In 2025, the Virgil Abloh Foundation entered a new chapter – one shaped not only by growth, but by responsibility. We were challenged to translate vision into infrastructure: to build systems that last, to widen access at scale, and to ensure that creativity is not reserved for those with proximity or privilege. Every decision we made was guided by a simple belief that Virgil held deeply: Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not.Together, our community worked to close that gap.Through this work, the Foundation supported and inspired more than 20,000 young creatives and educators across the United States and Europe through programs designed to open doors that too often remain closed. We invested deeply in scholarships, grants, and designing data-informed creative learning initiatives and youth programs. We expanded access to global cultural institutions, industry leaders, and creative experiences – while intentionally removing the hidden barriers that prevent so many young people from participating.What matters most is not the scale of this work, but its intention.Through ABLOH AIR, we celebrated the graduation of our inaugural cohort, Flight 000 – ten Chicago students who spent a year immersed in mentorship, creative exploration, and global exposure, culminating in a transformative international experience across London and Paris. Many of these students were traveling abroad for the first time. What they carried home was more than inspiration – it was confidence, clarity, and a belief in what is possible.This year marked the launch of Flight 001, ABLOH AIR’s second cohort, ensuring that this work continues not as a moment, but as a system designed to endure. We also introduced Open Access and Unlocked to reach young people at scale – initiatives rooted in the idea that access itself is a form of education. In 2025, students stepped backstage, behind museum walls, and into rooms where creative decisions are made. They learned not only how culture is shaped, but how they might shape it themselves. Our commitment to culture as a site of learning and belonging was further reflected in Virgil Abloh: The Codes, the first major European exhibition of Virgil’s work. Thousands of young people and educators were welcomed into that space freely. For many, it was their first encounter with an archive, a creative legacy, or a future that felt within reach. That mattered deeply to us.We also continued to invest in long-term pathways through scholarships and grants. The Virgil Abloh™ “Post-Modern” Scholarship Fund doubled its recipients this year, supporting 60 scholars with not only financial resources, but mentorship and community. Our partnership with the Royal College of Art removed financial barriers for Black British postgraduate students pursuing advanced creative study. Through our Creator Fund, we supported organizations and individuals doing the work of cultural change on the ground.None of this happened alone.This work is the result of a dedicated board, an extraordinary team, generous partners, and – most importantly – the young people who trusted us with their time, their ideas, and their futures. It is also a continuation of a promise: to carry forward Virgil’s belief that creativity should be open, generous, and shared – and that the next generation deserves more than access. They deserve agency.As we look ahead, we remain focused on building structures that outlast any single year. Structures that continue to open doors. Structures that invite more voices in. Structures that allow young people to imagine without limits – and to see themselves reflected in the world they are shaping. Thank you to everyone who made this year possible. We are just getting started.With gratitude,Shannon Abloh