Students say "thank you" to mentors

View the video. See what our teens have to say about their mentors. Support this work at Cabrini Connections with a personal donation, a grant, or by encouraging others to give.

What makes our non profit unique, is that while we operate a single program, we created the Tutor/Mentor Connection in 1993 to help every poverty neighborhood in the Chicago region have great volunteer-based tutor/mentor programs. Visit our web site to learn more about how we do this.

Support us with a donation and you will help us with both Cabrini Connections, and the Tutor/Mentor Connection.

Cabrini Madness Bracket now public

Cabrini Connections Fundraising Tournament!! See the Bracket Chart.

In anticipation of college basketball tournament season, Cabrini Connections is starting its own tournament. Each team will consist of volunteers, students, staff, etc. and will compete to raise the most money before the championship game on April 5th, 2010. Check out the information below and start forming your team today!

Sixteen teams have are already in formation. If you'd like to be on a team roster, call El Da'Sheon at 312-492-9614. Or make a donation to the team of your choice and once your name appears on the donor roster, email friends and family to help your team win. Read more.

Guidelines:
5-10 members per team
Must include at least (1) current or former volunteer, (1) current or former student, (1) current or former staff, volunteer coordinator, club leader, or board member, AND (1) person from outside the program (e.g. best friend, spouse, co-worker)

Timeline:
January 6/7 Announcement at tutoring
January 22 Deadline for entry
January 31 Deadline for GiveForward page
March 21 First Cut (Top 8 advance)
March 28 Second Cut (Top 4 advance)
April 3 Third Cut (Top 2 advance)
April 5 Final Cut (Winner chosen)
April 7/8 Awards at tutoring

Grand Prize: Individual trophies and a group gift certificate from Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants

Runner-up Prize: Pizza Party

Happy Holidays - Tis the Season

Thank you to everyone who made a year-end donation to support Cabrini Connections and the Tutor/Mentor Connection in 2010. I hope you'll read El Da'Sheon Nix's article about how we're reaching out to friends, family, co-workers to ask for help in finding year end donations. Read the Tutor/Mentor blog articles to see how we're trying to build a support system that would make tutor/mentor programs available to more inner-city youth.

Donations can be made at http://www.giveforward.com/tistheseason . You can also just print this form and sending it to us with your donation. You can also use the PayPal Donation form. We even accept donations of securities.

There are many ways to help us help these teens. We hope your spirit is touched by the work we're doing, and you'll do as much as you can to assure that the funds are available to keep doing this in 2010.

This is a list of donations received since December 1. We thank everyone for their generosity during these difficult economic times. Happy Holidays!

Bill Iwami
Kiera Kelly and Ed Madden
James Dohren
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Hamilton
Chris Kalabogias
Tom Kittler
Mary Alice Gresham
Karen & Kevin Lobdell
Maryann May
Steve Alley
Henry & Peggy Troast
Gena Schoen
Randy and Sharon McCullough
K. Ryan
Kenneth Goldstein
Marquette Bank
Eric and Jill Schiller
John T. Porter
Thomas E. Keim
Anna Dowdle Harter
Jim and Margaret Morsch
Barbara and Daniel Roos
Mr. & Mrs. Cliff Bregstone
Joyce Dunn
John and Mary-Glynn Boies
Loretta Kaplan
R. Fine, in honor of Ilene and Jay Pomerance
Deanna and Paul Danao
Paul Lukas
Schlomo & Oi Crandus
Melissa Moore
Dick and Carol Wray
Carrie Guenter
Rebecca and Keith Danahey
Richard and Sharon Whyte
Joseph Baird
Barbara V. Goschi
Sean & Lilly Wieber
Melinda Schramm, in memory of Cary Schramm
Larry & Carroll Bross
Ilene Fine & Jay Pomerance
Mayo C. Walcott
Carol Ebel
Jennifer (Pines) Lineen
Grant Brown
Prologis Foundation ($10,000 grant)
Gift in honor of Ilene Fine and Jay Pomerance
Pat Hillmann & Richard Shields
Wayne & Anne Coloney
Jill Allread
Hewlett Packard matching gift
R. Lee Christie
Joan Dowdle
Gerald Deneen
Norma Berke
Artemis Parrish
Tracey McGee
George Vinyard
Chase Peyton
Gift in the name of Mary Esther Schmid and Walter Jones
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois, Inc. ($5000 grant)
Ernest Sammann
Peter Goschi
Christopher and Sarah Franklin
Chris Japhet
Julie and Charles Haapala
Judith and Mark Davis
Ruth Iwami
Russell Vandenbroucke
Robert Huster
Kurt Kittner
Joe Rivera
Mark Hamende
Sue McMillin
Ernest and Dolores Komornicki
Jeff Curto
JellyChicago (Dec. 11 party)
James C. Stephen
The Wintrust Financial Corporation (Grant of $15,000)
The Walsh Foundation (Grant of $5,000)
EcoPhones ($27.50 from phone rebate program)
William M. Criscione
Pauline Narens
William Sullivan
Dr. Scholl Foundation (Grant of $5,000)
The Siragusa Foundation (Grant of $5,000)
Jack and Sari Schoen
Dr. & Mrs. Robert Pines
Michael Heyman
The Royal Order of Experience Design
(see Holiday Card from The Royal Order - play entire version and see support for Cabrini Connections)
Sara Caldwell (founder)
Rep. Constance Howard
Mark Grimes
Christina Jordan
John DeWitt
Claudia Crilly Belucci (first staff at Cabrini Connections)
Andrew Evans
Bill Dunn
Zeke and Elaine Dzugan
Gary & Suzanne Rovner
Inez Marie Welch
Derek Casteel
Gus Constan
Susan Nice
Paul & Ann Witt
Eldon & Frieda Andrews
Michael and June Blood
Mike Ozmeral
Cenan and Patricia Ozmeral
Mike & Vicky Trakan
Mark and Nicole Parrish
Jane L. Cray
Raymon and Jane Hung
Richard and Lucy Gaven
Daniel and Emily Bassill
Pat and Donna Dowdle
John and Jill Levi
John and Suzanne Martens
Charles Ohara
David and Lola Hundley


Thank you to those who are helping in other ways

* JellyChicago for making us the charity to support in your Dec. 11 benefit
* Next Computer World for putting a link to us on your web site.

Tis the Season. Happy Holidays

On the Cabrini Connections blog you can read stories about the teens and volunteers we connect in our Chicago tutor/mentor program. On the Tutor/Mentor Blog you can see maps and graphics that show how urban youth should all have access to high quality, mentor rich programs.

That can only happen if donors reach deep into their pockets this holiday season to fill the stockings of tutor/mentor programs with generous gifts.

Please make a donation to our annual Holiday Fund Raising campaign, either through this on-line portal, or use this form and send your gift to

Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection
800 W. Huron, Chicago, Il. 60642

On behalf of everyone who will benefit from your generosity, we thank you.

Grants received. Thank you!

Throughout the year we are constantly researching to find corporate and foundation donors who will support Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection. When we find a potential match, we write a letter of inquiry, and if that is approved, we write a proposal.

Then we wait.

We've done this every year since 1993 when we became an IRS approved charity. We've found more than 150 donors who would give gifts of $1,000 or more. Each year there have been new donors.

Then why are we always just a few months from being out of money? Because each year a few of the donors from the previous year are no longer able to give. The reasons are seldom related to the quality of the work we do. It's more that the donor has guidelines that keep it from funding a single non profit for more than one to three years. It can also be that business conditions change for a company. For instance, our primary benefactor in the 1990s, was Montgomery Ward. They went out of business in 2000, meaning we lost donated space, a source of volunteers and business support, and $40,000 per year in funding.;

In total, we lose almost 1/3 of our grant money each year, meaning we need to find new donors just to break even. Thus, since costs for rent, insurance, energy and staff keep going up, we're always struggling to get ahead.

So when we write grant requests to donors from the previous year, or to new donors, we keep our fingers crossed to see who will give.

I'm pleased to say that these donors have given to us in November.

Bank of America Foundation, $10,000
JPMorgan Chase Foundation, $10,000
The Farney R. Wurlitzer Foundation, $5,000

In addition, we have received confirmations that the following foundations will provide grant funds in December:

The Dr. Scholl Foundation, $5,000
BlueCross, Blue Shield of Illinois, $5,000

You can see the list of corporate and foundation donors from the past two years here. We're still waiting with much hope from the requests we've sent to people who gave in December 2008 but who have not yet made 2009 decisions. We're also hoping that others whom we've sent proposals to will respond.

Thank you to all of our donors, and to those who help introduce us to people who make decisions on where to send their funding.

Soldier Field Charity Hill event - thanks to all!

A great group of people ran up and down a sledding hill near Soldier Field on Sunday to get some great exercise, and raise money for Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection.

Julie and Scot Hamilton brought some friends and went up and down that hill at least 30 times each. Julie has been a volunteer, board member, fund raiser, and even a staff member, in the 13 years since she first became involved while a graduate student at Northern Illinois University.

Brandy Kimminau, a second year volunteer, also ran the hill. My son Jacob, age 12, went up a few times. I watched and cheered. This shows that there are many ways to support Cabrini Connections.

The event was organized by Matt Ulrich, and the TWR Organization (Train with Ron Personal Trainers). Most of the runners were people who train with Ron. We hope we've raised some needed money and we hope a few of these people will begin a journey of involvement, just as Julie, Scot, Brandy and Jacob have.

These journeys can last many years, and lead to many new experiences and relationships that enrich the lives of youth, and the adults who become involved as volunteers.

Thank you all for giving your time, energy and dollars.

If you'd like to support on-going events, go to the Cabrini Connections donor page, or GiveForward.org page.

Charity Hill Challenge, This Sunday, 10/25

Former Indianapolis Colt Looks to Support Cabrini Connections!!!

What: A charity workout! TWR will host our second “Hill Challenge”. The “Hill Challenge” consists of walking or running up and down a sledding hill as many times as you can in one hour. There will be a minimum $25 dollar donation fee. You are also encouraged to find sponsors to raise additional money. We suggest passing along this info to family/friends/businesses, etc. They can sponsor you per hill or give a flat donation.

Why: Proceeds and pledges will be donated to Cabrini Connections: an after school program dedicated to helping underprivileged youth become extraordinary adults (All proceeds are tax deductible).

When: Sunday October 25, 2009 at 9:30a.m-11a.m.

Where: The sledding hill behind the Southeast end zone of Soldier Field.

Who: TWR clients and any friends, family members, peers, or colleagues who would like to get together for a great workout and raise money for a great cause!!!

Details: Minimum donation of $25 dollars will allow you entry to Soldier Field Hill Challenge plus you will receive a complimentary t-shirt!!! The winner of most donations will receive one Train with Ron personal training session!

Directions: The location of the hill is at the intersection of Museum Campus & Waldron Drive, Chicago, IL 60605. It is just southeast of Soldier Field by a few hundred yards.

As many of you may know from last year, street parking is not the best option. We advise you to either take public transportation, a cab, or use the parking garage.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: Visit www.transitchicago.com for public transportation directions. Use Museum Campus Drive & Waldron Drive as your end location.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS: If you are planning on carpooling or driving yourself; exit 18th street from Lake Shore Drive, follow the sign that says “North Garage Field/Shedd Parking”. There’s no stop sign when you turn left into the parking garage. Waldron is your second and LAST stop sign before you turn left into the parking garage. The parking lot is basically under the north end zone of Soldier Field and costs $14.00.

TO GET DIRECTIONS VIA GOOGLE MAPS: Visit www.googlemaps.com; use Museum Campus Dr & E Waldron Dr, Chicago, IL 60605 as your destination.

After the hill run please feel free to join us at Murphy’s Bleachers in Wrigleyville: 3653 N Sheffield Ave, Chicago, IL 60613-4303, (773) 929-7061. We have tables reserved and drink specials will be available.


If you have any questions please email or call!

Matt Ulrich
Director of Operations
Train with Ron
847.571.2069

This is just one way to help raise money for Cabrini Connections.

Check out the Illinois vs Northwestern Fund Raising Challenge. Before the big game in November, which group of alumni can donate the most money to Cabrini Connections. Can they win the game on the field, and in the donation competition?

Donate to Northwestern Team. Current score $755.

Donate to the Illinois team. Current score $450

Thank you all for your help in making Cabrini Connections and the Tutor/Mentor a reality for inner city youth.

Fund Raising Supports Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection

This is a photo from our first week of tutoring for the 2009-10 school year at Cabrini Connections. Your donations enable us to fill these seats with teens and volunteers and work to keep them filled throughout the school year.

This week's events:

Friday, October 9th: Join in for our Annual Martini Madness Benefit. While we have a sign up on the Cabrini Connections web site, we also have a donation page on GiveForward.org. Thank you to Grant Brown for your sponsor donation. Thank you to Melissa Moore, Karen Lobdell, Julie Hamilton, Toni Pullen, and others, for your donations, and for taking the lead in organizing this event. The campaign on Give Forward will continue until January 31, 2010, with a goal of raising $10,000!

Sunday, October 11: Nicole White and Nick Infusino will run in the Chicago Marathon. Family, friends, and Northwestern alumni have already donated over $2,600 to support Nicole and Nick's run in the Chicago Marathon.

Another campaign is Mike's Map-a-Thon. He's trying to raise $5,000 by October 15 to fund the maps he makes to mobilize volunteers and donors for Cabrini Connections and every other tutor/mentor program in Chicago. Friends and family have already contributed $1,867.

Another campaign is the contest between Northwestern University and University of Illinois Alumni, to see which group can raise more donations by the time of the annual football game in November. As of 10/6/09 Northwester is leading Illinois by a donation score of $655 to $350. You don't need to be an alumni to support Northwestern, or Illinois, in this contest.

October 25, 9:30 am: 2nd annual Solider Field Charity Hill Challenge El Da'Sheon reports that already 100 people have signed up to run the hill. All proceeds go to Cabrini Connections. You can learn more and sign up yourself here.

Saturday, October 30, at Cabrini Connections - Halloween bake sale, organized by students and volunteers.

Sunday, November 22, Holiday Wine-Tasting Fundraiser, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 22, at Cellar Rat, 1811 W. North Ave. This is being organized by Sarah Randag, a volunteer tutor/mentor at Cabrini Connections

We have a variety of fund raising efforts going on to help us raise the needed money. Last Friday a group of volunteers and friends held a "Save Cabrini Party, and raised $232. Other volunteers are organizing events, such as a "phoneraising campaign" let by Jackie Shay and the Art Club Volunteers.

El Da'Sheon Nix wrote a story telling of two volunteers and one student who are organizing fund raising activities.

Of course, you don't need to make a donation through one of these on-line forums. You can mail your gift to Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection at 800 W. Huron, Chicago, Il. 60642 or call us at 312-492-9614 to discuss other ways of giving, or of raising funds.

With your help, we won't end up with an empty room, without teens and volunteers.

Raising Funds to Continue Tutoring/Mentoring

On Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, Cabrini Connections hosted volunteer orientations for new and returning tutors/mentors. These were better attended than any of the orientations I can remember in past years. Why? Because El Da Sheon Nix has now been lead coordinator for 1 1/2 years. His work has created better organization and continuity, and a stronger "team" of people working together. The new year can only build on this.

However, without donations, that's not going to happen. Here's a video that you can show to friends and coworkers, where students ask for their donations.



We've been in a cash crunch for about four months, but only recently has it gotten to the point where we missed part of a payroll last week. Because of this, many more people are responding with donations. I've listed them here, and here. Below are people who have sent donations in the past few days.

In memory of Christos, who loved and wanted to help children in need, by The Georganas Family
In memory of Bob Carr, by Karen and Kevin Lobdell
Allen Anderson
Kathleen Cheevers
Scot and Julie Hamilton
Jane Ann Curto
Pat and Paul D'Amore
Jesse White
William Barry
Dennis and Betsy Kohan
Jefrey N. Curto
Jeffrey Diemand
Allen Tyson
Carolyn Grunst (for the Northwestern vs Illinois competition. This gift is for the NU team)


Another way everyone can help raise dollars is through workplace fund raising campaigns. Companies like Abbot, Microsoft, Sargent Lundy, Allstate, etc. enable workers to designate which charities they pledge their money to. If you know people in these companies, encourage them to give to Cabrini Connections.



We're also listed with Community Shares of Illinois, in the workplace campaigns they organize, and with the Black United Fund of Illinois, in the campaigns they organize. So their are many ways to pledge weekly payroll donations to us. A gift of $1 a week adds up to $52 for the year! It makes a difference.

Thank you all for your help, as volunteers, advocates and donors.

HSBC North America Supports eLearning & Technology

On Friday Cabrini Connections received a $35,000 donation from HSBC North America to support the HSBC Computer Technology Center at Cabrini Connections, along with our elearning, mapping and Tutor/Mentor Connection networking. HSBC began providing this support 2005 and much of the technology on our web sites, and in the center at 800 W. Huron, is a result of their continued support.

We've also received more donations from current and former volunteers and friends of Cabrini Connections. Since I last posted, we've received gifts from

William Barry
Scot and Julie Hamilton
Kathy Cheevers
Lois Proger
Patrick McGrath
Paul and Pat D'Amore
Carol Secor
Samantha Steinberg
Robert Thomas
Elizabeth Coulson
Jane Ann Curto

You can see a list of additional donors, and add your own contribution, in these fund raising campaigns

* Mike's Map a Thon

* Illinois VS Northwestern Alumni Challenge. See Illinois. See Northwestern.

* Nicole and Nick's Run in Chicago Marathon

Don't Forget, You can also make a donation to the Martini Madness benefit.

Read about the struggles of non profits, and the role of enlightened leaders.

If we are to overcome these challenges, and grow to meet the many needs of inner city youth, we need everyone who has been part of Cabrini Connections, or benefited from the Tutor/Mentor Connection to say "If it is to be, it is up to me."

Why Did you Donate to Cabrini Connections?

Nicole White started a discussion on Facebook, asking donors to tell why they support us. Please add your own comment.

Many are stepping forward to help

I encourage you to read the article El Da'Sheon Nix wrote about scoring a last second touchdown to win a football game. That's a "hail Mary" pass, and we need to score some big points to stay in the tutor/mentor game.

We've already had some people step forward with ideas for raising new funds, and we've had several people make donations as a response. Here's the list of people who have sent donations since yesterday.

Jacqueline Shay
Tami Wielgus
Karen and Kevin Lobdell
Peter Quigley
Cara Smith
Alexandria Hill
Amy Proger
Nicole Sutton
Gita Rao, former lead coordinator, and now in NYC
Carla Reyes
Matt Cohlmia

And there's more!

Friends and family of Nicole White and Nick Infusino continue to donate to support their run in the Chicago Marathon http://www.firstgiving.com/nicolewhite3

Friends and family of Mike Trakan continue to donate to Mike's Map-A-Thon.

Our landlord has agreed to cut our rent in half for the next four months! That's a savings of $2500 a month!

Thank you all! Watch this blog for more "Hail Mary" news.

Remember, this is not the beginning of the end. It is the beginning of a new beginning.

Tough Times for Non Profits. Meeting the Challenge.

On the Tutor/Mentor Connection blog I posted a couple of articles showing how non profits across the country are facing difficult times. Read them here, and here.



The only way to overcome this challenge is to find more people who will donate to your cause. Thus, I'm pleased to see how the fund raising events organized by Nicole White and Mike Trakan are attracting some donors.

Nicole and Nick Infusino are running in the Chicago marathon, and asking friends and family to make donations to support them. Their goal is to raise at least $2000, and they are already at $711. Thank you to everyone who has already sent a check or made a pledge.

Mike Trakan created a Map-a-Thon page to ask friends and family to help fund the map making we do. At this link is a map Mike created that is hanging in the Hyde Park Hair Salon, where President Obama gets his hair cut when in Chicago. It's intended to get the attention of the customers, and the media, who come in to the Salon. Mike's goal is to raise $5000 by mid October, which is the quarterly cost for our map making. $125 has been donated at http://www.giveforward.org/mappingforjustice/

Finally, Karen Lobdell, Julie Hamilton, Melissa Moore, Toni Pullen and others are organizing a 4th annual Martini Madness event, which will be held on October 9th at THE STORE, in Chicago. While ticket sales and raffle tickets will help us raise needed money, our real profit will come from those of you who make sponsor donations of $250 or more.

These are just a few ways our volunteers,leaders and staff are reaching out to help Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection stay in business. If we can keep doing that then alumni like Michael Akins will be able to find us and post messages like this on Facebook:

Hi my name is Michael Akins me and my three sister was a part of cabrini connections. I started in the small building when i was like in 5th grade. I met alot a great people and done alot of great things with the tutoring program. I am glad that i had the chance to experience everything that i did with the program from the dance group that i was in to the video production that i was a part of. Just saying thankyou to Dan,Gina and of course Jimmy who is no longer with us today.

Create Your Own Fund Raising Events to support Cabrini Connections

We've set up a group page on the GiveForward web site which you can find at http://www.giveforward.org/CabriniTMC/

Give Forward is a place where any friend, volunteer, student can create their own fund raising event and recruit donations to support the work we do at Cabrini Connections and in the Tutor/Mentor Connection. Here's some tips for using the site.

Many people who are running in marathons, are raising money for charities. If you do, you can use this space to raise money for Cabrini Connections. Many people who are getting married, or celebrating birthdays and anniversaries, also are setting up charity pages, asking friends and families to recognize them by supporting a cause they believe in.


We hope that over the coming year dozens of Cabrini Connections friends will set up their own events, and use this site to help us keep our services available to current, future, and former students and volunteers.

Can you help?

I posted a story on the Tutor/Mentor Blog this morning that I hope you'll read, and pass on to others.

One way you can help, is to be a sponsor of Nicole White and Nick Infusino, as they run the Chicago Marathon and raise money for Cabrini Connections. Read more.

I hope that you can make your own donation, but more importantly, I hope you'll encourage people in your own network to become investors in our mission.

One $5,000 donation at a time

After the July 16th Golf Benefit I wrote how it would take donations of $5,000 each from many different sources to keep the bills paid each month as we struggle with this terrible economy.

This week we've received the first of those donations, a $5,336.70 contribution from Whole Foods Market, which was the result of the bag recycling program run at five Chicago stores from April through June 2009. Every time a customer brought in their own bag for groceries, they could designate a 10-cent donation to Cabrini Connections! Thank you Whole Foods Market and your customers!

We've also continued to receive donations from veteran volunteers. Gita Rao, who was administrative coordinator from 1999 through 2001 send a donation of $300 from her father with a note saying, "My parents are in the U.S. for the summer and wanted to send something to Cabrini Connections before they headed off to Bangalore."

We've also received donations this week from:

Rachel Dziallo, former volunteer who has just moved to Austin, Texas
Lan Eng and Dan Bassill made donations via Facebook Causes

These donations are greatly appreciated and much needed. Please help us find our next $5000 donation. Help us find donations from friends, family, former students and from veteran volunteers.

Thank you Whole Foods Market!

Edgewood College Visit made possible by your donations

Today is the beginning of the 2009 Edgewood College 3-Day Visit. About 20 graduate students from the college, along with faculty leader Tom Holub and Courtney Moffitt, are here for 3 days of interaction with Cabrini Connections teens. This is the 11th year of this partnership. This video was made last year. Here are blog articles from past years.

We're able to host these visits because donors have provided the $5,000 it takes each month to pay the rent. Others have provided additional funds for utilities and liability insurance. Others have provided money to pay the staff who lead Cabrini Connections and make it possible for Tom and his students to come here.

This won't continue without the help of donors who will step forward to help us pay these expenses in July, August and throughout the rest of 2009 and 2010. While myself and our board are reaching out to people in their own networks to ask for help, I encourage anyone who reads this and who values what we do, to reach into your own networks to help us find donors, and benefactors, so there will be a 12th Edgewood College visit in July 2010.

One way to help is to donate to the Golf Benefit, being held on July 16. Here's the registration page. Here's the roster of players, sponsors and donors through today.

If you don't golf, come to the dinner and silent auction. If you'd like to help in a different way, visit our donor page on the Cabrini Connections web site.

New donations received week of 7/6/09

Ed Madden, foursome for Golf Benefit

Matt Stefan, hole sponsor for Golf Benefit

Pat Dowdle, Dowdle Solutions, hole sponsor

Walt Vincent, golf (1); Walt also donated United States Proof Coin & Currency Collection, Value $350,for the silent auction

Austin King, golf (1)

Tangela Smith Marlow, dinner (1)

If you'd like to meet and discuss ways to help raise funds, call Dan Bassill or El Da'Sheon Nix at 312-492-9614

Chicago Bears' Orlando Pace to play in July 16 Golf Benefit

Orlando Pace is one of a growing number of professional and college athletes who are taking notice of Cabrini Connections and the Tutor/Mentor Connection. Two of our volunteers, Kurt Kittner and Zak Kustok, both have NFL experience and were star Quarterbacks in college.

Thus we're please that we've been told Olando Pace will be golfing with us on July 16 at the annual Cabrini Connections Golf Benefit.

We've also been informed that QDI Strategies will be a Birdie Sponsor and bring a foursome. Steve Bassill, brother of CC, T/MC president Dan Bassill is heading this company.

This week:
Melissa Moore, a member of our Advisory Council, and Eby-Brown, have become "Contest Hole Sponsors ($500)" for the July 16 Golf Benefit.

Donations received from:

C.J. Sichta, Jr., Acacia, IWU alum
David Hundley, Jr.

Thank you all!

See the most updated list of golfers, sponsors, dinner guests.

If you sign up now, you can play in this event and meet NFL star, Orlando Pace!

Tee Off for Cabrini Connections. July 16 Golf Benefit

Last week we posted an appeal for "stimulus funding" and this is a list of new donors to our list since then.

Golf Outing Silent Auction:
Autographed Football from New York Jets - see article

Autographed Football from Pittsburgh Steelers - see article

July 16 Golf Benefit - Registered and paid 6/8 to 6/15

Chris Schuba, foursome
Cabrini Volunteer foursome - Jen and Mike Jozwik, Mike Hayes, Mike DiClaudio
Russ Iwami - golf (1)
Ray Dowdle - foursome
Julie & Scot Hamilton - golf (1) and dinner
Stephen R. Tetro - golf (1)
Garett O. Gilles foursome
The Rodriguez Family - foursome and hole sponsor
Karen and Kevin Lobdell - hole sponsor
Billy Criscione - Dinner
Don Bohling, tutor from 1988-92, golf (1)
IWU Acacia foursome - Andrew Giordano, Anthony Algmin, Andrew Krantz, TBD

We have several other pledges for groups, but these have not registered and paid yet. Visit http://www.cabrinitmcgolf.org to sign up.

Year End Dinner Donations - Thank you!
We are still receiving donations as a result of our May mailing and June 4 Dinner.

From June 8 - 12 we received donations from:

Gary and Tracie Miller
Constance Gilchrist
Anthony Pashos
Mary Pat Kane Reilly
Tyrone Ross
Autum Sharp

In addition, we received a generous grant from the Ronald H. Ringer Foundation

Thank you all for helping bring stimulus dollars to Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection

Can you provide private sector stimulus funds?

Last week we celebrated our annual year end dinner with more than 200 parents, volunteers and students. It was the type of event that puts tears in your eyes and cements the commitment I have to keeping this program going.

However, while the government is making all kinds of money available through Federal Stimulus Grants, these dollars won't do much to help keep small programs like Cabrini Connections in business. They are funding 'add on' activities, rather than operating dollars that pay the rent and keep current people employed. While there will be a quick turn around, most of those spending time writing grants, won't get funded, and won't know results until September or later.

If you have a rent bill, or payroll, due this week, and don't have money to pay, a government grant won't help.

However, our volunteers, leaders, parents and alumni can help. If you can send a donation, even $5, please do. If you can introduce us to a corporate sponsor, or individual donor, who can make larger gifts, please take this role.

Last week's dinner celebrated work done every year since the fall of 1992 when Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection was created. Every year we have had to find volunteers and donors to help do this work.

If we are to continue into the future, more people will need to share in the responsibility of finding the money than just Dan and the Board. The word community was used often in last week's dinner. We are a community.

We need help from everyone in the community to find the dollars that keep Cabrini Connections and the Tutor/Mentor Connection available to Chicago kids.

Got an idea? Email me at tutormentor2@earthlinknet or call 312-492-9614