Obama Foundation facts for kids
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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) |
The Barack Obama Foundation is a non-profit group based in Chicago. It was started in 2014 by former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama. The foundation works on many projects. It is building the Barack Obama Presidential Center. It also runs programs like My Brother's Keeper Alliance and offers scholarships to students.
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About the Foundation
The Barack Obama Foundation is a special organization. It helps President Obama continue his work after leaving the White House. He believes this work can be even more important than his time as president.
The foundation held its first big meeting in Chicago in 2017. It brings together leaders and young people. They discuss ways to make the world better.
Valerie Jarrett is the current CEO of the Foundation. She took over in 2021. The foundation has raised a lot of money to support its different projects. For example, in 2022, it received $311 million in donations.
Barack Obama Presidential Center
The foundation's biggest project is building the Barack Obama Presidential Center. This center will be a special place. It will include a museum about President Obama's time in office. It will also have public spaces for community events.
The center is being built in Jackson Park in Chicago. This area is on the city's South Side. Some local people had ideas for how the center could best help the community. The foundation listened to this feedback. They made some changes to the plans.
The center will have four main buildings. These include a museum and a public library branch. There will also be an athletic center. The famous architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien designed the complex. Construction is expected to finish in October 2025.
Scholarships and Programs
The Obama Foundation offers many programs. These programs help young people and leaders. They aim to inspire people to make a difference.
In 2018, the foundation started a scholarship program. It works with the University of Chicago. These scholarships help students study public policy. The students learn how to become leaders. The program covers their tuition and living costs.
The foundation also sponsors fellowships. These are called Obama Foundation Scholars. They are offered at Columbia University, where Obama went to college. This program helps international students. It supports them as they learn and grow as leaders.
Voyager Scholarship
In 2022, the Obama Foundation launched a new scholarship. It is called the Voyager Scholarship. This scholarship helps students who want to work in public service. Public service means working to help your community or country.
The scholarship was made possible by a $100 million gift. This gift came from Brian Chesky, who co-founded Airbnb. The Voyager Scholarship offers students up to $50,000 for college. It also gives them money for summer work experiences. Students can travel and learn about public service. They also get travel credits after they graduate. The program connects them with mentors and other young leaders.
In 2022, the first group of 100 "Voyagers" was announced. They came from many different states and colleges. Barack Obama and Brian Chesky even surprised them with a video call. They shared advice and congratulated the students.
My Brother's Keeper Alliance
The My Brother's Keeper Alliance (MBK Alliance) is an important program. President Obama started the idea for it in 2014. It helps boys and young men of color. The program works to close opportunity gaps they might face.
MBK Alliance provides support in many ways. It offers mentoring, education, and job training. It helps young men succeed in school and find good jobs. In 2017, this program became part of the Obama Foundation.
The MBK Alliance also has a "Model Communities" initiative. It helps cities that are doing a great job. These cities work to reduce violence and improve education. They help young people read well and graduate from high school and college. They also help them find jobs. Some of these Model Communities include Newark, New Jersey, Omaha, Nebraska, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Yonkers, New York.
Girls Opportunity Alliance
In 2018, Michelle Obama created the Girls Opportunity Alliance. This program is also part of the Obama Foundation. It focuses on helping teenage girls get an education. The program believes that educating girls can change the world. It supports projects that help girls go to school and learn.
