Ignite and Fellow Chicago Innovation Award Winners Ring the Nasdaq Opening Bell
Ignite recognized for its innovative housing model for young people transitioning out of homelessness
CHICAGO, IL — August 31, 2026 — Ignite joined fellow winners of the Chicago Innovation Awards in New York City on Monday, August 31st to ring the Nasdaq Opening Bell. The event celebrated the breadth of innovation across the Chicago region and spotlighted organizations helping shape its future.
Stephanie Piccirilli, President & CEO of Ignite, and Monique Byrd, Director of Community Housing, at Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City.
Chicago Innovation Award Winners at Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City.
Ignite was recognized as a Chicago Innovation Award winner for its Community Housing Program, an innovative housing model that provides long-term, affordable housing and personalized support for young people transitioning out of homelessness. The program combines stable housing with individualized case management, education and employment support, and life skills development, helping young people build the skills and support systems necessary to thrive.
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Watch Here: 2025 Chicago Innovation Award Winners Ring the Nasdaq Stock Market Opening Bell
“Being recognized for innovation is especially meaningful because this program reflects what we believe at Ignite: housing is not simply about providing a place to live, but creating the foundation for a young person to build the future they envision for themselves,” said Stephanie Piccirilli, President & CEO of Ignite. “Our Community Housing Program was designed to provide young people with stability, support and opportunity for the long term, and we are incredibly proud to see that work recognized alongside so many organizations driving innovation across Chicago.”
“Chicago Innovation Award winners cut across all industries and represent the best in new product and service development from large companies, startups and non-profits,” said Luke Tanen, President and CEO of Chicago Innovation. “Their winning innovations are solving a range of unmet needs in the marketplace, and we’re proud to celebrate their successes on a global stage by ringing the Nasdaq Bell.”
Ignite joined fellow 2025 Chicago Innovation Award winners including Abbott, Aegis Foods, Chamberlain Group, CharCharms, ClostraBio, CloudNuro, Cultivate Collective, Cylinder Health, Ganance, GigaStar, Latinos Progresando & Greater Auburn Gresham Development Corporation, Prenosis, (P)Rind, Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, Sphera, Sunshine Enterprises, Trajektory, Urban Growers Collective, Xchange Chicago and Zerno.
About Ignite: Ignite serves youth experiencing homelessness, ages 10 to 26, in pursuit of not just a home, but a future in which they thrive in every way. For 50 years, Ignite has provided housing, supportive services, and advocacy to help young people build safe, stable lives and brighter futures. Through a spectrum of services that begins with homeless prevention and street outreach and carries through to housing, education, employment, healthcare, and skills development, Ignite celebrates each unique young person and the bright future in front of them. This year, Ignite will enroll more than 850 young people across its programs. Learn more at www.ignitepromise.org
About Chicago Innovation and the Chicago Innovation Awards
Chicago Innovation, established in 2002, has grown from a single awards ceremony to a year-round series of events and programs to educate, connect and celebrate all innovators in the Chicago region. Chicago Innovation’s vision is to lead a movement that ensures innovation is for everyone. The Chicago Innovation Awards celebrate the most innovative new products, services and organizations in the Chicago region, cutting across all industries, large corporations and startups, for profits and non-profits, high tech, low tech and no tech. For more information, visit http://www.chicagoinnovation.com.
For more information or media inquiries, contact Christie Shanahan at cshanahan@ignitepromise.org.