History
A native of Chicago, Albert J. Speh, Jr. and friend Roland May founded May & Speh, Inc. in 1947. The company began as an IBM tabulating service company. Under the leadership of Al and Rollie, and in later years, son Larry Speh, May and Speh grew into a national leader in the corporate outscourcing business and the direct marketing industry, serving many Fortune 500 companies. Their success was built on a strong belief in the values of hard work, integrity and respect for employees and customers.
Committed to these values, a spirit of giving back, and a desire to help the children of Chicago, Al and his wife Claire created the Albert J. Speh, Jr. and Claire R. Speh Foundation in 1996. The Speh Family Foundation, as it is frequently called, is a private grantmaking foundation headquartered in Oak Park, Illinois. It was the founders' intention that the foundation benefit the Chicago community and also serve to foster a spirit of service and philanthropy among the decendants of Al and Claire Speh. Al would be pleased to know that today the Foundation involves all four generations of the family.
From 1996 to 2002 the Speh Family Foundation funded programs for Children and Youth of Chicagoland. Starting in 2003, the foundation narrowed its focus to youth between the ages of 13-19.
