charity

With Chiberia coming and going as it pleases, we’re not the only ones who need to bundle up and stay warm! Let’s not forget our furry friends that we snuggle next to over the weekend or when we get that snow day from school and work! They’re happy and warm at your house, but there are many more who aren’t as lucky as your faithful furry friend.

Listen up football fans, foodies and philanthropists! This is Sara from Ripple Public Relations, and I have the scoop on an awesome event to help raise money for the Chicago chapter of Stand Up For Kids, a non-profit organization dedicated to ending youth homelessness by providing outreach, supplies and support.

Woody’s Winter Warm-Up is a great way to kick off 2014 and celebrate Cubs Convention Weekend. Once again we will have local celebrities and media personalities guest bartending and competing for tips to help raise money for the Wood Family Foundation. Stop by and try our special tequila cocktail Harry Caray’s is serving up at all locations called “Woody’s Smokin Pitch” that will give proceeds back to the foundation. In addition, we will have a silent auction with a lot of sports memorabilia and unique experiences.

My husband David may have been traded to another team, but that does not stop us from returning home and hosting a charity fundraiser with his former teammates. The David DeJesus Family Foundation has teamed up with Cubs Charities to host “Strike a Chord” Celebrity Karaoke to benefit ALS research, a disease which has affected our close friend Brian Schnurstein. The event will feature David, myself, Ryan Chiaverini (Windy City LIVE), Jeff Hoover (WGN), B96 Morning Show team, Danni Allen (winner of Biggest Loser) and Cubs players teaming up with local media personalities and Chicagoans to compete on the microphone. In addition to cocktails, food will be provided by American Junkie, Chicago Q, Siena Tavern, Wow Bao and GT Fish & Oyster.

Chicago startups are looking beyond the newest products and services this holiday season. This year, Freebie and Bucketfeet have partnered to donate shoes to the Boys & Girls Club of Chicago in an effort to help kids in need with a new pair of kicks.

With Chicago's ever increasing roster of parties, bars and events around the city, it can be difficult to find a one-of-a-kind experience that'll keep you coming back. But Slo 'Mo, a once monthly dance party curated and created by Kristen Kaza definitely goes beyond expectation. This Saturday, she, along with The Inconvenience's Isaac Ike Holter and their resident lady on the decks Tess Kisner, will throw a winter spectacular to benefit Project Firece. I got to chat with the party purveyor herself via email about Chicago, music and Slo 'Mo earlier today.

Meez Meals, a Chicago company that delivers recipes along with healthy ingredients prepped and ready to cook at home, is joining forces with Common Threads to introduce “Meals for Good.” The yearlong partnership is designed to offer healthy meal solutions through an efficient delivery process.

The holiday’s are upon us and we at Spare Time Inc. are excited to do our part by helping those in need and spreading the holiday love. That’s why Friday, November 15th, we launched a company wide “Holiday Canned Food Drive” to benefit a local South Side homeless shelter. The drive will end a week or so before Christmas!

** UPDATED November 15, 2013 : Here is a link to donate to the victims of Typhoon Haiyan right now: http://www.crowdrise.com/FundraiserforTyphoonHaiyan**

Brace yourselves my deprived chocolate connoisseurs because the World of Chocolate Gala offers a taste of both sweet and savory creations by chefs, chocolatiers and caterers from Chicago, all in the name of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago.