About
Ricardo (Ric) Estrada was named President and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services, one of Chicago’s first and strongest human services agencies, in March 2011.
During his tenure at Metropolitan, Estrada has led the expansion of Metropolitan’s client base by 25,000 (currently totaling 68,000), and overseen the growth of the agency’s budget from $32 million to $50 million. This dramatic increase came in part from selected acquisitions of programs formerly managed by Jane Addams Hull House, as well as from Metropolitan receiving grants to administer Head Start for all of DuPage County. Estrada spearheaded efforts to secure funding to establish an early childhood facility on Chicago’s Southwest Side, the state’s area of highest need for such facilities. In 2015, he also led the launch of the Campaign to Mpower Families, a bold $25 million initiative to reach more families and strengthen Metropolitan's communities with better services and an even stronger organization.
Estrada has more than two decades of leadership experience in human services, philanthropy and government. Prior to joining Metropolitan Estrada served as First Deputy Commissioner of the City of Chicago’s Department of Family and Support Services (DFSS). Before that he served as Executive Director of Erie Neighborhood House in Chicago, where his accomplishments included creating Erie Elementary Charter School.
His record of civic and community involvement includes appointment to the Chicago Early Learning Executive Council; the University of Illinois Board of Trustees; Board of Directors of Leadership Greater Chicago; and Board member of the Woods Fund of Chicago.
Estrada’s awards include being named the Leadership Greater Chicago 2013 Distinguished Fellow, an American Marshall Memorial Fellow and the Loyola University Chicago Latino Alumnus of the Year, as well as receiving the City Club of Chicago John A. McDermott Award for Distinguished Social Leadership, and the Citibank Hispanic Heritage Award. In 2012 he was honored by the Chicago Bears with an NFL Hispanic Heritage Award. He also was selected as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ "40 under 40" in 2002. And in December, 2013 he was recognized as the Person of the Year by the Corporate Responsibility Group of Greater Chicago.
Estrada’s educational background is grounded in social services and business, including an MBA from the University of Illinois at Chicago, an M.A. in Policy and Administration from the University of Chicago, and a B.S. in Psychology from Loyola University of Chicago.
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Supporting Human Services Strengthens Chicago
