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special advertising supplement4 // TA BLE OF CON TEN TS

contents G U I D E T O G I V I N G 2 0 1 2

introduction

6 Letter from our founder By Susan B. Noyes

9 Rasing money made easier

health care

2 Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

3 Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care

5 Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital

7 Coldwell Banker Foundation

8 Midwest Palliative and Hospice CareCenter

9 Pathways

10 Bcureful

11 American Cancer Society

11 University of Chicago Kovler Diabetes Center

11 JJ’s List

12 Friends of Epilepsy Foundation

12 Women’s Health Foundation

20 Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

social services

12 American Red Cross

13 Housing Options for the Mentally Ill

13 Youth Job Center

13 Over the Rainbow Association

13 Allendale Association

14 Impact 100 Chicago

14 Warming Hearts & Hands

Founder & President Susan B. Noyes

Co-Founder & Vice President of Marketing Mindy Fauntleroy

Publisher & CEO Kimberly Carroll

Creative Director Cheryl Berman

Contributing Writer Laura Tiebert

Art Director Sarah Philippart Designer Karilyn Owens

ADVERTISINGAd Sales DirectorMichelle Weiss

Senior Account ExecutivesPatti Augustyn

Megan Holbrook

Account Executive and Project Manager

Deana Lewis

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENTDirector of Community Development

Sanrdra A. Miller

Make It Better1150 Wilmette Ave., Suite J,

Wilmette, IL 60091, 847-256-4642

GOT FEEDBACK? E-mail susan@makeitbetter.net

TO ADVERTISE: Contact michelle@makeitbetter.net

14 Glenview Park Foundation

15 North Shore Senior Center

15 YWCA Evanston/North Shore

15 Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association

arts & entertainment

16 Chicago Botanic Garden

17 Chicago Shakespeare Theater

17 Chicago Children’s Museum

17 Evanston Township High School

17 Music Institute of Chicago

profi les

18 Caring Connections for Seniors

18 Family Services: Prevention Education & Counseling NFP

18 Leukemia Research Foundation

18 Trees That Feed Foundation

18 A Safe Place

18 Maryville

18 Lambs Farm

18 Rotary Club of Wilmette

19 Rush NeuroBehavioral Center

19 New Foundation Center

19 North Shore United Way

19 The Art Center of Highland Park

19 The Balanced Mind Foundation

19 Foundation for Retinal Research

19 North Shore Art League

19 Instituto del Progreso Latino

16

MISSION STATEMENTThe mission of Make It Better is to be the most-trusted, easiest-to-use community resource and magazine that helps you make your life, and the lives of others, better.

Carrying forward the best of

magazine

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special advertising supplement6 // let te r from our founder

make It Better medIa Is designed to make it easy for you to make a difference; make an impact. We work closely with nonprofits to amplify their good. We give you tools to amplify your good intentions. For this reason, we’re very proud to to present you with our 2nd Annual Guide To Giving.

If you care about making the world a better place for kids, older adults or less fortunate others—through the arts, education, medical research, health care or social services—this guide is for you. We recommend every organization featured here.

In addition to this Guide we also offer other easy ways for you to make a differ-ence. In the magazine, look for our column “Give Time, Give Things, Give Sup-port” for short-term or low commitment ways you can help. Online, we feature both stories that will inspire you and additional “Quick and Easy” ways you can make a difference. Go to makeitbetter.net/make-a-difference for more details. Also, you can help provide winter outerwear for the homeless through our Warm-ing Hearts & Hands program (see page 14 for details).

Our blessings are great in the northern suburbs, and our time is precious. Please use this Guide To Giving and all of our weekly online and monthly print magazine recommendations to make life better for others.

Hopefully, this will make life better for you, too. Blessings

Susan B. NoyesFounder and President

welcome to the make it better guide to giving

Subscribe to our email newsletter, the “Better Letter” and we’ll donate $5 to the nonprofit you choose, makeitbetter.net/better-letter

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8 // h ea lth ca re special advertising supplement

Frank Upton was like so many of us. He had a challenging career, a comfortable home and was married with two teenagers. But when the economy turned, it rocked Frank’s company and he lost his job. After 18 months of unemployment, Frank and his family lost their home and health insurance.

Just when it seemed that things couldn’t get worse, Frank’s doctor de-livered devastating news: he had only months left to live. How would he pay

midwest palliative & hospice carecenter

give supportprovide comFort to those Facing a terminal illnessYour donation allows patients and their families to receive comforting end-of-life care regardless of their ability to pay.

Contact Craig Dresang (cdresang@carecenter.org) at 847-556-1528 or Anne Rossiter (arossiter@carecenter.org ) at 847-556-1605, or visit carecenter.org

for the care he knew he would eventu-ally need, not just for himself but for his wife and children?

Frank’s story is not unusual. At Midwest Palliative & Hospice Care-Center, we don’t believe that anyone with a terminal diagnosis should have to worry about the affordability of their care. Midwest CareCenter will not turn patients away because they don’t have health coverage or other means to pay. We can keep this promise to our patients because of YOU!

Each year, nearly 4,000 friends con-tribute nearly $2 million to cover the cost of uncompensated patient care and support for Frank and his family, and so many others like him.

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InnovatIve MatchMakIngMake It Better has a number of inno-vative programs that bring businesses and charities together to amplify the efforts of both.

FundraIsIng resultsSpotlight your results and the impact your event had in our communities post event in the Better Makers sec-tion of our magazine.

For more information on how to partner with Make it Better, Contact Sandra Miller, Director of Community Development, at sandra@makeitbetter or 847-256-4642.

Make It Better Is In a unique po-sition: we surround ourselves daily with wonderful charities that make our world a better place. Amplifying a voice for others is our daily crusade. Our proudest moments are knowing that we have made lives better by con-necting businesses to a charity, offering subscription fundraisers, or just simply listening and sharing an important story.

From basic to big, there are many ways Make It Better can help your or-ganization’s fundraising efforts:

MedIa sponsorshIpsMake It Better offers comprehensive media sponsorships for events of all types from family-focused community

raising money made easierevents to formal black-tie affairs.

earn $5 For new suBscrIBersFor every Better Letter email subscriber you send our way, we will donate $5 to your cause! It’s quick and easy to do.

aMplIFy your MIssIonSend us information about your organization’s upcoming needs and it may be featured online or in the Give Time, Give Things, Give Support section of our magazine.

event calendarMake sure our local community has your special date on their calendars. Online event listings are self-serve and free of charge!

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american cancer society american cancer society’s mission is simple: Save lives and create more birthdays. To achieve this goal, the organization has turned “what they’ve learned into what they do,” which has contributed to a decrease in the overall cancer death rate.

You can get involved by volunteering to help cancer patients, assisting with community events, participating in health fairs or providing office support. You can also sign up to participate in one of many fundraising events including “Relay For Life,” “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer,” and “Walk and Roll.”

Money raised through fundraisers and donations directly helps fund lifesaving research to find cures and empower peo-ple to fight back.

To get involved, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org

university of chicago kovler diabetes center the world-class University of chicago Kovler Dia-betes Center offers customized, science-based approaches for managing Type 1, Type 2 and other genetic forms of diabetes for patients ranging from infants to older adults. Kovler is home to one of the largest diabetes research insti-tutions in the U.S., discovering new ways to treat, diagnose and, one day, cure diabetes. Kovler educates families, com-munities, physicians and health care professionals about the impact of diabetes and helps individuals live their best lives.

For more information, contact 773-702-2371 or visit kovlerdiabetescenter.org

give supporthelp those with diabetes!With your help, we can help improve the lives of those with diabetes through out-standing care, education and research.

give supportsUpport cancer researchDonations at every level are appreciated and help us achieve our goal: Save lives and create more birthdays.

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every night somewhere in Ameri-ca, while most of us are sleeping, Red Cross volunteers are standing on the lawn of someone who just lost their home and everything they own in a fire. We are there to give them a blan-ket, a hot cup of coffee, a place to stay for the night, and a plan to get back on their feet.

The American Red Cross of Great-er Chicago serves more than 9.6 mil-

lion people in northeastern Illinois and northwest Indiana. Each year, we teach nearly 200,000 people im-portant skills like CPR and First Aid. We also help local people affected by 1,200 small- to medium-size disas-ters every year—most of them house fires, and assist more than 4,700 peo-ple coping with and recovering from their losses; half of the people we help are children.

A gift of any size supports the life-saving mission of the American Red Cross, a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generos-ity of the American public to perform its mission.

the american red cross, greater chicago region

give supportsupport communities in needDonations support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross, whether it’s responding to a disaster, collecting lifesaving blood, teaching skills that can save a life, or assisting our military members and their families.

For more information, contact 312-729-6100 or visit redcross.org/il/Chicago

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housing options for the mentally ill For 25 years, Housing options has been providing life-saving mental health services and permanent, supportive housing to individuals with mental illness. Everyone de-serves a chance to believe in themselves, and their power to make life-changing choices. Through our Community Care program, we are also a resource to families in the area that are considering long-term care plans for their adult children with mental illness.

For more information, contact Debbie Bretag, 847-866-6144 ext. 11 or visit housingopt.org

youth job center tHe youtH Job center celebrates 30 years in 2013. To commemorate this milestone, the YJC will hold its gala celebration on April 13, 2013, in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. The YJC’s mission has never been more critical—we prepare youth, ages 14-25, for success in the workplace. We provide job-readiness, job-placement and employment support in partnership with employers. The YJC invites you to invest in your community’s fu-ture workforce. For more information, visit our website at youthjobcenter.org.

For more information, contact Kim Hoopingarner, khoopingarner@youthjobcenter.org

give support

$50 provides a set oF disHesPlease help us give our participants a chance to transform their lives.

give things

silent auction items neededDonate an item or service for our silent auction to be held in conjunction with our annual gala on April 13, 2013.

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give things

give the gift of warmthDrop off new scarves, hats and coats by December 1, 2012 to 1150 Wilmette Ave., Suite J, Wilmette, IL 60091.

Please join make it Better foundation and help give new hats, coats, gloves and scarves to over 1,000 men, women and children in our 4th Annual Warming Hearts & Hands program.

Each year around the holidays, Make It Bet-ter Foundation and its partner nonprofits work to supply hundreds of new coats to those in need. You can help make this winter a warm one with an on-line donation (makeitbetter.net/warming-hearts) or by dropping off new gloves, scarves, hats and coats by December 1, 2012.

warming hearts & hands

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ywca evanston/north shore The YWca evansTon/norTh shore is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity. We operate the only comprehensive domestic violence services on the North Shore. We empower women through financial literacy. We host the Race Against Hate and foster conversations about the impact of racism. We offer violence prevention programs to students in our schools. We teach children to swim and become empowered through aquatics.

For more information about YWCA programs, volunteer opportunities or to make a gift, visit ywca.org/evanston

north shore senior center volunTeer drivers are desperaTelY needed for North Shore Senior Center’s Escorted Transportation Ser-vice. Drivers use their own cars to transport ambulatory seniors to/from medical and dental appointments within a defined geographic area. Matches are made based upon geography and volunteers can accept or decline any request to drive. Spend a few hours each month (Monday through Friday) helping out seniors, many of whom have no other means of transportation to appointments. Do a good deed and enrich two lives!

For more information, contact Maura Rogan at 847.784.6052 or visit nssc.org

evanston/north shore

give time

volunTeers neededDriving is one of our many volunteer opportunities that support seniors in our communities.

give time

make an impacTThe YWCA is in need of volunteers with skills in child care, administrative support, event coordination and more!

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nearly one million people visit the Chicago Botanic Garden every year. In addition to its 26 renowned gardens and four natural areas, this remarkable living museum is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center, and the new Learning Campus, featuring the Grunsfeld Chil-dren’s Growing Garden and the Klein-man Family Cove.

The mission of the Chicago Bo-tanic Garden is to promote the enjoy-ment, understanding and conservation

chicago botanic garden

give supportdonors apreciated at all levelsAll gifts to the Chicago Botanic Garden are important, whether donors pledge $25, $250, or $2,500. There are hundreds of specific donor options at all levels; help the Garden with your support today.

Contact James Boudreau at jboudreau@chicagobotanic.org or visit chicagobotanic.org/donate

of plants and the natural world. It is through its dedicated staff, volunteers, and donors that the Garden is able to achieve these goals.

In 2012 the Garden completed res-toration of its North Lake shoreline, with 1.5 miles of shoreline revitalized and the addition of 120,000 new na-tive plants to help stabilize shoreline soils. The Garden also introduced But-terflies & Blooms, a new seasonal but-terfly exhibition. The Garden’s Science Career Continuum mentors future leaders in conservation science, and the Plant Biology and Conservation

graduate program with Northwestern University continues to thrive and at-tract new Ph.D. and master’s students.

In 2013, the Garden will raise awareness of and funding for the Learning Center, which will double the Garden’s capacity to teach chil-dren—many of whom come from Chicago Public Schools—about plant biology and conservation, and inspire the next generation of scientists.

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chicago shakespeare theater With nearly 600 performances annually reaching an audience of more than 200,000, Chicago Shakespeare Theater is a leading international company and cultural ambassador dedicated to sharing the Bard’s work with all generations.

CST employs nearly 350 actors, directors, designers and art-ists. In its partnership with Chicago Public Schools, CST works to increase literacy through performances and education.

Donors cover one-half of CST’s operating expenses, mak-ing individual, corporate and foundation supporters critical to CST’s ongoing success. A $25 donation subsidizes student tickets; a $250 pledge helps underwrite educator workshops; $1,000 partially underwrites a tour to a Midwest school.

To learn more, contact advancement@chicagoshakes.com

chicago children’s museum chicago children’s museum encourages children and families to create, explore and discover together through play. CCM is the only cultural institution in the city dedicated to young children and the important adults in their lives. Playful experiences, including more than 15 interactive exhibits, tap into how kids learn, and engage them at an early age to foster a lifelong love of knowledge and discovery.

For more information, contact Maureen Kelly at 312-464-7702 or visit chicagochildrensmuseum.org

give supportbring theater to studentsYour generosity brings theater and educa-tion programs to over 40,000 students and teachers.

give supportyour donation countsCCM counts on the generous support of people like you to continue serving Chicago’s children.

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Caring Connections for SeniorsCCS facilitates seniors’ participating in the life of the community by bringing them together with caring volun-teers. Your donation enables us to continue enhancing the lives of seniors in need.

1545 W. Morse Ave., Chicago773-649-5838caringconnectionsforseniors.org

Family Service: Prevention, Education & Counseling NFPFamily Service, offering social ser-vices since 1930, provides senior and caregiver services, counseling for all ages, and Latino support ser-vices. Most services are available at no out-of-pocket cost to clients.

777 Central Ave., Highland Park847-432-4981famservice.org

Leukemia Research Foundation Wilmette-based Leukemia Research Foundation serves individuals and families affected by leukemia and lymphoma by funding research and offering educational and financial support within a 100-mile radius of Chicago. 3520 Lake Ave., Wilmette 847-424-0600leukemia-research.org

Trees That Feed Foundation Dedicated to planting fruit trees to feed people, create jobs and benefit the environment. Over 12,000 breadfruit trees have been planted in Jamaica, Haiti and Ghana. A $15 donation plants one robust tree.

1200 Hill Rd., Winnetka312-315-0955treesthatfeed.org

A Safe PlaceThe leading advocate for eliminating domestic violence in northern Illinois, providing emergency shelter, housing, court advocacy, counseling, education, and a 24-hour crisis line. To donate or volunteer, visit our website.

2710 17th St., Zion847-731-7165asafeplaceforhelp.org

MaryvilleMaryville’s mission is to help children and families to reach their fullest potential by empowering intellectual, spiritual, moral and emotional growth.

Help Maryville help vulnerable children. 1150 N. River Rd., Des Plaines847-294-1999maryvilleacademy.org

Lambs FarmHelping people with devel-opmental disabilities lead productive, happy lives and connecting with the human spirit in us all. Grow with us—volunteer, donate, visit and support our programs!

14245 W. Rockland Rd., Libertyville847-990-3706lambsfarm.org

Rotary Club of Wilmette“Service above Self” is Rotary’s motto and energizes our club to support amazing local, national and worldwide projects, includ-ing polio eradication. Join us! Have fun providing service and networking with others. Meets Wednesdays, 12:15 p.m.McCormick & Schmick’s, Skokie wilmetterotary.org

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RNBCSocial emotional learning challenges such as ADHD, autism and learning disabilities affect more than two children in every classroom. Through philanthropy, RNBC is creating clinical and educational in-novations to help.

4711 Golf Rd., Suite 1100, Skokie 847-933-9339rnbc.org

New Foundation CenterWe help people to become healthy, find jobs, live in the com-munity, go back to school, make friends and—most important—manage their mental illness.

444 W. Frontage Rd., Northfield847-501-2939newfoundationcenter.org

North Shore United Way North Shore United Way’s community-impact plan, LIVE UNITED 2020, changes the odds for children and families by investing in the building blocks to self-sufficiency — education, income and health. 5010 Oakton St., Skokie 847-674-2668liveunitedchicago.org/northshore

The Art Center of Highland Park The Art Center of Highland Park (TAC) is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to education in the contemporary visual arts through classes, outreach programs, gallery exhibitions and events.

1957 Sheridan Rd., Highland Park 847-432-1888theartcenterhp.org

The Balanced Mind FoundationThe Balanced Mind Foundation helps over 400,000 families raising children with mood disorders annually by educating, empowering and ending stigma.

566 W. Lake St., Suite 430, Chicago847-492-8510thebalancedmind.org

Foundation for Retinal ResearchFRR is committed to finding treatments and cures for Retinal Degenerative Diseases and supporting the lives of affected families. We fund research worldwide and host a biannual conference for families. 666 Dundee Rd., Suite 1104, Northbrook224-927-5063tfrr.org

North Shore Art LeagueSince 1924, NSAL has been dedicated to enriching the cultural life of its community. Located in the Winnetka Community House; offering classes, workshops and special events for adults and children.

620 Lincoln Avenue, Winnetka847-446-2870northshoreartleague.org

Instituto del Progreso LatinoFounded in 1977, Instituto provides culturally proficient social services and access to education for low-income Latino families, creating a pathway to self-sufficiency for over 11,500 participants annually. 2520 S. Western Ave., Chicago773-890-0055idpl.org

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