At R|L, generosity and a giving spirit evoke a greater sense of community. It deepens our values, social and moral consciousness, and sense of fulfillment. As we enter this season of giving, we would like to showcase our favorite charities. These organizations have enriched our lives as well as the communities they serve. We hope that by sharing a few of them we can expand our service to others.
We hope that generosity fills your holiday season with joy and peace.
Clyde Lowstuter, MCC |
Room to Read
Room to Read is a global literacy program for children that aims to, “lower poverty in one generation” and expand the global conversation. I met the founder of Room to Read, John Wood, several years ago at a client’s home and fund raiser. John’s passion is contagious. Whether building libraries in Nepal, schools in third world countries, or educating girls in Thailand, John’s approach has been to engage with the local community in all of his endeavors. As an organization, Room to Read has brought literacy to an astounding 16.8 million children. Great Job, Room to Read. Keep up your invaluable work. Click here to visit Website |
Carolyn Lowstuter |
Bernie’s Book Bank
A favorite charity of mine is Bernie’s Books in Lake Bluff, IL. It distributes books to more than 360,000 at-risk kids in Chicagoland. Reading has always brought me happiness. As a child, my siblings and I created our own neighborhood garage library so that we could trade and share books. Through Bernie’s Books, I can pass along my love of stories to others in a way that exceeds my neighborhood reach. Click here to visit Website |
Susan Snowden |
Anti-cruelty Society
“From pet adoptions to low cost spay and neuter services to humane education, cruelty investigations and rescue, The Anti-Cruelty Society works to raise awareness about the needs of animals.” I adopted my much loved pet, Rocco, from Anti-Cruelty (amazingly he was one of the pets that was featured on the address labels used to raise funds!). To quote a very good friend, “For me a house is a home as long as I have a pet.” This is also true for me, so my favorite charity helps make it possible for so many more families to have their houses become homes through adoption of a fuzzy friend. Click here to visit Website Happy Holidays!
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Pat Mater |
Feed My Starving Children
Feed My Starving Children’s mission is to feed God’s starving children hungry in body and spirit. They serve nutritious meals to needy children throughout the world. Hunger is a concern of mine that sometimes seems overwhelming to do anything about since it is such a huge problem. Feed My Starving Children provides a local opportunity to impact this world-wide problem. The food is nutritionally sound and is transported directly to those who are need. While it is a Christian-based charity, it provides this food to children, regardless of their religious beliefs. Click here to visit Website |
Dave Dallam |
Housing Forward
My family supports Housing Forward. We both donate financially and regularly volunteer time in support of their mission to end homelessness in the near west Chicago suburbs. Housing Forward provides nightly emergency shelter, permanent low-income housing, job readiness programs and pro-bono legal services for the homeless and indigent. The program assists approximately 2,000 people each year. Click here to visit Website |
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Sharon Noha |
Opportunity International
I love to travel internationally. On my journeys, I continue to be struck by the plight of women in so many countries outside the US. At the same time, I continue to be amazed at how a little support can really be transformative for women and their children. Opportunity International provides a “hand up, versus a hand out” through their loans and training to get small entrepreneurial businesses off the ground in third world countries. When women are empowered, suddenly their children are able to eat and go to school and their lives are changed forever. Click here to visit Website |
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Paul Duski |
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
JDRF is the leading global organization funding type 1 diabetes (T1D) research. Our strength lies in our exclusive focus and singular influence on the worldwide effort to end T1D. I became aware of the wonderful work of JDRF when our oldest son, Mike, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at age 13. I have been an active supporter of the cause and JDRF ever since. Unlike other charities which focus on education, JDRF focus is one of research to find a cure! Click here to visit Website |
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Pat Henahan |
Ladder Up
Ladder Up provides hardworking people with the financial resources and opportunities they need to move up the economic ladder. Ladder Up provides free financial programs to help clients secure the tax refunds they deserve, gain the knowledge to navigate today’s complex financial systems, and obtain financial aid to make college dreams a reality. As a young Army officer, I routinely encountered soldiers and families getting into financial distress because they lacked basic financial literacy. Since then, I have been passionate about helping people build basic financial skills. Ladder Up is a Chicago organization that is focused squarely on that goal. I’ll be volunteering early next year in the Tax Assistance Program, helping low income people prepare their tax returns, which usually results in them getting significant refunds. I hope you’ll consider helping out! Click here to visit Website
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Kathryn Hartrick |
Wilmette Theatre
A favorite charity of mine is The Wilmette Theatre in Wilmette, IL. It is a not-for-profit theatre that brings movies, events, and programs that enrich the lives in my community. It is a Wilmette institution. I enjoy investing in my community, providing support locally. My family and I love movies. I donate my time and monetary support to this wonderful local institution. Click here for Website |
A great list of charities. Bravo RL Team. Mine is the Dravet Syndrome Foundation, because of my granddaughter’s Dravet syndrome. -www.annaanddsf.org.
Happy Holidays!