On Friday, August 7, 2026, Energy CX held its 5th Annual META24 Gala. This year, the event was hosted at the Adler Planetarium, which was filled with guests who gathered under the stars together in support of META24.
Through the support of sponsors and guests, the gala raised $111,529 for META24, a nonprofit reimagining education through entrepreneurship by giving at-risk students in Chicago the tools, resources and real-world experience to build their futures. This year's fundraising total surpasses the $80,000 that was raised at the 2025 gala.
Founded in 2012, META24 converts school and community spaces into maker spaces where students learn vocational skills they use to launch their own businesses. The organization currently has 20+ labs across 11 institutional sites, providing resources to 15,000+ students. At this year’s gala, students were able to showcase what they have built, selling their products and connecting with entrepreneurs.
The ongoing partnership with META24 is one way Energy CX delivers on its commitment to continuous growth and continuing education, and to doing good for the community it operates in.
"Watching that number climb from $80,000 to $111,529 in a single year tells you how much this community believes in what META24 is building. These aren't just donations, they're investments in kids who've been told to expect less from the world,” said Co-CEO Miles Rice. “Every year I get to stand in a room and watch a student talk about the business they built with their own hands, and every year it reminds me why we keep showing up."
For those interested in supporting META24's mission or exploring sponsorship opportunities, please email communications@energycx.com.
Thank you to all of sponsors of this years event:
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