BCO Cares in Your Community
At Big City Optical, your eye health is just the beginning. We believe in seeing the world more clearly and making it better for everyone around us. From running donation drives to supporting local nonprofits our patients choose, BCO Cares shows our commitment.
We give back and help strengthen the Chicago communities we call home.
Partnering With WINGS for Hope and Support
Big City Optical proudly supports WINGS, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals and families impacted by domestic violence. Through seasonal WINGS donation drives, our team and community members collect lightly used clothing and essentials.
These include shoes, coats, hats, and warm gear.
We donate these items directly to the WINGS center.
Each donated item brings comfort and dignity to people rebuilding their lives. Each drive brings our community together to lift one another up. Our ongoing collaboration with WINGS allows us to amplify impact beyond eyewear and vision care.
Standing with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Supporting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is one of our proudest ongoing commitments. St. Jude leads pediatric research and care for serious childhood illnesses. Families never get a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food.
Big City Optical’s donations fund important research. They also support families. These donations give hope to children and parents facing major challenges. We’re honored that our work allows us to play a small part in the global effort.
This effort aims to transform care and improve outcomes for children everywhere.
Community Giving with Patient-Selected Causes
We empower patients to help guide where our donations go each year. This collaborative approach has helped support reputable and impactful organizations like:
PAWS Chicago, one of the largest no-kill animal welfare organizations in the United States.
The Center on Halsted, advancing health and well-being for LGBTQ+ communities
WINGS and other survivor support services
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, empowering youth through mentorship, education, and enrichment programs
These partnerships mirror the passions and values of the people we serve. Together, we extend compassion, resources, and support to causes that matter most to you.
BCO’s Local Impact Through Donation Requests
Alongside program-specific drives, Big City Optical runs a Donation Request Program.
It supports registered nonprofits and charitable initiatives across the Chicago area.
Through this program, organizations that improve community well-being can apply for donations to support:
- Fundraisers and community support events
- Outreach programming
- Local services that increase access to care and opportunity
This is another way BCO Cares channels resources directly where they’re needed most.
Proud to be your Chicago Neighbor
Big City Optical has always been part of the neighborhoods we serve. Our patients aren’t just appointments on a schedule. They’re families, teachers, students, small business owners, and lifelong Chicagoans.
Because we live and work here, we care about this community.
We believe our work is more than eye exams and designer eyewear. It means showing up, investing locally, and supporting the people and organizations that make Chicago stronger.
When you choose Big City Optical, you support a practice that reinvests in your community.
Vision That Gives Back
At Big City Optical, we believe vision extends beyond sight; it includes purpose, connection, and community. Through BCO Cares:
- We help families stay warm and supported.
- We fuel life-changing pediatric research.
- We back patient-selected causes large and small.
- We empower local organizations building stronger communities.
We are proud to care for Chicago’s vision and even prouder to care for its heart.
Get Involved
Whether you want to join a donation drive, nominate an organization, or learn how your visit helps, we’d love you to join us.
Are you part of a registered nonprofit organization serving the Chicago area?
Big City Optical welcomes donation requests that align with our mission of improving community well-being. To be considered:
- Organizations must be registered nonprofits
- Requests should support community-focused initiatives
- Applications must be submitted through our official Donation Request form
Together, we see further and give more.
Big City Optical is proud to stand behind these mission-driven
organizations making a difference in our Chicago communities
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago:
Founded in 1902, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) is one of the oldest youth development organizations in Chicago. Its mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need them the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. With 8 Legacy Club locations throughout Chicago, we serve nearly 14,000 young people ages 5-24 every year. BGCC works to equip members with the emotional, educational, physical, and cultural resources that allow them to enjoy their childhood and thrive in adulthood.
Center on Halsted:
Center on Halsted is the Midwest’s most comprehensive community center, advancing community and securing the health and well-being of the LGBTQ+ people of Chicagoland. Programs include Behavioral Health Services, Community and Cultural Programming for people of all ages, Community Technology Center, HIV Resources and Prevention, Center on Cottage Grove program site in Woodlawn, Pride in Aging and affordable housing for seniors, Silver Fork Culinary Program, Youth Programs, Professional development, and more. COH programs and services are free or low-cost and open to all people regardless of economic standing, gender identity, race or sexual orientation. Learn more at centeronhalsted.org
WINGS:
The mission of WINGS Program, Inc. is to provide housing, integrated services, education and advocacy to end domestic violence. The organization envisions a society where every survivor has both a voice and access to the resources necessary to break the cycle of abuse. Grounded in the belief that every individual possesses the strength and potential to overcome adversity and improve their quality of life, WINGS is committed to offering respectful, compassionate care tailored to the unique needs of each adult and child.
Anti-Cruelty Society
Founded in 1899, Anti-Cruelty is Chicago’s oldest and largest, private, Open Door animal welfare organization. For over 125 years, Anti-Cruelty has worked at the intersection of animal welfare and social well-being to provide the BEST Care for Animals, People, and in Communities. With a mission of building a healthy and happy community where pets and people thrive together, our programs offer a multi-faceted approach to strengthening the Human-Animal bond by increasing access to adoptions, veterinary care, community outreach services, humane education, and more, serving 20,000 pets and people annually.
PAWS Chicago
PAWS Chicago is one of the largest comprehensive No Kill animal welfare organizations in the nation, building programs to end the killing of homeless pets. More than 24,000 homeless and at-risk cats and dogs pass through PAWS Chicago’s Medical Center each year. PAWS is known for healing and rehabilitating around 4,500 sick, injured, and homeless cats and dogs annually, and finding them loving families through its adoption program. PAWS Chicago also operates the city’s only high-volume spay/neuter clinic, providing more than 17,000 low-or no-cost spay/neuter surgeries each year, reducing pet overpopulation at its source. Since its founding in 1997, when more than 42,000 pets were killed in Chicago, PAWS Chicago has led the reduction in homeless pet euthanasia in Chicago by 89%. PAWS Chicago has earned the highest 4-star ranking by Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest independent evaluator, since 2003. For more information, visit www.pawschicago.org and follow PAWS Chicago on Facebook, X, and Instagram.