Using furniture and home goods donated by the community, Digs with Dignity custom furnishes homes for individuals and families exiting homelessness.

At a time when our vulnerable and at-risk neighbors are losing more and more of the resources they need to get back on their feet, the difference between an empty apartment and a comfortable, furnished home has become more important than ever for the people we serve. 

Digs with Dignity invites you to join us for dinner, drinks, and dancing as we celebrate 250 Chicago families in comfortable homes and 275,000+ pounds of furniture and waste kept out of landfills in our mission to break the cycle of homelessness.

Join us in making a promise to Chicago families in need of dignity, empowerment, and a place to call home.

At DIGS Annual Welcome Home Gala, look forward to:

• Delicious food, beverages, and desserts showcasing all the best flavors of Chicago

• Auction items you don't want to miss, including special sports items, travel opportunities, and more 

• More than a fundraiser, the Welcome Home Gala an opportunity to get even closer to Digs with Dignity's mission by celebrating our impact with the families we serve at the event

About Ernest Crim III, Keynote Speaker at the Welcome Home Gala

Ernest Crim III is a modern-day griot, educator, and cultural competency specialist who uses overlooked historical narratives as a catalyst for healing, justice, and transformation. As a former public school history teacher turned speaker, author, Emmy-nominated producer, and CEO of Crim’s Cultural Consulting, Ernest empowers schools, companies, and communities to bridge cultural divides through truth-telling, empathy, and antiracist education.

His content reaches millions across social media, where he dismantles whitewashed narratives and centers the resilience and innovation of Black people throughout history. A survivor of a viral hate crime, Ernest has transformed personal pain into public purpose, using storytelling to inspire change, challenge injustice, and amplify historically silenced voices.

At his core, Ernest is a liberator, and a protector of legacy who is committed to educating the present while building a freer future for generations to come for all of humanity. And most importantly, he is a family man, who currently resides in the Chicago area with his wife and four daughters.

Together, we can break the cycle of homelessness.

Thanks to our Presenting Sponsor: Headlands Technologies, our Diamond Sponsors: ADM and Orrick, our Platinum Sponsors: Coplan + Crane, PRIMEdge, Katten, Knickerbocker, Refine Residential and Navigate Power, our Gold Sponsors: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Chicago Bulls Charities and Law Hesselbaum, and our Silver Sponsors: Sew Crafty, Palm Electric, Thoughtium, Ideba Marketing, Chicago Stars FC, Chime, Innovative Scholars, MK Systems, and Insperity.