BOSTON & CHICAGO & PHILADELPHIA - April 18, 2016 - PRLog -- Cradles to Crayons, the national nonprofit providing everyday essentials to children living in poverty, today announced that it has named Bernard Cherkasov as Executive Director, Cradles to Crayons-Chicago. Cherkasov will assume responsibility effective immediately for Cradles to Crayons' activities across Chicagoland and also serve as a member of the organization's National Leadership Team, which sets organization-wide priorities and direction. With the addition of Cherkasov, and a new Chicago warehouse facility, Cradles to Crayons expands its footprint into a third metropolitan area and its first in the Midwest. It is already operating in Boston, where it was founded in 2002, and in Philadelphia, which opened in 2006.
Cherkasov brings a wealth of nonprofit experience to Cradles to Crayons-Chicago. As CEO of Equality Illinois, a civil rights organization advocating for LGBT rights, he grew the agency from a small but ambitious local organization to the second largest state equality organization in the United States.
Prior to serving as the CEO of Equality Illinois, Cherkasov practiced law at Reed Smith LLP and McGuire Woods LLP in Chicago. He also served as an International Law Clerk for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Israel. Bernard earned his J.D. degree from the University of Michigan and a Master's degree in the relationship of theology, policy, and law from Harvard.
"Bernard is a great fit to build the Cradles to Crayons' mission, model, and community in Chicago," said Lynn Margherio, Founder and CEO, Cradles to Crayons. "He has the professional experience and personal passion that make him an ideal choice for this role."
"I feel such a personal connection to the mission of Cradles to Crayons, and I am so honored to have this opportunity to lead the agency's expansion in Chicago," said Bernard Cherkasov. "I remember how empowering it felt, as a young child in Azerbaijan, that someone took notice of my family and provided us with packages containing winter coats and other clothing. Cradles to Crayons already supports children and families in Boston and Philadelphia during difficult times. I am looking forward to bringing that same much-needed support to Chicagoland families and children."
There are nearly 200,000 children living in poverty in Chicago. In the first year of operations, Cradles to Crayons-Chicago expects to serve 16,000 children and engage more than 5,000 volunteers. Cradles to Crayons-Chicago daily operations will be located in a 20,000 square foot warehouse in Logan Square.
About Cradles to Crayons
Cradles to Crayons provides children from birth through age 12 who live in homeless or low-income situations with the essential items they need to thrive-at home, at school, and at play. We supply these items free of charge by engaging and connecting communities that have with communities that need, collecting new and like-new children's items through grassroots community drives and corporate donations.
Cradles to Crayons is a national, non-profit organization founded in Boston, Massachusetts and with locations in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Chicago, Illinois. Through our signature Everyday Essentials program and seasonal initiatives-Gear Up for Winter, Gear Up for Baby, and Ready for School-donations of children's products are sorted, inspected, and packaged by volunteers at our warehouses, called The Giving Factory®. Our "KidPacks®," backpacks and other essential items are then distributed through a collaborative network of social service agencies and school partners. For additional information, visit www.cradlestocrayons.org.
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