Opening Letter from Susan
What a year 2025 has been! As I reflect on this past year, the words that spring to mind might not be what you'd expect.
Yes, the year was full of challenges. Policy changes have negatively impacted many of our refugee and immigrant neighbors – we've seen painful family separations, loss of vital food assistance, and agonizingly long waits for immigration processes.
And yet, in the midst of these challenges, our hope not only continues – it burns brighter.
Our resolve to help refugees and other immigrants rebuild their lives, in partnership with the church, remains unshaken. It is the powerful stories of resilience, partnership, sacrifice, God's undeniable provision that define this year. They bring to mind three words: gratitude, wonder, and hope...
Read Susan's full remark
Church & Volunteer Partner Impact
44K+
hours of volunteerism
208
churches actively in partnership
$1.179M
total amount of in-kind donations
1,641
people participated in English classes
108,000
total hours of attendance
75%
students who completed our classes made at least one language level gain last year, which is 35% higher than the state average.
Wasim’s Story
Building a Life, Creating Community
Wasim arrived in the U.S. in 2016 on a Special Immigrant Visa, having served as a contractor supporting U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Through your support, World Relief Chicagoland walked alongside him, helping him find his first job and deepen his English skills. But for Wasim, English had already been a life-long pursuit.
Growing up near the airport, Wasim watched the planes daily. When he was a boy, a neighbor who was a pilot told him he could get into aviation, so he focused on English. Over time, he became fluent in several languages: Dari, Pashto, English, Urdu, some Arabic, and even a bit of Danish.
4,354
clients served through ILS
63
families reunited
355
green cards received
303
people became U.S. citizens
Hope on the Line: The Immigration Hotline
When national conversations around immigration intensified in late 2024, immigrant families braced for another season of uncertainty. Thanks to your faithful support, World Relief Chicagoland’s legal team was prepared to respond.
From experience, our staff knew that traditional group information sessions weren’t always the most effective. Families often sat through presentations, only to wait afterward for a chance to ask the one question that truly mattered to them. With your partnership, we reimagined our approach, and the legal hotline was born.
6,397
people served
862
job placements
260
asylum seekers supported through asylum project
216
supported through Mental Health Clinics
Denis’s Story
A Legacy of Hope
When Denis Kweri arrived in DuPage County as a refugee from Sudan in 1999, he never guessed he'd be returning to the area 25 years later as a speaker and non-profit leader. In June 2025, Denis stood before a room of more than 160 community members gathered for World Relief Chicagoland’s Spotlight on Refugees event, sharing his story of resilience, faith and hope.
At age 26, Denis came to the U.S. with his family after years of displacement. He remembers small but striking moments of culture shock, like turning on the hot water in his new apartment and wondering who was behind the sink boiling it.
Financial statement & summary
Sept 2024 - October 2025
“What a joy and privilege it is to work with such an excellent and intentional organization that shares the love of God in so many tangible ways with people seeking safety and refuge.”
Steve & Kathy Soneson
Partner
A Legacy That Lasts
When you include World Relief in your will or trust, you ignite lasting change. Learn how your estate gift empowers vulnerable families to flourish, strengthens communities with sustainable solutions, and extends God’s love where it’s needed most.
