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Elizabeth Thompson grew up in the inner city of Chicago. Thompson started her career with Illinois Bell (Ameritech) in their Management Development Program. She left Ameritech in 1993 to follow her passion of working with youth and became the founding executive director of City Year Chicago, a nonprofit program that was the model for the national Americorps program. Thompson, alongside her husband Don, dedicates her time, talent and resources to organizations throughout Chicago and beyond. Education is the primary focus of the Thompson’s philanthropy through their Cleveland Avenue Foundation for Education where they have funded numerous organizations dedicated to student success.