charity

Today, everyone has been affected by breast cancer in some way; for me it was my cousin Carrie Kenney. Carrie was a fun-loving, young woman who was diagnosed at the very young age of 27 and looked to Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization for support. After she lost her battle in 2004, I was determined to make a contribution to the organization that had given so much to my cousin when she needed it the most. To date, Tickled Pink has raised over $800,000 for Y-ME and hopes to reach the goal of $1 million by 2013!

Cancer doesn’t target an age, gender, or ethnicity- it can happen to anyone. It is one of the most well known diseases in the world and affects not only adults, but children each and every day. On January 29^th you can participate in “Step Up For Kids”, an event benefitting Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago and the Family Services Department and help fight the battle against children’s cancers.

As children, sisters, Kathryn and Laura Pekarik, shared a passion for baking.  Always thinking they would eventually start some kind of business their idea was put on hold when Kathryn was diagnosed with T-Cell Lymphoma cancer in May 2010.

This chilly Shelter Shiver fundraising event put on by ALIVE Rescue is sure to wake you up and send goosebumps all over your body! Join this organization in helping to raise money with other Chicagoans who love animals just as much as they do! ALIVE Rescue is a place where homeless animals can go and get proper care from great people. ALIVE strives to take on the responsibility to “save, rehabilitate and place abandoned, abused stray animals.”

‘Tis the season for holiday parties and sippin’ on spirits - but it is also a great time to give to those in need during this Holiday Season. Here is your chance to combine the two! From December 13-18 at Marigold, a unique Indian restaurant in Chicago’s Uptown neighborhood, they will donate 25% of its sales from customers who take one of two simple steps to show that they are supporters of Care For Real.

Many of us use buses to navigate our way throughout the city, either going to school or work. We pack them full of people trying to avoid the blistering cold at the bus stop. This year help over 700 families by filling a bus with toys, blankets, coats, clothing, and canned goods. Starting December 8, 103.5 KISS FM, AT&T, Taco Bell, and The Salvation Army are teaming up to Stuff-A-Bus in Arlington Heights on the corner of Palatine and Rand Road.

Start calling the plays and bring your friends and family to the Holiday Huddle at Halas Hall. We see what goes down when the Bears take to the field, ready to play, but what do they do to prepare for game-day? Find out on December 9 from 6:00pm-8:30pm at Halas Hall when the team opens their doors “for a rare glimpse inside the headquarters and behind-the-scenes tours of their training facilities and Walter Payton Center.”

Growing up my best memories were the ones sitting with my grandpa and listening to Jazz and Big Band music. The appreciation for the way all of the individual instruments could mesh as one to create something so special as an emotional groove was something I will never forget. This music appreciation from a young age was so influential in my life, from my high school music programs, professional dancing career, night club djing, and of course my radio career. That is why The Chicago Academy of Music really caught my attention as something I wanted to be involved with.

NERD ALERT! Joe here from Rockit Ranch Productions with an important message for you all. Do you enjoy FASHION SHOWS? Do you enjoy WORLD OF WARCRAFT? Do you enjoy SUPPORTING GOOD CAUSES? If you answered YES to any of these, I have just the thing for you. Come down to Bloomingdale's on Wednesday, November 2 from 6:30-9:00pm for the Geek 2 Chic fashion show hosted by Microsoft.

Chicago Sports icons Mike Ditka and Joel Quenneville were two big reasons Chicago was recently named the most “moustache-friendly” city in the U.S. by the American Mustache Institute. And this November, you can help to continue the tradition and sport a ‘stache for Movember, the not-for profit charity that challenges men across the country to raise awareness and funds for cancers affecting men by growing a Mo (slang for moustache).