RSVP for the Star Awards

Our Star Awards Event is fast approaching! Chicago Cares will spend an evening at the elegant Four Seasons Hotel on Monday, October 25^th from 6:00-9:00pm honoring outstanding members of our volunteer community.  T hanks to your time and effort nominating your fellow volunteers, this year’s selection process has been especially competitive. 

Star Awards is the perfect time to come together and celebrate all the great achievements from our dedicated volunteers in the community. It’s more than simply a night to honor a few individuals; Star Awards is an opportunity for our corporate partners, weekly volunteers, youth groups and community partners to meet. We have transformed our awards to focus on and celebrate the volunteer community that Chicago Cares considers its greatest asset. Please join us for what will surely be a night to remember.

RSVP now at http://chicagocares.kintera.org/starrsvp or visiting our website: www.chicagocares.org. We hope to see you and your Chicago Cares’ family there!

New Programs in Senior Services, Adult Education, & much, much more!

Be on the lookout for new programs in the calendar throughout the fall and winter that address needs in adult education, senior services, hunger, the environment and more.  Generous funding has enabled us to add staff members to our Human Service ongoing programs team. Team members are spending time researching a variety of needs across the city and reaching out new community partners.

The Human Service team spends time learning about communities and their needs , building tailored programs where volunteers can participate in a variety of activities. Each of these new programs needs a leader. Help spread the word to your volunteers and encourage them to consider leading a program. Here are a few examples of exciting new program models:

GED Coaching in Logan Square

Volunteers who are fluent in Spanish will assist adult students with math and English homework for their GED classes. These classes will provide students with the assistance needed to master their  knowledge of the subjects they cover and help to build the confidence needed to pursue further education or apply for higher-paying jobs. This program will occur twice a month on Wednesday evenings at McAuliffe Elementary School located in Logan Square. Contact Program Coordinator Kyle Mahoney at kmahoney@chicagocares.org or 312-780-0800 ext. 182 to learn about leading or volunteering at this program. Leaders should be available for at least one project per month and be fluent in Spanish.

Women’s Discussion and Bingo Group

Female residents at Franklin and Drake Senior Apartments (located in Austin) are in need of women’s health programming and general health education. Chicago Cares has developed a health discussion program where volunteers will use questions and resources to cover topics ranging from heart disease and diabetes to skin care and healthy eating with older female adults. Each project concludes with an ever-popular game of Bingo. Contact Program Coordinator Rosie Drumgoole at rdrumgoole@chicagocares.org or 312-780-0800 ext. 146 to learn about leading or volunteering at this program. Leaders should be available for one project per month and should be knowledgeable about basic health issues.

More ongoing Human Service leadership needs can be found here by choosing an issue area under “Current Team Coordinator Openings”. Check back frequently as new programs are added each week. Support Chicago Cares expansion by spreading the word about these new programs and leadership opportunities!

Leader Spotlight – Dena Hicks

Dena Hicks may have had her first volunteer experience with Chicago Cares in 2001, but it was hardly her first brush with service. Dena’s family instilled the importance of volunteerism and the act of giving back at a very young age. Those lessons have inspired Dena to work with the community.

“I believe it is important to take an active role in our community to keep our neighborhoods strong, enjoyable places to live.” ~Dena Hick

Dena took her volunteering experience to the next level in 2006 when she agreed to be a team coordinator for a children’s education program with Chicago Cares. Although Dena has volunteered with many different issue areas, she feels a special calling to children’s programs. “I really enjoy watching the kids get excited about the new things they are learning. It’s rewarding to see their imaginations process these new tools and get excited about what they can do with all that new knowledge,” says Dena. 

In the past few years Dena has taken her volunteering another step further, assisting with refining curriculum for the Children’s Education and Development department’s programs. Her expertise has been a huge help, especially with programs like Just Click Here. In addition to her work with children’s programs, Dena is also a member of the Chicago Cares leadership council. Her dedication to Chicago Cares and service is a true inspiration.

On behalf of the Chicago Cares staff, we would like to say “THANK YOU Dena!” for all your hard work, dedication and inspiration. Your leadership and awareness for service are an inspiration for so many others to get out into the community and give back.

Celebration of Service - How Will You Keep His Memory Alive?

Our Business Shares is in full force this season, providing excellent opportunities for our seasoned PSMs to practice their leadership skills, but we’re still gearing up for the Celebration of Service in January 2011. Our Celebration of Service (in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) is the perfect opportunity for leaders from all walks of the Chicago Cares community to get involved and make a difference in one service day across our city. Projects will include opportunities to serve with seniors, children’s education programs, adults with disabilities and facilities rehabilitation.

How can you prepare as a leader for this event? It is never too soon to start spreading the word to your volunteers about the many ways in which they can become involved. Leaders can also recruit friends, family or fellow leaders to start a Project Site Manager team and serve together for this event. Our greatest resource for recruitment is through our leaders and their close relationships with volunteers. We appreciate your efforts in spreading the word and excitement about this excellent event.