Supporting Families at Chicago’s Rusu-McCartin Boys & Girls Club

This summer, the Community Engagement team at UL Research Institutes and UL Standards & Engagement proudly partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago’s Rusu-McCartin location to deliver a vibrant series of events that blended service, science, and safety. Thoughtfully planned and collaboratively executed, the initiative united dedicated volunteers and community partners to help young campers gear up for summer, spark curiosity through hands-on science, and bring home meaningful resources that promote family safety.

Equipping campers for summer fun

The three-part initiative began with the Community Engagement team leading the charge to assemble camp-readiness backpacks. Employees from ULRI enthusiastically joined the effort, packing sunglasses, collapsible water bottles, sunscreen, and matching club T-shirts. The team produced a colorful array of backpacks, jam-packed with supplies to help every camper embrace a summer filled with excitement and exploration.

Exploring fire science through hands-on learning

Building on this momentum, the Community Engagement team facilitated an engaging science workshop featuring the ULRI’s Xplorlabs Fire Forensics module, a training platform developed by its Research Experiences & Education team. Xplorlabs is ULRI’s free, open-access, NGSS-aligned platform that connects students and educators with real-world investigations in safety science. The Fire Forensics module introduces learners to the role of a fire investigator, using evidence and scientific reasoning to determine the origin and cause of a fire — an exciting application of science, technology, engineering and math.

The session at the Rusu-McCartin Club was led by trained club staff who had previously completed a “train-the-trainer” workshop hosted by ULRI. This model empowered staff to guide more than 25 campers through hands-on activities, while volunteers from ULRI and representatives from the Chicago Fire Department supported the event by linking classroom concepts to real-world safety practices, including lithium-ion battery awareness. “This was a special afternoon made possible by a team of community members from around this wonderful city coming together to share their remarkable expertise and talent,” said Jess Sparacino, an education program specialist at ULRI.

Bringing safety home

To extend the initiative’s impact beyond the clubhouse, the Community Engagement team coordinated the packaging and distribution of smoke alarms and educational materials. With generous support from UL Standards & Engagement, who provided the smoke alarms, team members from ULRI and ULSE came together at the Evanston office to prepare the safety kits. These resources were then distributed to families at the Rusu-McCartin Boys & Girls Club, offering practical tools to enhance home safety.

Advancing our mission through collaboration

Tina Vaughn, senior manager of Community Affairs and Engagement at ULRI-ULSE, emphasized the significance of this effort. “We’re proud to partner with the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago to support their summer camp program. This collaboration reflects our ongoing commitment to community well-being and aligns with our mission to create a safer world for all,” Vaughn said.

Adding to the impact, Jason Vasquez, director of Philanthropy at the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago, shared:

“Thanks to UL’s donation of fire and smoke alarms, our Club families now have greater peace of mind knowing their children are safer at home. And through the Xplorlabs program, our members spent the summer not just avoiding learning loss, but gaining new skills and discoveries through fun, hands-on activities — experiences that keep them coming back to the Club and growing in positive ways.”

As ULRI and ULSE continue to champion the work of the Community Engagement team, this partnership stands as a testament to their shared dedication to youth development, safety science literacy, and empowering families with actionable safety solutions. It also reflects the UL enterprise’s broader mission: working for a safer world by fostering meaningful connections and delivering resources that make safety accessible and impactful for all.’