What is Cubs Care? Cubs Care is the charitable beneficiary of the Chicago Cubs and a fund of the McCormick Tribune Foundation (MTF).

The MTF was originally established as a charitable trust upon the death, in 1955, of Colonel Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Upon his death, Colonel McCormick instructed that a sizable portion of his estate be used for philanthropic purposes and the MTF was born.

Today, the McCormick Tribune Foundation is one of the nation's largest charitable organizations, with combined assets of almost $2 billion and giving of more than $88 million in 2003. The foundation's mission is to improve the social and economic environment; encourage a free and responsible discussion of issues affecting the nation; enhance the effectiveness of American education; and stimulate responsible citizenship. It provides grants in four programs areas: communities, education, journalism and citizenship - as well as a special initiatives program.

Cubs Care is part of the MTF's communities programs. The communities program is designed to stimulate charitable giving from the general public in an effort to improve the economic and social environment. The foundation establishes philanthropic relationships, called fund partnerships, with business units that fall into three general categories-newspapers, broadcast stations, and sports teams-located throughout the United States. Each partner uses its access to the general public to promote fundraising and philanthropic activity in the community in which it operates.

Cubs Care focuses it's giving in the city of Chicago and makes monetary grants to organizations that aid children who have special needs, victims of domestic violence and youth sports programs. Most of these grants are to specific programs. Cubs Care also focuses on a wide variety of charitable and social service agencies located in the immediate neighborhood of Wrigley Field. This includes Lake View, Uptown and Lincoln Park. To help stimulate giving the fund, the MTF provides significant matching dollars to all funds raised for Cubs Care.

Donations to Cubs Care are made in the form of memorials, direct donation and proceeds from Chicago Cubs players, sponsors and special events. The money is then distributed to the community in the form of grants.

To date, Cubs Care has granted in excess of $8 million dollars in support to the Chicago Community.