GLENCOE, IL — The Board of Directors of North Shore Exchange is proud to announce $455,000 in charitable grants to deserving Chicagoland charities, proceeds from its recently ended fiscal year. The grants will be presented to this year’s selected charities at a reception at Writers Theatre on Monday, October 15.
Combined with 2018 in-kind charitable giving, this brings the total amount the organization has donated since its inception to $1.5 million dollars: an exciting new level of philanthropy for the mostly volunteer-run organization founded in 2013.
“Hitting this $1.5 million giving milestone is an incredibly meaningful moment for our organization,” said Wendy Serrino, founder and Board Chair, North Shore Exchange. "It's an honor to have the opportunity to make an impact on the Chicagoland children and families served by the worthy charities we are supporting this year."
An award-winning, philanthropic resale shop offering upscale and luxury designer women's clothing and accessories as well as a curated collection of home furnishings and décor to shoppers in Glencoe, Chicago and online, North Shore Exchange donates 100% of its profits to Chicagoland charities serving children and families at or near the poverty level.
In 2017, North Shore Exchange received the James Tyree Emerging Business Award, a $50,000 cash award given by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce to an up-and-coming Chicago entrepreneur with philanthropic values. With those funds, the opening of North Shore Exchange in the City, the organization’s second location at 900 North Michigan Avenue Shops in Chicago, was made possible.
“We were thrilled to give away $150,000 back in 2014,” continued Serrino. “Since then, we have had the great privilege of steadily growing our charitable impact thanks to our shoppers, consignors and donors, our committed volunteers and staff, and the addition of our thriving city location which just celebrated its first birthday."
North Shore Exchange recently had another significant milestone: the passing of the torch from founder and former President Serrino to Doug Moss, a seasoned retail executive who became North Shore Exchange’s new President this past August.
“It couldn’t have been a more exciting time to join North Shore Exchange,” said Moss. “Reaching $1.5 million in giving is yet another stop on what has been a very exciting journey for this organization. I congratulate the deserving recipients of these awards, and look forward to helping to set the course for our next chapter."
Charitable organization invitees and guests along with North Shore Exchange volunteers and staff will gather at a reception on October 15 at Writers Theatre in Glencoe for a grant award presentation.
Margo Koval, Chair of North Shore Exchange’s Philanthropy Committee, noted, “This year, 18 traditional Exchange Grants are being awarded, along with a Community Grant to Family Service of Glencoe. Each grant is intended to further each organization's important work in the following categories meeting North Shore Exchange’s mission: abuse, elderly, healthcare, disabilities, homelessness, hunger, mental health and social services."
North Shore Exchange's Board of Directors also will give a separate grant, in honor of Glencoe Public Safety, to the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance to fund attendance at their annual "I Am Me" camp for two low-income children affected by injuries from burns.
2018 Exchange and Community grant award winners, and their missions, are as follows:
CONNECTIONS FOR THE HOMELESS: Connections for the Homeless works across Chicago’s northern suburbs to prevent homelessness, shelter those in crisis and help families and individuals avoid imminent evictions.
BETWEEN FRIENDS: Dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence and building a community free of abuse through education, Between Friends offers crisis intervention and support services to survivors of domestic violence and their children.
CURT’S CAFE: Curt’s Café uses a café model to provide life skills, job training, job placement and post-placement support to men and women aged 15-24 living in poverty in Evanston and the greater Chicago area.
CARA CHICAGO: Cara Chicago helps people affected by poverty build skills with the goal of getting and keeping good jobs. Cara Chicago is committed to unlocking the power and purpose within our communities to achieve real and lasting success.
EMBARC: Embarc provides experience-based learning opportunities to low-income Chicago high school students to prepare them for college and career success, creating a more integrated society.
CASA CENTRAL: Casa Central works to transform lives and strengthen communities with a focus on Chicago’s Hispanic population. This organization helps homeless families regain stability and obtain permanent, independent housing.
FAMILY SERVICE OF GLENCOE: Family Service of Glencoe promotes a stronger community by serving the individual and family needs of those living or working in Glencoe through counseling services that identify, prevent and treat mental health issues.
CHILDREN’S RESEARCH TRIANGLE: Children’s Research Triangle improves the quality of life for children with developmental, behavioral, psychological or educational challenges by providing mental health services to youth struggling with trauma in Chicago’s underserved communities.
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY: The Greater Chicago Food Depository provides more than 70 million pounds of food to Cook County residents struggling with hunger through a network of 450 food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters and community programs.
GROWING HOME: Growing Home provides organic, urban, farm-based job training for people with extreme barriers to employment. This holistic program provides paid, on-the-job experience, job-readiness training, and case management.
H.O.M.E: Housing Opportunities & Maintenance for the Elderly (H.O.M.E.) helps low-income seniors maintain their independence by providing services such as home repairs, grocery shopping transportation, and support with moving from one home to another.
HOWARD AREA COMMUNITY CENTER: Howard Area Community Center assists low-income individuals and families in the Rogers Park area with services such as a dental clinic for children and adults with HIV/AIDS, a food pantry and domestic violence counseling.
JAMES B. MORAN CENTER FOR YOUTH ADVOCACY: This organization provides free, integrated legal and social work services to low-income youth and their families. The Project Bridge program is committed to building, improving and maintaining positive relationships between the Evanston police department and disconnected youth.
LA CASA NORTE: La Casa Norte serves youth and families confronting homelessness by providing access to stable housing and delivering comprehensive services that act as a catalyst to transform lives and communities.
LAKEVIEW PANTRY: For 48 years, Lakeview Pantry has been supporting Chicago’s North Side communities by raising awareness of hunger and working towards solutions to eliminate hunger.
LAWRENCE HALL: Lawrence Hall provides highly specialized and individualized care for children and adolescents with severe emotional and behavioral challenges due to trauma, violence, abandonment or exploitation.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS FOOD BANK: The Northern Illinois Food Bank works in conjunction with food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, group homes, schools and senior program sites in a 13-county area to serve those struggling with hunger.
SARAH’S CIRCLE: Located in the Uptown neighborhood of Chicago, Sarah’s Circle is a refuge for women who are homeless or in need of a safe space. By providing life’s necessities, housing, case management, and clinical and social services, Sarah’s Circle helps women rebuild both emotionally and physically.
THE NIGHT MINISTRY: The Night Ministry provides housing, health care and human connection to individuals struggling with poverty or homelessness. Their Street Medicine program is designed to provide immediate onsite care to those who have the most trouble accessing health care.
SPECIAL BOARD GRANT IN HONOR OF GLENCOE PUBLIC SAFETY:
The Illinois Fire Safety Alliance "I Am Me" camp.