Chicago Defender Charities, Inc. - Founded April 2, 1945, the Chicago Defender Charities' purpose then as now is "to promote, hold, operate and conduct exhibitions, meets, contests, parades, concerts, shows, parties, seminars, festivals, picnics, dinners, forums and meetings; to aid the infirm, poor, needy, unfortunate and deserving individuals; to give to religious institutions, churches, schools, religious and social clubs, hospitals and sanitariums; to give away money and other property to charity and other purposes as above set forth."
In 1929, the Bud Billiken® Parade and Picnic parade was sponsored by the Chicago Defender newspaper as an event to award its newspaper carriers. In 1946, the Chicago Defender Charities, Inc. began sponsoring the parade.