Officer Jennifer Maddox of Chicago is a 26-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department as well as the 2022 Red Cross Law Enforcement Hero Award recipient. Working on the south side of Chicago as a police officer, Officer Maddox developed a strong bond with the community and noticed that so many children were fearful to […]
As we close the chapter on 2022, we asked some of our favorite Chicago-area photographers to share their standout image from the year. Here are their favorite images, and the stories behind them. Avinash Biradar “Morning Stillness – Chicago is such a busy city, buzzing with all kinds of noise. But, early morning sunrise is […]
If you look beyond the glitz and champagne, New Year’s Eve is about being together as we toast to new beginnings. Whether you’re celebrating at home or want to make it a night out to remember, here’s where to ring in 2023 around Chicago, including ways to recover deliciously on New Year’s Day. Outings for […]
The holiday season is filled with countless sources of delight, but nothing warms the heart quite like giving to those in need. In fact, a Harvard Business School study found that giving gifts, money or donating to others increases our happiness more than spending that money on ourselves. Better makes it our mission to help you bring comfort […]
Nothing brightens dreary December days in Chicago quite like the festive twinkling of holiday lights. For Brett Foy, those lights are a labor of love, and one he’s using to give back to his community. His house at 969 Ekman Drive in Batavia is dressed up with lights for the holiday season and set to […]
It is the season of giving, and we have compiled a comprehensive guide with over 100 ways to support Chicago-area nonprofits. Here, we highlight some organizations throughout Chicago, and the best ways to support them this holiday season and into 2023. Read on to hear from them, in their own words. For the complete listing, check out […]
Gary Hazan doesn’t get it. Hanukkah is the Festival of Lights, but where are the lights? For the past four years, Hazan and his family have provided that answer and then some in the 700 block of Valley Road in Glencoe. “Ironically it’s the festival of lights but we don’t decorate,” he said of Hanukkah […]
This holiday season, when you shop local, not only does your money stay in your community and help create local jobs, but you also help the environment due to less transportation and packaging. That’s why this Local Treasures Gift Guide aims to make holiday shopping personal, thoughtful, and close to home. Arch 913 Green Bay […]
Each August, Mary DiSomma breaks out her KitchenAid and starts baking cookies for the holiday season. She needs a long runway to make a whopping 7,000 cookies—50 varieties in all—that she and her husband will put in tins and hand out as gifts to eagerly awaiting family and friends come December. DiSomma’s cookie making has […]
Local nonprofit iMentor Chicago is on a mission to help students in under-resourced communities navigate the path to post-secondary success and economic mobility. We do this by matching an adult volunteer mentor with every student in our Chicago Public Schools partner schools, no matter the student’s GPA or test scores. Mentors work with students for two to four years to help them […]
