Introducing GiveNKind: Connecting Donors and NonProfits in Unique Ways

Introducing GiveNKind: Connecting Donors and NonProfits in Unique Ways

GiveNKind: Connect. Donate. Do Good. GiveNKind is a wonderful local nonprofit connecting the community in unique ways. Their motto is so impactful and truly expresses what GiveNKind does. Recently, I spoke to founder Emily Petway and learned more about this innovative and uplifting local nonprofit. I am happy to share what I learned with you!

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Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation Virtual Ball July 25, 2020: Laughs, Learning and Support

Support the Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation Virtual Ball July 25, 2020

Every year since 1961, the Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation has welcomed a community of patients, families, friends and medical professionals to its annual Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation Ball. As the Gastro-Intestinal Research Foundation's signature fundraising event of the year, continuing the ball is essential. While the annual ball will be slightly different in order to keep the community safe due to COVID, I am thrilled to learn that the ball will pivot and go virtual! GIRF's 59th Annual Ball will be virtually held on July 25 at 6PM including a live improv show by The Second City, a virtual paddle raise and a presentation by Dr. David T. Rubin, Lead Scientific Advisor for GIRF.

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Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting A Safe Place Goes Virtual July 10, 2020

Wine, Women & Shoes Benefiting A Safe Place Goes Virtual July 10, 2020


Each year, A Safe Place invites the community to join Wine, Women & Shoes to benefit the survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. This year, A Safe Place has experienced a surge in a need for their services including a more than a 635% increase in emergency hotline calls during the pandemic. Additionally, A Safe Place has had to expand capacity by double through housing survivors in hotels in order to maintain CDC social distance guidelines. Furthermore, A Safe Place is the sole provider of services focusing on domestic violence and sex trafficking in all of Lake County. With the increase in need of these vital services, A Safe Place's benefit comes at a great time to support this cause.  Being able to host this benefit is crucial in terms of continuing vital services and furthering awareness.

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Playitforward Kids of Arlington Heights and Borne2Dance, Inc. Host Service Project for Kids July 10

Playitforward Kids in Arlington Heights is a charitable organization that helps kids play it forward and work on meaningful projects that help their community! As a parent, I know how much young children want to help but sometimes can't think of a way that they are able to.  Playitforward Kids tailors activities to their ages and allows young children to spread their kindness and joy in the community. For activities, the organization often pairs with local businesses. On July 10 12PM-1PM, Playitforward Kids will be partnering with Borne2Dance, Inc. in Palatine to make a craft and record a song for inpatients with dementia at Alexian Brothers Hospital. The event is free but you must register here: http://playitforwardkids.org/event/craft-and-song-for-alexian-brothers-hospital-inpatients/ A great opportunity for kids this summer!

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Canceled: Live Auction Cake Sale Benefiting Barrington Relay for Life May 12, 2018

**Disclosure: I manage social media for Norton's U.S.A. All opinions are 100% my own.

*****Over the weekend, Deborah fell and broke her hip. She is recovering from surgery, so unfortunately we will need to cancel the Live Auction Cake Sale. The store will be closed today and reopening on Wednesday. We hope Deborah has a smooth recovery!*****

After a year hiatus, Norton's U.S.A. is thrilled to bring back the Live Auction Cake sale benefiting Barrington Relay for Life on May 12! The event is held the day before Mother's Day so you can bring home a cake for  Mom while supporting a great cause!

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Hiking Nachusa Grasslands in Illinois

Nachusa Grasslands near Franklin Grove, Illinois is one of the Nature Conservancy's most successful restoration stories. The conservation organization began its Nachusa journey with purchasing 130 acres of land to restore in August of 1986. Over the past 30+ years, Nachusa has expanded from 130 acres to over 4,000 acres. In addition, a herd of bison was welcomed to the prairie in 2014 returning the majestic beasts to the lands in Illinois where they once roamed.

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Wild Garden Social Kitchen Tour Comes to Chicago May 15-18

Wild Garden will be treating Chicago with a special food truck tour. I thought I would share in case you will be in the area next week or want to help them with their mission with likes. For four days next week, Wild Garden will be cooking up meals for those in need and lucky visitors as well. The number of meals they will be distributing will be gauged by Facebook likes. For every Facebook like the Wild Garden page received, a free meal will be distributed. So, a simple way to pay it forward! The event will feature area celebrities and Wild Garden's Mediterranean flavors. Lucky visitors will receive prizes and may even win free Wild Garden meals for a year!

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Activism Through Creativity: An Interview with Rae Luskin

Rae Luskin, Creative Activist

The Creative Activist:

Finding your purpose in life; the fire to help others in your own unique way is entirely exhilarating. Sometimes, we know just what we want to achieve but do not know quite how to move forward and enact that change. A couple of months ago, I met Rae Luskin who is a Chicago area creative activist, author, speaker and coach who is incredibly skilled in helping others uncover their own unique paths to making a difference. Recently, Rae spent some time introducing me to her methods and the work that she is involved with. As a community activist for over 40 years, Rae has worked with activists changing communities with their own talents. So, she is quite a knowledgeable resource for those of us trying to find our path to making a difference! Here is what I learned from Rae:

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Local Charity Spotlight: Mane in Heaven

Mane in Heaven Therapy Miniature Horses help improve mental, physical and emotional well-being with love! Image courtesy of Mane in Heaven.

With Valentine's Day this week, I am sharing with you a way that you can share your heart and spread love to the community. Mane in Heaven is a fabulous local charity uplifting the emotional, mental and physical well-being of those in need through visits with miniature therapy horses. Founder Jodie Diegel generously spent a little time providing me with a little background on Mane in Heaven and ways that you can help! Read about Mane in Heaven below:

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Introducing Winnie the Mini Horse and Heartland Mini Hoofs Charity

A lovely new children’s book, Winnie the Mini Horse by Andra and Morgan Ebert introduces children to the world of therapy mini horses and what it is like to face changes. The book helps children feel more comfortable when they are in a new situation and learn how to navigate new relationships and situations. The Ebert’s goal in writing Winnie the Mini Horse was to diminish the fear children have in change and to show them that change can be good. The book is really a lovely story and very accurately depicts some of the feelings we all have about change through the eyes of Winnie. The story of Winnie is very relatable for children and the beautiful illustrations quickly grab readers.

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Educational Volunteering Opportunity at Lurie Children's Hospital

The Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago is offering a volunteer and educational opportunity to families this summer. As part of the program, children will be given an inside look into the hospital including an introduction to cutting-edge technology used to diagnose. Children are asked to volunteer allowing the Center for Autonomic Medicine in Pediatrics (CAMP) to measure things like heart rate responses, pupil size and more (parental permission necessary). All procedures are non-invasive. Individuals, families and small groups are invited (5-15). The flyer below explains more about this program:

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Paint Your World Purple: Upcoming Story Hour and Barrington Relay for Life Event!

Hope soars from Barrington's Relay for Life Butterfly created by Barb Ross! ~Image courtesy of Mary Sneed

Barrington is preparing for the village's annual Relay for Life event on June 10! The event is open to the public and features special relay laps as well as some fun for families. The first lap around the track is a Survivor's Lap, giving survivors a moment to celebrate their victory and allowing participants to honor their incredible journeys. The moving Luminaria Ceremony provides an opportunity to honor those who have survived cancer, those who are still fighting and those we have lost to cancer. This year's Relay for Life will be 5PM-11PM on June 10th at the Barrington Township High School. An evening guaranteed to be full of emotion and inspiration!

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Cake Auction to Benefit Relay for Life in Barrington {May 7}

One of last year's delicious cakes!

Norton's U.S.A.'s 5th Annual Live Auction Cake Sale to benefit Barrington Relay for Life is on May 7, 2016--the day before Mother's Day! The lively event lifts the spirit while supporting a great cause. Bakers are invited to donate cakes to be auctioned off. Cakes are auctioned off in a live auction. All proceeds are donated to Barrington Relay for Life. Join Norton's U.S.A. for this heartwarming event--and bring home a cake for Mom! Cakes are to be dropped off by noon on May 7. Previewing starts at 2:45 PM and the auction starts at 3:00 PM! More details below:

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Local Charity Spotlight: Bike Bald

Bike Bald card making session. Image courtesy of Bike Bald

Last year I learned about an organization in Naperville, Bike Bald, that engages the community in bringing awareness to the challenges of children and families facing childhood cancer and other life threatening illnesses while providing much needed emotional support to affected children and families. Additionally, the organization stresses healthy living and bike safety as part of its outreach. Last week, I spoke to Nicole Cavanaugh who sits on the Board of Directors and am excited to bring you more information about this charity as part of my series:

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Local Charity Spotlight on PATH: Palatine Assisting Through Hope

Today, I continue February's series highlighting local charities. Last year, I learned about a Palatine organization called PATH which helps local families in need and am thrilled to share this charity with you. Standing for Palatine Assisting Through Hope, PATH provides a means that community members can reach out and help local families struggling to meet their own basic needs. The network that PATH has created and continues to expand in the community not only helps families in crisis but also strengthens the fabric of the community as a whole.

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Volunteering & Giving Back by Chicken Soup for the Soul

**Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary book in order to bring this review you to. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

One of the more recent volumes of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Volunteering & Giving Back is equally motivational and inspirational. Additionally, it stands as a testament to the good works being done each and every day that often go unseen. If you are looking for a new passion or a new way to help, this volume is certainly full of plenty of ideas! With the holidays swiftly approaching, many of us began looking for ways to help the world and make life better for others. However, volunteers are needed all year and this volume will show you not only how inspiring volunteering can be but how much it really means those you are helping.

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4th Annual Bring a Coat, Buy a Coat Event Benefiting WINGS on October 15, 2015

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Bike Bald Needs Your Help to Make a Child With Cystic Fibrosis' Dream Come True!

Over the last month or so I have had the opportunity to connect with another magnificent local charity called Bike Bald. Bike Bald puts together cycling events and other public events to bring more awareness to Childhood Cancer and other serious childhood illnesses as well as to support families that are affected. Next weekend, Bike Bald is working their magic to bring alive a dream for an area child with cystic fibrosis.

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Fox and Hound Holding Benefits for WINGS and Ronald McDonald House January 29, 2015

Fox and Hound in Arlington Heights will be holding a charity event on January 29, 2015 to benefit WINGS. The same day, Fox and Hound in Schaumburg will be holding a benefit for Ronald McDonald House. Both are great local charities and a reason to get out and have some fun!

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An Afternoon of Yoga and Massage Supporting Local Families 12/13/14

JAI Yoga Studio, Elements Massage and Palatine Assisting Through Hope are coming together this season to collect donations for local families in need. Donate either an unopened package of children's underwear, an unopened package of children's socks or $10 and enjoy a complimentary afternoon of yoga practice and chair massages. Sounds like a relaxing afternoon out without the kids and for a good cause! What a way to help this holiday season! Win, win, win! Check out additional information below and register with JAI Yoga Studio.

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