Leslie Bluhm

Leslie N. Bluhm is a social entrepreneur who empowers people to tackle challenges through collaborative action. In 1991, she co-founded Chicago Cares, Inc., the city’s leading volunteer service organization. Chicago Cares builds group volunteer programs that meet the critical needs of the community while using the volunteer experience to educate volunteers from diverse communities about each other; building trust, empathy and connection. Leslie was named one of six Chicagoans of the year by Chicago Magazine and was named to Crain’s 40 under 40. She serves on the board of directors of Chicago Cares, The Chicago Community Trust, The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, OneGoal, Whitney Museum of American Art, Shining Hope for Communities, and Rush Street Interactive, Inc. She earned a BA from the University of Michigan and a JD from the University of Chicago Law School. She and her husband David Helfand reside in Chicago and have two sons.