Random Acts of Flowers: Turning Garbage Into Grins

Larsen Jay doesn’t know anything about flowers, other than how happy they made him feel after a near-fatal accident left him confined to a hospital room. The Knoxville, Tenn., native and former film and TV producer—“Erin Brockovich” is among his credits—was repairing a roof when he fell from a ladder, about one and a half […]

Chicago Community Trust Study Shows Chicago is the Epicenter of Philanthropy

We’ve long known that ours is a very generous, other-centered, philanthropic community. But now—thanks to a survey conducted by Indiana University’s Lilly School of Philanthropy on behalf of The Chicago Community Trust (the Trust)—we know that our community is at the national epicenter of philanthropy. No hyperbole. “Chicagoans are generous…significantly more generous than the national average—by some […]

Spotlight on Wendy Serrino

UNICEF is committed to saving children’s lives, and while many of us have heard of the organization, we may be unaware how we can personally make a difference. Glencoe resident Wendy Serrino is the Chair of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF’s Midwest Regional Board of Directors. In addition to her work with UNICEF, Serrino is […]

Culinary Care Delivers Food and Love to Cancer Patients

Sadly, one in five cancer deaths can be linked directly to malnutrition. Families battling cancer can be so exhausted from the intense treatments that food often is the last thing on their minds. “Chemo days were so stressful,” says Carolyn Nugent, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 33. “My mother, boyfriend and I […]

Rock Your Tutu and Help Fight Breast Cancer

“Swirling, twirling fun.” That’s how Julie Floyd, owner of Classic Kids Photography, describes the photography studios’ 5th annual fundraising project, Rock Your Tutu, which will run the entire month of May. You can book an appointment for your children (adults are welcome too) at any of the Classic Kids Photography studios for a fun and fluff-filled […]

Chi Arts Kerfuffle Celebrates Students and Supports Arts Education

Chicago enjoys world-class arts organizations. But surprisingly, until recently, it offered almost no arts education for its public school students. The arts were cut from the Chicago Public Schools three decades ago. Unlike most other cities, Chicago didn’t even offer a public school for the arts for youth with strong artistic inclinations. Please see our […]

Blind Potter Michelle Friedman Breaks Barriers

A rickety set of wooden stairs leads to the basement of the Evanston Art Center on Sheridan Road, where easy laughter and loud chatter fill the ceramics studio. It’s Tuesday morning, and “Intermediate/ Advanced Ceramics,” led by David Todd Trost, is in full swing. Many of the 10 or so students present have been in […]

Chicago Bulls Star Joakim Noah Spreads Message of Nonviolence

The relationship between mothers and sons is always special, and Chicago Bulls’ star Joakim Noah and his mother Cecilia Rodhe are building upon their close relationship to make a difference in Noah’s adopted hometown of Chicago and beyond. Shortly after Noah signed with the Bulls and moved to the Windy City, he and Rodhe combined […]

Op-Ed: Breast Cancer and the Power of One

Susan G. Komen® recently reported that there will be 292,130 new cases of breast cancer this year. That number is staggering. I once heard the great Oprah Winfrey discuss her comprehension of the values of large numbers. She said that when she started making large amounts of money, she could understand the value of $100, […]