Chicago Blackhawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz Joins A Better Chicago’s Board of Directors
CHICAGO (3/11/25) – A Better Chicago, a venture philanthropy focused on creating opportunities for youth experiencing poverty, announced today that Chicago Blackhawks Chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz has joined the organization’s Board of Directors.
Danny has been a key partner for A Better Chicago since 2020 when the organizations launched One West Side, which has continued to drive positive youth outcomes on the city’s west side. The multi-year partnership pairs the Blackhawks’ platform of professional sports with A Better Chicago’s philanthropic expertise to support local organizations and leaders in efforts to create greater opportunities for youth in their own communities. The initiative, which has deployed over $3 million to date, is a commitment to invest in Chicago’s West Side, which includes some of the city’s most underserved and under-resourced neighborhoods.
“Having Danny Wirtz join A Better Chicago’s Board is an exciting milestone for our organization,” said Beth Swanson, CEO of A Better Chicago. “Danny’s deep commitment to social impact and his long-standing dedication to the West Side of Chicago make him an invaluable addition. His leadership and vision will help us continue supporting youth and building a more equitable future for Chicago’s next generation.”
“As a partner to the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation for the last five years, I have seen first-hand how A Better Chicago focuses on leaders deeply embedded in their own communities, empowering them as individuals and their organizations to better the lives of Chicago’s youth. I’m excited to join the Board and further support this important and impactful work in our neighborhoods around the United Center and across the city,” added Wirtz.
As Chairman and CEO of the Chicago Blackhawks, Danny leads the team with a mission to reimagine the potential of hockey and serve as a positive force in the community. As a passionate and lifelong hockey player and fan, he’s been instrumental in the continued expansion of Fifth Third Arena, which serves as a state-of-the-art community space and hub for youth hockey development and practice facility for the Chicago Blackhawks. In addition to his work with A Better Chicago, Danny serves as Chairman of the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, the team’s official charitable arm that strives to create a healthier, smarter and more secure world for children and families across Chicagoland.
Danny’s dedication also extends to his role as Co-Chairman and partner of the United Center Joint Venture, working alongside the Reinsdorf family to create meaningful and lasting impact while shaping the future of the historic campus. The Wirtz family is playing a key role in the revitalization of the West Side of Chicago, with plans for a transformative $7 billion mixed-use development surrounding the United Center.
Founded in 2010, A Better Chicago was modeled after a venture capital fund with a mission of building a more equitable city by breaking the cycle of generational poverty. As of 2025, the organization has reached over 115,000 students and deployed over $73 million to Chicago’s most promising youth-serving nonprofits. A Better Chicago currently invests in 24 total nonprofit organizations that support children from cradle to career.
To learn more about A Better Chicago, visit https://www.abetterchicago.org/
About A Better Chicago
A Better Chicago is a venture philanthropy that invests in the most promising nonprofits helping children escape poverty. We’re a supercharger. We have provided more than $73 million in unrestricted funding and management support to help the nonprofits in our portfolio grow. Our donors want to make pivotal, well-researched investments that lift the outlook for our city.
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