March 14, 2016 
CHICAGO -- UIC Athletics is proud to acknowledge a generous gift of $50,000 made by the Alvin H. Baum Family Fund, in support of its youth outreach program.
"Both UIC Athletics and the Baum Family Fund share a goal to have a positive impact on our Chicagoland community," said UIC Director of Athletics Jim Schmidt. "The support of the Baum Family Fund provides access to our campus for thousands of young people. It offers a fun experience watching the Flames, while learning about higher education and UIC."
The outreach program is also supported by the United Parcel Service (UPS) and covers costs of transportation and attendance for community youth from Chicagoland, allowing them to visit the UIC campus and attend men's basketball, women's basketball or baseball games. While spending time at the institution, students receive a plethora of information on the opportunities of higher education and UIC.
During this current academic year, over 14,000 young people have participated in the outreach program, including a season-high of over 2,000 who attended the men's basketball game on Friday, February 19. UIC Athletics has supplied over 300 buses to support its outreach efforts.
For information on participating in the UIC Athletics outreach program, please contact Nate Downing, UIC Director of Ticket Operations, at 312-996-5324.
The Alvin H. Baum Family Fund is committed to bettering the lives of those who predominantly live and work in the Chicagoland area. The priorities established for the Foundation's giving are health, human services, education, housing, environmental issues and the arts.
The Baum Family Fund has previously supported UIC Athletics by making the lead gifts for the videoboards at both Flames Field and the UIC Natatorium, which are the homes of the softball and swimming and diving programs, respectively. In addition to hosting UIC athletic contests, both facilities are used frequently by other community organizations and area youth for competitions and clinics throughout the year.
"Thousands of people benefit each year from the Baum Family Fund's visible support of UIC Athletics," said Schmidt. "We appreciate that the Baum Family Fund continues to aid in our athletic department's ability to make a difference in Chicago."
