January          Project Linus- It is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized or otherwise in need, with the gift of a handmade blanket created by volunteers. We also provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in the local community, for the benefit of children.

 

February        Special Olympics of Illinois - Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities by giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

 

March             Open Books - Open Books is a nonprofit bookstore, literacy community center, and volunteer corps dedicated to raising awareness about illiteracy, providing literacy programs to adults and children, and making reading a fun and fundamental part of life for students of all ages.

 

April               Help Ease Local Poverty (H.E.L.P.) - Help Ease Local Poverty is a consortium of business, residential, religious, social service, institutional and volunteer leaders striving to promote an atmosphere of dignity and compassion toward those in need by providing access to food, health services, shelter and employment. HELP works to educate local businesses and residents as to how they can help ease the plight of the homeless and disadvantaged and improve their well-being, self-esteem, and productivity.

 

May                BUILD, Inc - BUILD'S mission is to engage at-risk youth in the schools and on the streets so they can realize their educational and career potential and contribute to the stability, safety and well being of our communities.

 

June                The Land Connection - The Land Connection works to establish successful farmers on healthy farmland, ensuring an abundance of delicious, local, and organic foods.

 

July                 Lake County Haven - The Lake County Haven empowers homeless women and their children to achieve permanent independent living.

 

August            Children’s Home + AID - To give children help, hope and opportunity.

 

September      Cases for a Cause - Cases for a Cause is a non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation dedicated to helping Illinois foster children find and preserve dignity by providing suitcases as a place to store, organize and transport the few things they call their own during their stay in the Illinois foster care system.

 

October          Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust - To engage the public in educational and aesthetic experiences to foster an appreciation of architecture, design and the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright.

 

November      American Brain Tumor Association - The American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA) was founded in 1973 when two families joined forces to turn their tragedies into hope for future generations. Our mission is to eliminate brain tumors through research and to meet the needs of brain tumor patients and their families. We are the foremost provider of information and support for patients, and a leader in research funding and advocacy. 

 

December       Kids Fight Cancer – Kids Fight Cancer is a not-for-profit corporation that funds the children’s playroom in the Oncology Department of Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. The playroom is meant to be an oasis for children within the hospital, a place to escape and play within a place of seriousness and sickness. The playroom creates hope and encourages the children to brave it through their treatments, because once they are done, they can go back and pick up where they left off. Kids Fight Cancer provides the salary for a full-time child therapist, the toys and art supplies to make this possible.