Make It Better Foundation Names the 2015 Philanthropy Awards Winners

The Make It Better Foundation is proud to announce the six nonprofit winners of its annual Philanthropy Awards, presented in conjunction with National Philanthropy Day.

GiGi's Playhouse — Make It Better co-founder Mindy Fauntleroy is given a big hug from GiGi’s Playhouse’s Nancy Gianni after the group found out they won the 2015 Philanthropy Award for Human Services-Empowerment.

The winners are:

Snow City Arts of Chicago for the Arts Award sponsored by Susan and Richard Kiphart
Academy for Global Citizenship of Chicago for the Education Award sponsored by Dolores Kohl
Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation of Arlington Heights for the Health & Wellness Award sponsored by Nancy Searle
GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers of Hoffman Estates for the Human Services-Empowerment Award sponsored by Shirley and Pat Ryan
Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) of Chicago for the Human Services-Social Service Award sponsored by the Edwardson Family Foundation
James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy of Evanston for the Social Justice Award sponsored by Ann and Dennis FitzSimons

Michael Rosengarden of Autohaus on Edens sponsored the Philanthropy Awards Road Tour, which took place Monday, Nov. 16. The Make It Better staff surprised the winners in person with their awards.

The staff of Fresh Start Caring For Kids Foundation after learning they won the Health & Wellness 2015 Philanthropy Award.

Make It Better's Francia Harrington presents the 2015 Philanthropy Award for the Arts to Snow City Arts. — Make It Better’s Francia Harrington presents the 2015 Philanthropy Award for the Arts to Snow City Arts.

“The Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Awards provides an opportunity to recognize the work of outstanding nonprofits and to help them amplify their message,” says Make It Better Foundation President Nancy Searle. “All of the award winners share the values of the Foundation: Effectiveness, Efficiency, Leadership, Scalability and Excellence. This award also enables the growth of a network of well informed committed philanthropists, social entrepreneurs and sponsors. It is the growth of this network that amplifies and leverages the impact of the Make It Better Foundation.”

Staff and some of the 8th grade class of The Academy for Global Citizenship pose with Make It Better's staff after learning they won the 2015 Philanthropy Award for Education. — Staff and some of the 8th grade class of The Academy for Global Citizenship pose with Make It Better’s staff after learning they won the 2015 Philanthropy Award for Education.

“Our Philanthropy Awards engages our entire company in what we do best — creating an impact for outstanding organizations,” Make It Better Founder and Publisher Susan Noyes says. “We relish the opportunity to work with experts in best philanthropic practices, identify highly effective nonprofits, shine our media light on them and give the winners tools to raise more money and awareness of their good work.”

Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) was presented with the Human Services-Social Service Award.

The staff of the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy joins Make It Better for a group photo after learning they've won the 2015 Philanthropy Award for Social Justice. — The staff of the James B. Moran Center for Youth Advocacy joins Make It Better for a group photo after learning they won the 2015 Philanthropy Award for Social Justice.

For more information about the 2015 Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Awards, go to makeitbetter.net/foundation. Winners will receive Shop For Good proceeds in December.

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