NAPERVILLE, Ill., December 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ – Youth Outlook, Illinois’ first and longest-running social services agency dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth, has received a 2025 Excellence in Care Award from Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS/Chicago (DIFFA/Chicago), recognizing the agency’s work to strengthen HIV prevention, care connection, and community support in the Chicago region. Youth Outlook has earned the recognition annually for more than a decade.
DIFFA/Chicago’s Excellence in Care Awards program is the organization’s annual HIV/AIDS grants initiative, which recognizes and funds high-impact, community-based services. This year, DIFFA/Chicago awarded a record-breaking $210,000 in unrestricted grants to nine organizations, including Youth Outlook, that deliver direct care, prevention education, and outreach to people living with or at risk for HIV/AIDS. DIFFA/Chicago prioritizes programs that are innovative, fill gaps not covered by other philanthropy or public funding, and align with Illinois’ “Getting to Zero” HIV strategy, which aims to end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
Youth Outlook supports LGBTQ+ youth and young adults across Illinois through virtual and in-person programs, including its Drop-In Centers, which provide safe, affirming spaces for connection, support, and learning. Through its Drop-In Centers, Youth Outlook offers HIV/AIDS education and prevention information as part of broader programming that helps young people build knowledge, reduce stigma, and access trusted resources.
“We’re grateful to DIFFA/Chicago for recognizing this work and for backing community-based organizations that stay close to what people actually need,” said Nancy Mullen, executive director of Youth Outlook. “Youth told us they want honest, practical HIV education in spaces where they feel safe enough to ask real questions. This award helps us keep showing up at our Drop-In Centers with information and support, so young people in Chicagoland and across Illinois aren’t left to figure it out alone.”
Former Youth Outlook participant and current board chair Emily S. accepted the award on behalf of the organization and shared her story during the ceremony.
Youth Outlook programs and services are available at no cost and are open to LGBTQ+ youth and young adults ages 5-24 statewide across Illinois. Services are offered through virtual and in-person options. To learn more or connect with Youth Outlook, visit youth-outlook.org.
About Youth Outlook
Founded in 1998, Youth Outlook is Illinois’ first and longest-running social services agency dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ youth. We provide the care and community LGBTQ+ young people need to thrive, offering statewide services that include virtual and in-person programs for youth and young adults ages 5-24, caregiver and parent support, health and wellness navigation, and community education and professional development. Youth Outlook is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. youth-outlook.org
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