Hope, Build, Believe & Achieve

Our Cabrini Connections students chose "Hope, Build, Believe & Achieve" as the theme for the 2009-10 school year.

As we end this school year we've sent out appeals to friends, family, co-workers, former volunteers and others, asking them to share as much of their wealth, time, and talent as they can to help us keep Cabrini Connections available to our teens, volunteer and alumni.

Our supporters are responding. Last week I posted a list of donations received from 5/11-5/15.

This week I'll share those we receive from 5/17-5/22.

Thank you all!

Ellen Nielsen
John Pellouchoud & Kristyna Driehaus
Karen and Kevin Lobdell (Board of Directors member)
Paul & Ruth Mc Mahon
Bella J. Kim
Robert F. Hirsch
Julie Bordo
Peggy and Te-Hsu Ma

If you have not yet sent a donation, you can use this PayPal link to contribute.


Tuesday was the annual Share A Meal Day for Community Shares of Illinois. This event raises visibility for the workplace fund raising campaigns organized by CS-IL, and raises some money for member agencies and CS-IL to do their work. Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection (CC, T/MC) staff hosted at several locations and have had some great stories to share.

EL Da'Sheon Nix was at Camille's Sidewalk Cafe, 400 N. LaSalle, early in the morning. As he tells the story, "No one was there, but me. A couple of guests came into the cafe' but left quickly with their 'to go' orders. Then this one guy, Mr. Monroe, came in. As he sat down, drank his coffee, and read the newspaper, I introduced myself, but he was waiting his breakfast, so I backed off. I noticed that he was looking at the sport's section and I asked him if he was a sport's fan and asked how he felt about Orlando Pace being traded to the Bears. After I shared with Mr. Monroe that Orlando Pace visited the Cabrini Connections' program less than 3 weeks ago," he looks up and says, "tell me what your organization does". After talking for a while he said "looks like you do good work" and agreed to donate $100 to Cabrini Connections!!!

Tutor/Mentor Programs like Cabrini Connections are needed in all parts of the Chicago region, not just in Cabrini Green. Through the Tutor/Mentor Connection we maintain a database of more than 200 different programs and we organize events, like the May 28 and 29 Tutor/Mentor Leadership and Networking Conference, to bring programs together to help each program get the ideas and dollars and volunteers they need to help kids in their own neighborhood. I hope you'll help spread the word to build attendance (and sponsor dollars) for the next conference which is at the end of next week.

Share A Meal - Help Build workplace Fundraising

On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, restaurants in Chicago and suburban locations join with generous diners like you to raise money in the 6th Annual Share a Meal with Community Shares. Dining out that one day at a participating restaurant helps 80 local community groups make a difference right here in Illinois every day.

Every diner becomes a donor. Here's how.

On May 19th, enjoy a great meal and have fun with friends, family or co-workers at one of the participating restaurants near you. That restaurant then donates a portion of the proceeds to Community Shares of Illinois and its member organizations. You may designate a portion of your bill to a specific member charity

Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connections is a member of Share A Meal of Illinois, and our staff and volunteers will be hosting diners at the following restaurants. Why not come in and Share A Meal with them!

* Blue Sky Bakery & Cafe, 4749 N. Albany
* Curio Cafe, 3400 N. Lawndale
* Camille's Sidewalk Cafe, 40o N. LaSalle Street
* The Celtic Knot, 628 Church Street, Evanston

We hope that the Share A Meal helps people think of ways they can donate to non profits like Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection, so that when the workplace fund raising campaigns come up in their company, school, government office, etc. they will remember to look for us when they pledge their support.

A weekly donation of $1 is less than a cup of coffee, yet it adds up to $52 a year. If 500 people make such pledges it could cover the cost of the part of the staff, or rent that keeps Cabrini Connections working.

Share-a-Meal 2009!

I am on the committee for the Community Shares of Illinois Share-a-Meal 2009 and we met yesterday to start the planning and we covered some pertinent details. The first being, we SET THE DATE.

Share-a-Meal 2009 will be held Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at a restaurant near you. We are currently looking for more committee members to get our efforts off the ground. You don't necessarily have to be an employee of a participating Community Shares organization. It can also be a volunteer of your org, a donor or someone involved in what you do in the community. We realize we all have busy schedules and know that sometimes an employee rep can't make it, so we want to make it available in some capacity to have at least ONE person from each of the Chicago organizations (approximately 50) take on an active role within the Share-a-Meal initiative. Email committee chair Kate Williamson at kwilliamson@ichv.org to become apart of this committee.

Our next meeting will take place 10/8/08. Kate can give you the location and agenda when you email her.

When me meet in October, we will:
* Review revised corporate sponsor packets (Barb)
* Have a list of Chicago organizations who are members of Community Shares of Illinois (Kate)
* Go over the corporate sponsor brainstorm list (each committee member is to email Barb a list of 3-5 possible companies to solicit for corporate sponsorships)
* Go over the restaurant sponsor brainstorm list (each committee member is to email Barb a list of 3-5 possible restaurants to solicit for participation in 2009 campaign)
* Go over Share-a-Meal guidelines and participation bonuses for organizations (Kate & Barb)
* Follow the agenda as given

So far we are looking into possible CTA ad campaigns on the Blue line and any CTA buses that depart from the North Park Garage (list to come). So it's imperative we have several corporate sponsors to offset advertising costs.

If you are a Cabrini Connections, Tutor/Mentor Connection volunteer interested in being apart of this committee, participating in Share-a-Meal 2009, or participated in last years with suggestions on how to improve certain aspects as they relate to our organization, feel free to email me your inquiries, as always: cassinaz.cabrini@gmail.com.

Share a meal, and share creating positive change in your community.