CHICAGO, IL — A Safe Haven Foundation is proud to announce that it has been selected as a 2026 Philanthropy Award recipient by the Make It Better Foundation, joining a distinguished cohort of 43 nonprofit organizations recognized for excellence, leadership, scalability, and lasting impact.
The award includes a $50,000 grant and a yearlong storytelling partnership designed to amplify the voices and missions of high-performing nonprofits across the region.
“This award is not just a celebration of our past impact—it’s a powerful investment in what comes next,” said Mark Mulroe, President of A Safe Haven Foundation. “We are honored to partner with the Make It Better Foundation to tell the stories that matter most—stories of transformation, dignity, and the collective work required to create lasting solutions to homelessness and poverty.”
As part of the storytelling partnership, the Make It Better Foundation will publish a Spring 2026 feature highlighting A Safe Haven Landscaping, one of the Foundation’s award-winning social business enterprises.
A Safe Haven Landscaping enhances the beauty of Chicago while creating pathways to stability for individuals overcoming homelessness. Each November, program participants plant more than 180,000 tulip bulbs along Michigan Avenue. Each spring, those tulips bloom as a visible symbol of growth, renewal, and second chances. The feature will spotlight a Landscaping graduate whose journey from crisis to self-sufficiency mirrors the transformation reflected in the blooms they helped plant.
The story will be accompanied by photography from Barry Butler Photography’s, capturing both the beauty of the tulips and the human stories behind them.
“Each year, the tulips along Michigan Avenue remind us why it’s called the Magnificent Mile,” said Barry Butler. “What begins in autumn with A Safe Haven Landscaping crews planting bulbs—often greeted with gratitude from passersby—becomes, in spring, an eruption of color that stops people in their tracks. The blooms may last only weeks, but the sense of pride, beauty, and community they create endures. It’s an honor to document this transformation year after year.”
Founded by venture philanthropist Susan B. Noyes, the Make It Better Foundation has been a long-standing champion of A Safe Haven’s mission. Over the past decade, the partnership has grown through shared values and a mutual commitment to elevating organizations that deliver measurable, community-driven impact.
“Through this recognition, we aim not only to honor your achievements, but to amplify your voice, expand your reach, and support your ability to build stronger communities and a better world—one story, one organization at a time,” said Noyes in the official award announcement
In addition to the feature story, the award includes inclusion in the Make It Better Foundation’s Guide to Giving, Giving Tuesday collaborations, social media storytelling, a matching grant campaign in Fall 2026, and opportunities to grow A Safe Haven’s reach through shared platforms and events.
A Safe Haven Foundation extends its deepest thanks to Susan Noyes, the Make It Better Foundation team, and the 2026 Academy of Judges, including philanthropic leaders from Morgan Stanley, William Blair, Yahoo, Burston Astor Advisors, and more.
We also thank the generous sponsors and strategic partners supporting this year’s investments in nonprofit storytelling. “We also congratulate all 43 nonprofits recognized this year,” added Mulroe. “It’s an honor to stand alongside organizations advancing our region through creativity, compassion, and results.”
Learn more about the 2026 Philanthropy Awards and the full list of honorees at: https://better.net/philanthropy/2026-philanthropy-awards-winners
About A Safe Haven Foundation
A Safe Haven Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals in crisis. By joining our efforts, you become part of a powerful force for change, impacting lives and the fabric of our city, turning setbacks into stories of resilience, hope, and opportunity.
About A Safe Haven Landscaping
A Safe Haven Landscaping is a full-service, year-round landscaping company and social business enterprise providing professional landscape services to businesses, municipalities, institutional organizations, and private residential clients. The company creates paid job training and employment opportunities for individuals overcoming homelessness, equipping participants with industry-recognized skills while delivering high-quality landscape management across every phase of service.
About Make It Better Foundation
The Make It Better Foundation identifies, amplifies, and supports outstanding nonprofits by leveraging media, philanthropy, and storytelling. Its annual Philanthropy Awards recognize organizations that exemplify innovation, leadership, collaboration, and impact across sectors and communities.
