.
Scholarships and Programs
The Obama Foundation runs several programs to help people.
Scholarship Programs
In February 2018, the foundation started a scholarship program at the University of Chicago. These scholarships help 25 students from the U.S. and other countries. They study public policy and learn to be leaders. The scholarships cover tuition and living costs. Students also work with the foundation.
The foundation also started a fellowship program at Columbia University. This is where Obama went to college. In 2018, this program helped 12 international students. It paid for their expenses and gave them money for living.
Voyager Scholarship
In May 2022, the Obama Foundation announced a new scholarship. It was started with a $100 million gift from Brian Chesky, who helped create Airbnb. This scholarship is called the Voyager Scholarship. It is also known as the "Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service."
This scholarship helps college students who want to work in public service. It gives them up to $50,000 for their junior and senior years. It also provides $10,000 and free Airbnb housing for a summer work-travel experience. After graduation, students get a $2,000 travel credit each year for 10 years. They also attend a yearly meeting and get advice from mentors.
In September 2022, the first group of 100 "Voyagers" was announced. These students came from 36 U.S. states and territories. They represented 70 different colleges. Barack Obama and Brian Chesky surprised them with a video call. They shared their own stories about public service.
My Brother's Keeper Alliance
The My Brother's Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance) is a program that helps boys and young men of color. It works to close opportunity gaps they might face. The program offers support through mentoring, education, and job training. President Obama started a similar program in the White House in 2014. In 2017, the MBK Alliance became part of the Obama Foundation.
The MBK Alliance has a "Model Communities" program. This program helps communities that are working to meet six goals:
- Reducing violence
- Helping kids be ready to learn
- Ensuring kids read well by third grade
- Helping students graduate high school
- Helping students graduate college or vocational school
- Helping young people find jobs
As of May 2024, four communities have been recognized as Model Communities: Newark, New Jersey; Omaha, Nebraska; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Yonkers, New York.
Girls Opportunity Alliance
In 2018, Michelle Obama started the Girls Opportunity Alliance. This program is part of the Obama Foundation. It focuses on helping teenage girls get an education around the world.
