Growing up in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood of Chicago, Lake Michigan was an enticing geographic anchor. As a teenager, Gary Comer would often wander over to Chicago Park District’s Jackson Park Harbor seeking work. He found it scrubbing the bottoms of boats and eventually grew friendly with many of the sailors who became mentors and taught him their craft. He discovered he had a knack for sailing, later winning the North American Star Class Championship and earning a bronze medal in the 1959 Pan Am Games. His passion led him to start Lands’ End Yacht Stores in 1963, a mail-order business selling boat equipment, hardware, and the occasional sweater. Recognizing that sailing in the Midwest was seasonal, in 1977, Lands’ End pivoted to selling clothes. Though Gary sold Lands’ End to Sears Roebuck & Co in 2002, he never forgot his roots, including his formative years on the South Side, which set the trajectory for his life.

Gary’s transformative experience and adventures were at the heart of what he wanted to provide for the young people in his childhood neighborhood. In 2006, Gary Comer Youth Center opened its doors, expanding possibilities for a new generation through education and after-school enrichment programming.

Twenty years on, GCYC has surpassed Gary's original vision, helping 14,000 young people unlock their potential, develop their talents, strengthen their community and build brighter futures.