In the heart of Bridgeport, Chicago, there lived a man known around the neighborhood as "Uncle Mike" Lynch.  He wasn't your ordinary neighbor; he was a mentor, a friend, a guiding star in the lives of troubled youth. Uncle Mike's porch was their sanctuary. They'd come to him, burdened by school troubles, family struggles, the lure of gangs, the ache of poverty. And Uncle Mike, with his kind eyes and patient heart, stern honesty, would listen. He'd offer wisdom, a helping hand, and most importantly, unshakable belief in their potential.

​

When Uncle Mike passed on, his neighborhood mourned. But his spirit and legacy will live on forever. His loved ones founded Friends of Uncle Mike, a promise that his work wouldn't end. They promised to continue helping kids and families in need, proving that in this harsh world we live there is still hope, just as Uncle Mike did. Every kid they help, every success story, is a chapter added to the legend of Uncle Mike, the man from Bridgeport who changed lives simply by being there.