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The stated mission of the Notre Dame Alumni Association is "to advance
the interests of the alumni and their University through a commitment to
excellence in a lifelong relationship." Local clubs play an integral role in
fostering and encouraging this lifelong relationship. To this end, clubs are
encouraged to present a balanced variety of events and programs each
year from the six core areas of Camaraderie, Catholic/Christian Spirituality, Communication, Community Service, Continuing Education,
and Current Student Support.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
Putting the Notre Dame spirit into action in the local community is another important function of Notre Dame clubs around the world. The possibilities for serving others are almost endless from simply adding a food drive (or other creative donation drive) to another event, to get involved with ND’s Tax Assistance Program, ND’s Breast Cancer Awareness Program, a building project, education project or another type of community outreach.
The ND Club of Chicago aims to sponsor Community Service activities every month. To view current Community Service events please click Here!
Volunteering Opportunities
Below is a list of organizations that fellow ND grads volunteer at and/or that the Club has worked with over the years.
Chicago Food Depository
Rebuilding Together
Chicago Park District
KIPP Ascend
Literacy Chicago
Metro Achievement Center
Metro Achievement Center is a supplementary education program which promotes the personal and educational development of Chicago inner-city girls from 4th - 12th grades with the collaboration of parents, teachers and volunteers. Metro programs instill a sense of personal worth, develop students' talents, character, and spirit of service, and strengthen academic skills and work habits. Metro prepares its students so that they can complete their education and pursue a profession of their choice.
Metro was voted Most Exemplary Youth Mentoring Program in the City of Chicago by The Chicago Bar Foundation in 2006!
The Metro Achievement Center is looking for volunteers to make a two hour a week commitment to work with our students at our facility in the West Loop. Please contact Meghann Finerghty at mfinerghty@midtown-metro.org or
312-226-4886 x233 for more information.
Chicago Cares
Chicago Cares is the largest non-for-profit community service organization in the city. They offer over 160+ events each month in Issue Areas such as Adult Education and Development, Children's Education and Development, Hunger, Environment, Health and Wellness, etc. The on-going programs occur all across the city and a great way for ND alumns and others who are interested to volunteer in their local or surrounding communities. In addition, they offer one-day or Special Service Events such as Celebration of Service in Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr (Saturday January 13th, 2007) and our largest fundraiser/community service event Serve-a-Thon (2nd Saturday in June). You can access their website at http://www.chicagocares.org for more information as well as sign up to become a volunteer in the section entitled "New Volunteer Orientiation." The online tutorial is short and simple with a brief questionarie at the end.
Chicago HOPES
Chicago HOPES provides on site tutoring and enrichment activities for CPS students residing in homeless shelters. Many of the students are in elementary school and performing below grade level as a result of homelessness. To counter such effects of homelessness, the Chicago HOPES after school program is working to provide these students with academic support, but also a source of stability, encouragement, confidence, and affirmation. We are currently in need of volunteer tutors at two homeless shelters in Chicago. Tutors will work with 1-3 students assisting them with homework and enrichment activities. Tutors are needed for the following sites and times: Maria Shelter, Englewood, Monday, Thursday, Friday from 3:30-5:00 pm; Cornerstone Community Outreach Shelter, Uptown, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday from 3:00-4:30pm. If you are interested in volunteering with Chicago HOPES or for more information please contact Ericka Smith at (773) 553-2242 or hepvistas@gmail.com
HFS
is an award-winning not-for-profit corporation created for the express purpose of developing innovative educational enrichment programs and providing hands-on mentoring to support the educational aspirations of economically disadvantaged, but academically motivated, Chicago inner-city youth. Established in 1992, HFS currently provides numerous innovative educational enrichment programs, one-on-one mentors and high school scholarships to top institutions to our scholars.
We always need motivated, community-minded, high-quality mentors for our scholars to serve as role models, guides, friends and counselors (kind of like a Big Brothers/Big Sisters program).
For school year 2006-2007, we have a total of 52 high school scholars attending various challenging private and parochial schools around the city. We have an incoming freshman class of 20 (our largest to date). Mentoring is the cornerstone of our program and each of these new scholars will need a mentor to work with throughout their high school years.
The requirement is fairly simple – mentors spend a few hours per month with a high school scholar. We match a male mentor to a male scholar and a female mentor to a female scholar. There is training for mentors and an extensive mentor manual. There
are also numerous group opportunities to get together with scholars during the year - Bulls games, study days, in-town and out-of-town college tours, Saturday activities, etc. Once a completed application is forwarded to the HFS office, a member of the staff will conduct a 20-30 minute phone interview. We will also perform a background check (upon your authorization) as a condition of becoming a mentor for HFS Chicago Scholars. Click HERE to view the Mentor Application Form.
Please contact Brian Parker, Executive Director at 312-421-4070 or bparker@hfschicagoscholars.com for more information. Our program year begins at the end of September and runs through late May. Visit us on line at www.hfschicagoscholars.com
Horizons for Youth is a community committed to helping children reach their full potential. In partnership with dedicated families, we provide need-based scholarships, one-on-one mentoring, and enrichment programs for children in grades K-8 in Chicago private elementary schools. We have the following volunteer opportunities:
Big Siblings ** These volunteers develop a one-on-one mentoring relationship with a child in our program. They attend monthly Saturday Child Enrichment Outings and have at least one other contact with the child per month. As a Big Sibling you are an advocate and role-model for the child.
Surrogate Big Siblings ** Surrogate Big Siblings are paired with children for outings when our regular Big Siblings are absent due to family or work commitments.
Young Professionals Board ** The Young Professionals Board exists to support the mission of HfY through social events, volunteer recruitment, fundraisers and service projects.
Volunteer Commitments for Special Projects ** Throughout the year we have volunteering opportunities for our special events such as On Cloud Nine with Paige’s Angels, our annual gala event, Oktoberfest, our Graduation Celebration, and more.
Sponsorship Opportunities ** Help make our program possible through sponsoring a child’s private school tuition, donating to our scholarship fund or looking into endowment opportunities.
Please see our website for more information: www.horizons-for-youth.org or contact Meghan Colgan at Meghan@horizons-for-youth.org or (312) 627-9031.
Great volunteer opportunity to work with kids! Program
is designed to give one-on-one academic assistance and
mentoring to grade-school aged members of Blessed
Sacrament Youth Center. Program runs every Saturday
from 9 AM - 12 PM (excluding holiday weekends), from
September until May. Each student is assigned two
tutors, who rotate Saturdays (so each volunteer only
goes every other week). First half of each three hour
session is spent tutoring, while second half is
dedicated to snack and a group activity. If you are
interested in learning more about this program, please
contact Jennifer Rubow by August 31 at 773-458-0054 or
via e-mail at rubowj@yahoo.com
Chicagovolunteer.net
Chicagovolunteer.net is the only local interactive website that helps individuals identify appropriate volunteer opportunities at various nonprofit organizations throughout metropolitan Chicago .
• Volunteers can search by cause, geographic location and time commitment.
• CRN offers training and consultation to the nonprofit organizations listed on the website to help ensure that your members have a meaningful experience when they volunteer their time. Organizations that complete the training are designated on the website with a logo.
To make it easier for your members to find volunteer opportunities, you can refer to the website in your informational materials. You can also add a link to Chicagovolunteer.net on your club’s website.
If your members prefer to talk directly with someone, we also have skilled referral specialists who can help them. Please call 312-491-7820.
The Lake Michigan Federation
The Lake Michigan Federation has been THE place to go to help Lake Michigan. Since 1970, the Federation has been working with people from around the region to promote Great Lakes-wide policy reform and site-specific restoration in the Lake Michigan watershed. The Federation mission is taking care of the fish, wildlife, air, land, and water that make the Lake Michigan region a national treasure and helping citizens understand how they can help too. To that end, we draw on many resources, working with teachers, scientists, economists, legal specialists, government representatives, communities, and individuals. And, year-by-year, individual-by-individual, we're getting back a healthy Lake Michigan environment, thanks to supporters like you. For more info, see:http://www.lakemichigan.org.
Poder Learning Center
Poder Learning Center, located in the Mexican-American neighborhood of Pilsen, is a computer based literacy center that provides the necessary academic skills to promote human dignity, to increase employment potential, and to facilitate participation in the larger community. Founded in 1997 by Jesuits, today Poder is a nonsectarian nonprofit that serves more than 375 adult immigrant students daily in a variety of programs ranging from English as a Second Language and computer training to A+ Certification classes. Volunteers may serve as teacher assistants, student tutors, or in a supportive role to our development/fundraising director.http://www.poderlc.org/index.html
Volunteer coordinator: Margarita Valerio (mvalerio@poderlc.org)
Holy Trinity High School
Established in 1910 by The Brothers of Holy Cross, Holy Trinity was originally a boy’s school serving the neighborhood sons of Polish immigrants. Today, Holy Trinity is co-educational and proud to serve an increasingly diverse population of nearly 400 Hispanic, African American, Caucasian, and Asian students. Holy Trinity's central location (1443 W. Division, two blocks east of Ashland) attracts students throughout the city including the Pilsen, Little Village, Wicker Park, River North and Bucktown communities. According to studies of the Archdiocese, it awards the most financial aid per student of any school in the Archdiocese of Chicago. If you are interested in assisting high school students earn their diploma and gain entrance to college, contact Dean Sullivan at 773-279-4212, dsullivan@holytrinity-hs.org or visit www.holytrinity-hs.org.
The Partnership to Educate and Advance Kid's
The Partnership to Educate and Advance Kid's (PEAK) mission is to provide opportunities for at-risk youth to achieve academic and personal success through a quality, values-based education and the guidance of caring adult mentors. PEAK was co-founded by Notre Dame alums Eileen (Cavanaugh) Bender and Maria (Madigan) Kelly and enjoys deep connections with many other alumni. The program was featured in the Spring 2002 edition of Notre Dame Magazine
(http://www.nd.edu/~ndmag/sp2002/callahan.html)
Program Objectives
1) To provide at-risk students with a quality, values-based high school education.
2) To serve academically average to below average students-those who are typically overlooked in the scholarship process.
3) To develop a four-year partnership involving the PEAK student, their parent/guardian, the PEAK mentor and our partner school, Holy Trinity High School.
4) To support our partner school in providing a challenging and rewarding educational experience.
PEAK is unique among high school scholarship programs as we pay 100% of each student's tuition. There are
currently 51 students attending Holy Trinity High School on full PEAK scholarships
Please visit PEAK at www.peakchicago.org.
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago
United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago (UCP Chicago) is a non-profit human services agency. UCP Chicago's mission is to advance the independence of people with disabilities, enrich their lives, provide support to their families, and advocate for their inclusion in every facet of community life. Originally founded to serve only individuals with cerebral palsy, UCP Chicago provides services including information, education, employment training and assistive technology to empower infants, children and adults facing the challenges of all types of disabilities. For information about volunteering with UCP Chicago, please contact Jen Gerwing at 312.368.0380, ext. 223 or jgerwing@ucpnet.org. UCP Chicago's website is www.ucpnet.org. If you have any questions or need anything, please let me know!
Leap of Faith Foundation
The Leap of Faith Foundation supports projects in social computing that use the Internet and other emerging technologies in an integration of technology, information, and social need. One focus of the Foundation is on healthcare, where the goal is to provide a forum and mechanism for the exchange of health-related data among groups and individuals. Through its contributions, the Foundation strives to create and sustain opportunities in social computing in an effort to enrich the healthcare experience and contribute to the quality of life for individuals.
The Leap of Faith Foundation currently supports the @neWorld program. @neWorld a virtual community for children with cancer developed with a grant from the National Cancer Institute, fits with the Foundation's mission of using the Internet and other technologies as socialization intervention in healthcare. It uses relevant behavioral models as a basis and framework for its design, resulting in a program that creates and fosters a spirit of community and survivorship.
Foundation support of @neWorld includes providing state-of-the-art computer hardware for patient use, Internet access for patients and their families who need it, technical support for patients, hospitals, and schools, and ongoing maintenance and support of the @neWorld application. Donations of cash, equipment, services, and labor are directed toward these activities.
The Leap of Faith Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, IRS Tax ID 31-6667748. All donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. For more info, see: http://www.leapfoundation.org
The Gus Foundation
The Gus Foundation is a tax-exempt, non-profit organization established in 1995 by the family and friends of Gus Evangelides. After a courageous battle with a malignant brain tumor, Gus died in April 1995--three months shy of his second birthday.
The Gus Foundation is dedicated to providing hope for children with brain tumors by advancing Children's Memorial Medical Center, Chicago as a leader in the research and treatment of pediatric brain tumors thereby:
· Providing the children and their families of the Chicagoland area and the Midwest with the most current treatments available
· Honoring the courage and spirit of all children who have been afflicted with brain tumors
Through a partnership with Children's Memorial, the Foundation raises funds to support critical research centered or collaborated through Children's. This research offers the best opportunity to develop cures, and in the meantime, to provide all children with the most sophisticated, appropriate, and prevailing treatments available
Funds contributed to date have led to the:
· Discovery of an enzyme specifically expressed on brain tumors
· Determination of the location of the gene on which this enzyme can be found. The clinical implications of this research are powerful, as it holds promise to provide important benchmarks for the diagnosis and treatment of brain tumors
· The synthesis of an anti-sense molecule, which in laboratory tests, has provided gene therapies resulting in higher cure rates at lower doses of chemotherapy
The Gus Foundation has recently completed the funding for a $1 million endowed fellowship in Neuro-Surgery and Neuro-Oncology at Children's Memorial Medical Center. This two-year fellowship will train the next generation of pediatric brain tumor specialists in treatment and research
The Gus Foundation has committed to fund a $1.5 million Chair in Neuro-Oncology. This chair will assure that a
world-class pediatric oncologist who specializes in brain tumors will have the time and responsibility to both treat
patients and to be actively engaged in research. The website, www.gusfoundation.org, is currently in the process of being updated.
Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless works to understand the causes of homelessness in Illinois and to eliminate homelessness through attacking the causes.
Mission
The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) organizes and advocates to prevent and end homelessness based on our belief that housing is a human right in a just society.
Facts and Figures
- In no state in the U.S. today does a full-time minimum wage job enable a family to pay fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment.
- In 2000, 16.8% of full time workers working year round, earned less than the official poverty level for a family of four.
- Chicago reported a 35% increase in demand for shelter for families in 2001 compared to the previous year.
For more info, see their website:
http://www.chicagohomeless.org/IndexNew.asp
from which this information was taken.
Notre Dame alumni are known for being generous with their time and talent. When we sent out the invitation for organizations that would like to speak at our Networking through volunteering event, we were flooded and had more requests to participate than we could accommodate. Our alumni are INVOLVED in doing a lot of good things. Here is a list of the organizations that were represented at this event:
The Diveheart Foundation: Dan Barrett
www.diveheart.org
Email: info@diveheart.org Contact: Jim Elliott
Diveheart provides support for educational SCUBA diving and snorkeling experience programs for any physically impaired child or adult in the hope of providing both physical and psychological therapeutic value to that person. It is the “CAN DO”spirit that the Diveheart Foundation hopes to instill in all its participants. Giving them the confidence and independence that allows them to face their own life challenges and overcome barriers that before might have seemed insurmountable. Through SCUBA diving the Diveheart Foundation supports and facilitates programs that teach children and adults with physical impairments to fly. Thanks to the “wonder of the water column,” the oceans and lakes of the world become the forgiving weightless environment of outer space, giving perfect buoyancy to a child or adult who would otherwise struggle on land.
Needs: Diveheart seeks individuals who wish to become diving partners for those with limited mobility and/or sight. It's a way of helping others while also having an adventure yourself.
The Gus Foundation: Jennifer Zierden '95
The Gus Foundation, in partnership with Children's Memorial Hospital, is dedicated to providing children with brain tumors hope by sponsoring pediatric brain tumor research, supporting families of brain tumor patients at times of crisis, and providing resources for activities for in-patients and children being treated at the oncology clinics. Our website is currently under construction, but may be viewed at www.gusfoundation.org/. Jennifer would be our primary contact for those persons wishing to volunteer with the Gus Foundation. She can be reached by email at jzierden@deloitte.com or by phone at (847) 687-4595.
Holy Trinity High School Tom Bednar
www.holytrinity-hs.org
A Holy Cross Brothers’ school serving over 400 Hispanic and African American students near the Loop at 1443 W. Division, just east of Division stop on the Blue Line. How can you become involved?
One Time Commitment: Work on Holy Trinity painting project with Chicago-serve-a-thon Saturday June 11 from 8:30am –3:30 pm.
Assist with Mock interviews for students preparing for summer internships (one hour, one day during the first two weeks of March).
Intermediate Commitment: Mentor students working as Summer Interns in the Loop (June-July). Golf Outing Committee (January-June)
Substantial Commitment: Tutor students on a weekly basis (Sept-May)
Wish List: Books for the school library, DVD/VCR players, digital camera.
Contact persons:
Tutor: Sr. Donna Williams 773-278-4212 x3041, or donnawilliams@holytrinity-hs.org.
Serve-a-thon: Tom Bednar 773-278-4212 x3024 or tbednar@holytrinity-hs.org
Mentoring: Tim Bopp 773.278-4212 x3040 or tbopp@holytrinity-hs.org
The Auxiliary Board of St. Jude Collen Nevin ‘93
www.stjudeauxiliaryboard.org
The Auxiliary Board of Chicago was established in 2000 and is a diverse group of young professionals. Its primary mission is to create awareness of, and raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the world's premier centers for research and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children. For more info, email the Auxiliary Board of Chicago at stjudeauxiliaryboard@yahoo.com or Colleen Nevin at cnevin@msn.com.
Ways to become involved:
1. Join the Auxiliary Board which gathers once a month, alternating between social events (open to everyone) and board meetings. May is a social event month; join us for a wine tasting at D.O.C. Wine Bar on Thursday, May 19th.
2. Join the planning committee for "Under the Harvest Moon,"gala fundraiser in November.
3. Support Auxiliary Board events. We have fundraising events every other month, with our next event taking place on May 19, a wine tasting at D.O.C. Wine Bar. Even if you do not want to commit to joining the Auxiliary Board, you can join our mailing list by signing up at stjudeauxiliaryboard@yahoo.com and we will send you invitations to our upcoming social events.
HighSight, Inc. –Mark Mastroianni
www.highsight.org
HighSight, Inc. is a nonprofit organization in Chicago that tutors and mentors inner city high school youth. The organization is always looking for professional adults with broad and deep skillsets for the Tuesday and Wednesday from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM study sessions or the extra help session on Saturday mornings from 10 AM to 12 PM. This is not a boy and girls club style of commitment where the relationship is one on one. There are 120+ students in the program and the ideal number of mentors per session is roughly 20-30.
Mercy Home for Boys & Girls: Nora Bondi
www.mercyhome.org
Mercy Home is a residential facility for abused an at-risk youth with two campuses, one located in the Beverly/Morgan Park neighborhood for girls, and the other located on the near West side for boys. We provide a home for youth who are experiencing difficulty at home, school, or in their neighborhood for a variety of reasons. We provide a fresh start for these kids through a structured, safe living environment, therapy and education.
There are numerous ways to get involved or to help:
SUMMER: We are looking for quality summer internships for our youth to learn the value of work. If you have a summer internship program at your company OR could provide an opportunity for a young person to learn in your place of business this summer, please contact the main desk at 312-738-7560 and ask for an Employment Coordinator.
SCHOOL YEAR: School year (Sept – May) to donate 1 hour/week to help a youth succeed in school. Tutoring days are Monday through Thursday, typically between 6:00-7:30 pm. Contact Jennifer Brown in the Volunteer Resources Dept: 312-738-7554, jenbro@mercyhome.org.
ALWAYS: Mercy Home sponsors a mentoring program called “Friends First” for youth who are not in residence at MHBG, but who need an adult’s positive presence in his/her life. This time commitment is 2-3 outings per month on weekends. Training, supervision and “built-in” activities are also part of this program. Contact Mary Ann Pilet if interested: 312-738-7552, volunteer@mercyhome.org.
Franciscan Outreach Association: Sarah Martin
www.franoutreach.org
Franciscan Outreach Association: 250 bed overnight shelter, soup kitchen, and case managers who help guests build a better life. Come volunteer at our shelter.
Franciscan Outreach Association brings God’s love to the homeless of Chicago by helping them survive from day-to-day and then take the difficult steps necessary to build a better life. At Franciscan House of Mary & Joseph, we have beds for 215 men and 35 women. We provide supper, breakfast, visits by mental health outreach workers, medical personnel, and case managers. At our Marquard Center Supportive Services Center, we have a soup kitchen that serves a full meal, showers, and the only free drop-off laundry service in Chicago. Our Case Managers offer on-on-one help in goal-setting, finding services, and accomplishing objectives. Visit us on line at http://www.franoutreach.org/. We need volunteers at our shelter - details and an on-line calendar are on our website.
Clearbrook Take-A-Break Respite Care Program: Jeanne Macari
www.clearbrook.org
Contact: Volunteer Hotline: 847-870-7748
Since 1955, Clearbrook has worked to support adults and children with developmental disabilities, currently serving 2300 adults, children and families through a variety of programs. There are a variety of long-term and short term (one night) volunteer opportunities with Clearbrook. Opportunities range from working various events with adults with developmental disabilities (as needed) to provide weekly respite care to the family with a developmentally delayed child.
Kids In Danger (KID) is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting children by improving children’s product safety. KID was founded in 1998 by the parents of 16 month-old Danny Keysar, who died in his Chicago childcare home when a portable crib collapsed around his neck. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Danny was not the first baby to die in the Playskool Travel-Lite: Danny was the fifth baby whose neck was caught between the top rails of this crib when it collapsed and strangled him to death – five years after the product had been recalled.
Our programs promote the development of safer products, advocate for children and educate the public about dangerous children’s products. Safe from the Start is KID’s comprehensive educational campaign to reach a large and diverse body of parents, caregivers and health care professional's with lifesaving information about recalled children's products.
We are looking for volunteers to help on a variety of projects:
Office Assistants
Event Representatives: Distribute lifesaving information at a variety of health and safety fairs around Chicago.
Outreach Educator: Conduct presentations to parents and health care providers about how to protect children from recalled products.(training required)
Fundraiser: Contact KID for ways to raise money for KID. Good for creative people and people who need flexible hours.
Spanish Language Translator/Outeach
Educator: Help KID develop, translate and communicate lifesaving recall information. Help reach EVERYONE with lifesaving information.
Hours and scheduling are flexible.
Contact Sarah Chusid at (312) 595-0649 or Sarah@KidsInDanger.org to sign up!
Visit www.KidsInDanger.org to find out more.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago
How Can You Make a Difference?
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago serves Cook and DuPage Counties but is just one of 500 BBBS agencies nationwide. We offer a variety of activities and our flexibility allows opportunities for anyone who wants to help.
Community Based Mentoring – Volunteers are matched with a child (age 7 - 13) and have contact 2 to 4 times per month for at least one year at a time that is convenient to both Big and Little. During outings, Bigs and Littles cultivate relationships that provide children with skills to manage every day challenges and discover a world of possibilities and opportunities.
Site Based Mentoring Programs – These supervised group mentoring programs are offered at a school in proximity to the workplace, or Boys and Girls Club site close to your home or office. The volunteer is matched with a child and meets once a week for an hour before or after school for the school year. Get a group of at least 10 volunteers to start up a new program with your colleagues or join an existing program.
It is as easy as showing a child your favorite game, book or best soccer move. The impact is huge – youth will benefit from the focused encouragement to help them reach their full potential.
Contact Jessica Woldt at 312.207.5604 or woldt@bbbschgo.org, or check us out at www.bbbschgo.org
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