Our Mission
Letters Charity (formerly Poverty Alleviation Chicago) is a nonprofit organization on a mission to use Art as a conduit to transform passive compassion into immediate assistance through the distribution of money given, without expectation or judgment, directly to families experiencing poverty.
Board of Directors

Fred Armisen
comedian, actor

Alexander Burke
musician, composer, producer, writer, actor

Kirk Crenshaw
executive, entrepreneur, start-up advisor

Drew Hester, treasurer
VP Controllership,GBS,Tax & Treasurey, Beam Suntory

Liz Kozak
writer, producer, author

Brad Morris
actor, writer, producer

Katie Rich
comedian, writer, producer, actress

Spencer Tweedy
musician, writer

Ashley Nicole Black
comedian, actress, writer, producer

Jennifer Candy
actress, comedian, producer

Chelsea Devantez
writer, comedian, filmmaker

Shantira Jackson
writer, producer, actress, comedian

Kate Lambert
actor, improviser, writer, producer

Rashida Olayiwola
comedian, actress, writer

Sam Richardson
actor, comedian, writer, producer

Heather Whinna, president
filmmaker, photographer, producer

Edgar Blackmon
actor, writer

Jesse Cannady, secretary
Senior Director, Project Development, Thinkwell Group

Scott Goldstein
creative professional, consultant, investor

TJ Jagodowski
comedian, actor, improvisational performer

Michael Morden
Partner, Honigman LLP

Chris Redd
comedian, actor, writer, rapper, singer

Amber Ruffin
comedian, writer, actress
Contact Us
Our Work In The News

November 20, 2024
WGN-9 Spotlight Chicago
by Ji Suk Yi, Sarah Jindra

December 31, 2023
Forbes
by Jim Ryan

December 1, 2023
WGN-9 Spotlight Chicago
by Ji Suk Yi, Sarah Jindra

November 28, 2023
NBC-5 Chicago
by Kim Jao

December 20, 2022
Stereogum
by Chris Deville

August 16, 2021
TV Insider
by Meaghan Darwish

June 24, 2020
Chicago Tribune
by Nina Metz

August 20, 2019
ABC7 Chicago
by Nina Metz

December 18, 2018
Pitchfork
by Amy Phillips

November 24, 2015
Pitchfork
by Jeremy Gordon

December 8, 2014
The Columbia Chronicle
by Assistant Arts & Culture Editor

December 14, 2003
The New York Times
by David Bernstein