2012 Charity of the Month Program
January Passages Hospice Dreams
Passages Hospice Dreams seeks to fulfill unmet wishes and improve quality of life for hospice patients and their families. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Passages Hospice Dreams gives hospice patients the opportunity to live out a dream -a final adventure- where they can spend a joy-filled day with loved ones creating memories of living.
February The Night Ministry
The Night Ministry was created out of diverse religious traditions to build relationships with vulnerable youth and adults on the nighttime streets. Through these relationships and the provision of housing, health, and social services, we seek to empower people of all ages to meet their own needs. By recognizing the uniqueness, dignity, and value of each person, we accept individuals as they are, in an affirming and compassionate manner.
March NAMI of Greater Chicago
NAMI of Greater Chicago's mission is to provide hope and improve the quality of life for those in the Greater Chicago are whose lives are affected by serious mental illness by providing information and referrals, education, support, advocacy, and active community outreach.
April Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly
Committed to improving the quality of life for Chicago’s low-income elderly, Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) helps seniors remain independent and part of their community by offering opportunities for intergenerational living and by providing a variety of citywide support services.
May Connections for Abused Women and their Children
Connections for Abused Women and their Children (CAWC) is committed to ending domestic violence. Using a self-help, empowerment approach, CAWC provides counseling, advocacy, and a 24-hour hotline for people affected by domestic violence, including a shelter for women and children. CAWC works for social change through education, service collaboration, and institutional advocacy.
June Misericordia Home
Founded in 1921, Misericordia is recognized today as one of the nation’s leading communities for children and adults with developmental disabilities. On its 31-acre Chicago campus Misericordia provides a network of services and a continuum of care for 600 children and adults from diverse racial, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds, with disabilities ranging from mild/moderate to severe and profound. Programs include residential options, job training and placement, therapy, fitness and health guidance, social and recreational activities. Each resident’s program is developed to meet his/her unique needs, with an overall goal of living as independent and meaningful a life as possible.
July A Silver Lining Foundation
Their mission is to ensure dignified, respectful, and equal access to quality cancer education and services for all, by creating meaningful partnerships with community, advocacy and healthcare organizations. Support from the 2012 Charity of the Month Program will provide free mammograms to uninsured women.
August Bears Care
Bears Care's mission is to support targeted programs in the areas of education, youth athletics, and medical research and health awareness programs focused on breast and ovarian cancer.
September Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Awareness Organization
The Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Awareness organization was launched in January 2010 to educate both women and men about this deadly disease, which is the number one gynecologic cancer killer of women.
October One For The Kids
One for the Kids was established by 1993 by a group of people who wanted to make a difference. Since its first event almost 20 years ago, the organization has raised over $400,000 for various children’s charities in the Chicagoland area, including Special Children's Charities of Chicago, Benton Community Settlement, and The Heart Institute for Children at Hope Children’s Hospital. The hospitality-centric board, including Tim O’Malley, John Curran, Tim Carey and others, hosts a summer golf outing and winter cocktail party each year.
November 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.
December Slow Food Chicago
Slow Food is a global, grassroots movement with thousands of members around the world that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to community and the environment. Slow Food Chicago works locally to create a world where food is good, clean and fair through educational outreach and community building events.
*Applications for our 2013 Charity of the Month will be available at a later date*