Mayor Houston issues proclamation declaring Tuesday, December 3, 2013 as a community-wide day of giving

On Monday, December 2, 2013, United Way of Central Illinois and education, business and community leaders gathered at the early learning centerto call upon community members in Sangamon County to support local charitable organizations, including those focused on early childhood education, on Giving Tuesday.  At the press conference, Mayor J. Michael Houston issued a mayoral proclamation designating Tuesday, December 3, 2013,as a community-wide day of giving on #GivingTuesday, the national day of giving.
Joining Mayor Houston in the call-to-action were members of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Public Schools, United Way of Central Illinois, and Community Child Care Connection.

#GivingTuesday is a first of its kind effort bringing together charities, families, businesses and individuals to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. Coinciding with the Thanksgiving Holiday and the kickoff of the holiday shopping season, #GivingTuesday inspires people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities and give back to the local charities and causes they support.

At the press conference, United Way, in partnership with Community Child Care Connection and a host of local preschools, announced the kick off of their "Gift of Reading" campaign.  The campaign will run throughout the month of December and will raise funds to support Dolly Parton's Imagination Library.

Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is an early childhood literacy program providing one free, age-appropriate book, each month, to children under the age of 5 in Sangamon County.  This year alone, the program will provide more than 31,000 free, new age-appropriate books to more than 3,800 children who have enrolled in the program.

The program is designed to promote a love of reading among children at an early age, to better prepare children to enter kindergarten, and to bring families closer together.

Launched through a donation from Scheels and supported through a renewable grant from a national corporation, the program is facing an uncertain future after the national corporation changed the focus area of its foundation giving.  The program, which is not currently funded through United Way’s Annual Campaign, has three months of funding based upon current enrollment.  United Way and CCCC are exploring alternatives to extend the program beyond three months to identify long term funding options.

The “Gift of Reading” campaign offers supporters of the program the opportunity to provide a year’s worth of books to a child in our community with a $25 gift.  In addition, local businesses have the opportunity to sponsor the program through a variety of sponsorship options.  100% of each gift to the program goes directly to the cost of the literacy program.

The “Gift of Reading” campaign will run during the month of December with United Way, Community Child Care Connection and area preschools raising funds.

To give the Gift of Reading,  please call 726-7000 or visit www.springfieldunitedway.org.

View the press conference in its entirety below, courtesy of the City of Springfield.

Give the Gift of Reading on #GivingTuesday

A small investment in our children today will pay a lifetime of dividends!

United Way of Central Illinois’ goal this holiday season is to help children across Sangamon County share the joy of reading at home! A small investment will have a tremendous impact on families and futures, and with your gift, you will be helping parents and children begin a lifelong journey of learning together.

A charitable gift of $10, $25 or more will help United Way of Central Illinois:

• Improve community literacy, creating stronger families, a stronger economy, and providing a lifetime of opportunity for our children
• Ensure our community’s children are prepared to learn and succeed

How you can help:

We are raising money for Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, which sends free books to kids in Sangamon County. One $25 gift provides a full year of books (12 total) for one child. The program is open to all children, under the age of 5, who live in Sangamon County, and it is completely free to families -- they just have to sign up!

Your #GivingTuesday gift at work:

• A $10 charitable gift will provide 5 monthly books to child in Sangamon County.
• A $25 charitable gift will provide a full year’s worth of books to child in Sangamon County.
• A $125 charitable gift will provide a child born today with a free monthly, age-appropriate book until their 5th birthday.

This Holiday Season and #GivingTuesday, give the gift of reading to a child in our community.

Click to learn more and give the Gift of Reading on #GivingTuesday

United Way - SJ-R weekly column - Angela Bertoni: Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc., provides a refuge for those abused

Originally published Sunday, October 27, 2013 in the State Journal-Register.  Look for weekly United Way columns in the Our Towns section during the annual campaign.
 
Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc., provides a refuge for those abused
By Angela Bertoni, Chief Executive Officer at Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc.

Violence, whether in our schools, places of work or on the streets, usually begins at home. In the United States, a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds, making domestic violence the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.

During October, we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month, raising awareness for this serious public health problem that affects millions of people in the United States. Domestic violence has no biases and affects anyone regardless of race, age, gender or economic status. Acts of domestic violence can be physical, emotional, sexual or financial.

Moreover, approximately 75 percent of children of abused mothers are also victims of domestic abuse, making domestic violence the No. 1 risk factor for child abuse.

Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc. is the only...Read More

United Way - SJ-R weekly column - Greg Birky: The value of our community fund

Originally published Sunday, October 20, 2013 in the State Journal-Register.  Look for weekly United Way columns in the Our Towns section during the annual campaign.
 
Mobilizing a community of volunteers 
By Greg Birky, President of Illini Bank

Illini Bank, a locally owned community bank, I understand firsthand the importance of reinvestment in our community. A thriving, local economy allows our business to grow, provides security for our employees and allows local businesses to reinvest money back into our community.
As president of

However, our local economy can only continue to grow if we, as a community, protect our most vulnerable and invest in the future of our children. For this reason, Illini Bank, like so many businesses in the area, lends its support to United Way of Central Illinois and our Community Fund.

For more than 90 years, United Way of Central Illinois has worked to mobilize resources to meet community needs. One way in which United Way addresses community needs is through its annual campaign to raise money for our community fund. These funds are then allocated, by a panel of local volunteers, to nonprofit programs throughout our community which provide vital services in the areas of shelter, food, healthcare, victim services and education.

Decisions are always made at a local level because...Read More

United Way - SJ-R weekly column - Addressing homelessness in our community

Originally published Sunday, October 13, 2013 in the State Journal-Register.  Look for weekly United Way columns in the Our Towns section during the annual campaign.
 
Addressing homelessness in our community
By John Kelker, President at United Way of Central Illinois 

In the coming days, our city leaders will engage in a lively debate over the future of services addressing homelessness in our community.

Although the subject of this debate centers on the relocation of Helping Hands of Springfield, this discussion demonstrates the need for community leaders to develop and implement sound strategies which promote coordination of care, provide sufficient services and position those services in areas of town with the greatest need.

Addressing the issue of homelessness begins with the coordination of care. Fortunately, the Heartland Continuum of Care was established to encourage agencies to work together to plan, organize and deliver services to meet the needs of the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Among Heartland’s most important initiatives was...Read More

United Way - SJ-R weekly column - Mobilizing a community of volunteers

Originally published Sunday, October 6, 2013 in the State Journal-Register.  Look for weekly United Way columns in the Our Towns section during the annual campaign.
 
Mobilizing a community of volunteers 
By John Kelker, President at United Way of Central Illinois

Horace Mann once said, “Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves. We do ourselves the most good doing something for others.”

In those words, the great education reformer and abolitionist captured the essence of humanity and in many ways summarizes why we work every day to encourage others to give, volunteer and advocate.
I was reminded of these words on Friday as more than 250 volunteers, including many from the company named for Horace Mann, headed to local agencies to spend an afternoon in service to our community. These individuals spent time painting, building, organizing and cleaning at agencies throughout the Springfield area.

From helping with fall preparations at Henson Robinson Zoo to working the Fall Festival at Concordia Village, these individuals...Read More

Campaign for Good kicks off with a new volunteer initiative

United Way of Central Illinois kicked off its 2013 Annual Campaign at a breakfast at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Springfield last Wednesday. More than 360 donors, volunteers, business and community leaders joined United Way leadership in announcing this year's campaign goal and introduction a new volunteer initiative launched in partnership with U.S. Bank.

The Kickoff Breakfast marks the start of United Way’s annual fundraising effort and gives the organization an opportunity to thank local companies, donors and volunteers for their generosity and commitment to our community.  United Way’s Board of Directors were joined by more than 350 guests including donors, business and community leaders, volunteers, and nonprofit leadership.

“This year, our goal is to raise as much money for community services as possible,” said Dan Rayhill, Controller/Assistant Vice President at Hanson Professional Services, Inc. and United Way’s 2013 Campaign Chair. “We believe that all of us should strive for the day in which volunteers charged with making funding decisions are not challenged with requests that far exceed available funds.”

Last year, United Way funded 39 local programs providing food, shelter, healthcare, victim services, and educational initiatives.  Yet, strained agency budgets led to funding requests which exceeded available United Way funds by more $1 million. “A successful campaign should not be defined by whether we reach a monetary goal, but rather by our ability to meet every funding request that creates positive, measurable outcomes in our community,” said Rayhill.

United Way’s annual campaign is a vital part of the organization’s work because 100% of every dollar given to United Way goes to support local programs. At present, United Way’s Community Fund supports 39 programs with $1.7 million in funding. This funding is in addition to donor gifts designated for specific agencies and fundraising to support United Way programs such as Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, FamilyWize and 2-1-1.

“Thousands of families in our community depend on health and human service programs to maintain a reasonable quality of life,” said John Kelker, President of United Way. “Those individuals are depending on us to mobilize local resources to provide the vital services they depend on.”

This year’s campaign received a boost from United Way’s Pacesetter companies. These 11 businesses together with United Way leadership and member agencies set the pace by running early and aggressive workplace campaigns. Their enthusiasm and generosity resulted in a Pacesetter campaign total of $674,000.

This year’s Pacesetter companies include:

Bank of Springfield	Kerber, Eck and Braeckel
Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce	Memorial Medical Center
Hanson Professional Services	Scheels
Illini Bank	Sikich
Illinois National Bank	Springfield Electric
Town and Country Bank

United Way also introduced a new volunteer web application and community initiative sponsored by U.S. Bank.  The new web application, named Get Connected, provides an easy-to-use platform for nonprofits organizations to post volunteer opportunities, in-kind gift requests, employment opportunities and upcoming events.  Members of the community may view agency profiles, needs and upcoming events; sign up for volunteer opportunities online; follow their favorite organizations; receive notifications of newly posted needs; and track service hours.  

“U.S. Bank is proud to announce its sponsorship of United Way’s new volunteer platform,” said Michael Johnson, Central Illinois Region President at U.S. Bank. “Today we usher in a new era where people not only think of United Way as the organization that mobilizes local resources to meet community needs, but they think of United Way as the organization that mobilizes a community of volunteers into action.”

United Way announced three community incentives totaling $2,000 to support local charities as a part of the sponsorship.  

1. One individual who volunteers using Get Connected prior to March 7, 2014 will earn $500 to be donated to the Get Connected charity of their choice.
2. One group/company that volunteers as a group using Get Connected prior to March 7, 2014, will earn $500 to be donated to the Get Connected charity of their choice.
3. One nonprofit 501c(3) organization will receive a $1,000 donation based on the website activity and volunteer engagement. 

“The greatest impediment to volunteerism is often an individual or group’s ability to easily identify different opportunities around our community,” said Kelker. “Whether you are a high school student in need of service hours or a volunteer coordinator for a local employer, Get Connected provides an easy to use, central location where you can view the volunteer needs around our community.”

About Get Connected

The launch of Get Connected was scheduled to coincide with the campaign kick-off and United Way’s Fall Day of Action on October 4, 2013.  However, United Way made the decision to launch the website early to help mobilize in-kind donations following a fire at a group home operated by United Cerebral Palsy Land of Lincoln in early August. Get Connected can be found by clicking the “Volunteer” tab on United Way of Central Illinois’ website or at http://volunteer.springfieldunitedway.org.

February 2013 Hopeful Futures eNewsletter

The January 2013 edition of Hopeful Futures eNewsletter is out!

This month we feature:

• Jacqari's Story of Hope
• 2nd Annual Chicago Dream House Raffle
• tickets now on sale for the 8th Annual Style of Hope
• Boys Scouts pave the path at Hope
• Traveling World of Reptiles photo gallery
• Special Olympics photo gallery

You can read the full edition and sign up for future newsletters here.

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As originally published via email. Posted by Jarid Brown. Jarid Brown is the Director of Online Interactions for The Hope Institute in Springfield, IL. and owner of HCM Brown. Connect with Jarid Brown on Linked In, Twitter, or on the blogJarid's Log.

IRA gifts to charity make a return

View Hope's IRA email

The nonprofit industry and advocacy groups fought for two long years to protect the charitable tax deduction.  After a long, hard fight, not only did Congress and the President preserve the charitable tax deduction, but they also revived the Qualified Charitable Distributions IRA clause retroactive to 2012. 

What is a Qualified Charitable Distribution?

Under prior law, an IRA owner age 70½ or older could transfer up to $100,000 annually from an IRA to a qualified charitable organization without paying any tax on the distribution. (The annual exclusion limit was effectively doubled to $200,000 for a married couple.) The distribution wasn't deductible either – so it amounted to a "tax wash" – but this was a good way for older taxpayers to give to charity without exhausting other funds. Even better, the payout counted as a required minimum distribution (RMD).

Read more from AccountingWeb

Although the original provision expired at the end of 2011, with the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, the provision was retroactively extended.  As a result, individuals can still make a Qualified Charitable Distribution for 2012, as long as they get the transfer done before January 31, 2013. 

Now is the time to get the word out on this opportunity. 

Hopeful Futures eNewsletter - January 2013 edition

The January 2013 edition of Hopeful Futures eNewsletter is out!

This month we feature:

• Chelsea's Story of Hope
• Hope children deliver gift bags
• Mark your calendars for the 8th Annual Style of Hope
• Special visitors headed to HILA
• Santa & his reindeer visit Hope children

You can read the full edition and sign up for future newsletters here.

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As originally published via email. Posted by Jarid Brown. Jarid Brown is the Director of Online Interactions for The Hope Institute in Springfield, IL. and owner of HCM Brown. Connect with Jarid Brown on Linked In, Twitter, or Google +.

Only 48 hours left to make your year-end gift!

Dear Friend of Hope,   The year is drawing to a close quickly. That means there are only 2 days left to support Hope's special needs children while benefiting from a tax deduction in 2012.   Can we count on your support?   Your gift will help Hope provide the finest residential, educational and medical services for thousands of children and families battling autism and developmental disabilities.   In the final hours of 2012, please help Hope by making a much-needed donation so that we can continue to create hopeful futures for children with disabilities. Make your year-end gift now.   Thank you for opening your heart to Hope's wonderful children!   P.S. Remember, any gift you make by midnight, December 31 is tax-deductible for 2012. Please make your donation today. Thank you!

As originally published via email. Posted by Jarid Brown. Jarid Brown is the Director of Online Interactions for The Hope Institute in Springfield, IL. and owner of HCM Brown. Connect with Jarid Brown on Linked In, Twitter, or Google +.

Free Subscription to The Nonprofit Times

As The Leading Business Publication for Nonprofit Management, The NonProfit Times, published 22 times a year, will provide you with hard hitting, and useful information on the business of managing your nonprofit organization.

Each November issue includes The NPT 100, the ranking by revenue of the nation’s largest nonprofits that receive at least 10 percent of income from public sources. The August issue unveils the annual NPT Power & Influence Top 50, a feature of the 50 movers and shakers in the nonprofit world during the previous 12 months. The NonProfit Times commission independent research several times each year, which is published as a special report.

Nonprofit managers have come to rely on The NonProfit Times, with more than 300,000 unique subscribers to the various offerings.

Subscriptions are available FREE to individuals who meet pre-established demographic criteria.

Click here to get your free subscription to The Nonprofit Times

As originally posted at Jarid's Log. Jarid Brown is the Director of Online Interactions for The Hope Institute in Springfield, IL. and owner of HCM Brown. Connect with Jarid Brown on Linked In, Twitter, or Google +.

The Autism Program of Illinois announces partnership with AMC Theatres

The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) today announced that it will once again participate in a partnership with AMC Theaters designed to promote Autism awareness among moviegoers across the state of Illinois. April is Autism Awareness Month, and during the month special public service announcements will appear on 167 screens at select AMC Theaters across Illinois.

The public service announcement, entitled “29,000”, informs viewers that 29,000 Illinois children have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The PSAs direct viewers to a new website, www.29000.org, to increase awareness and promote early intervention for children with an ASD.

The 29000.org website was created to celebrate Autism Awareness Month. It will also be featured on the TAP website and the organization’s social networking page on Facebook.

Bronwyn Rains, director of The Autism Program, The Hope Institute for Children and Families said, “The numbers which the CDC released last week now indicate that more than 30,000 school age children in Illinois have an ASD. We want everyone to know the importance of early diagnosis and early intervention for these children. We are pleased to once again partner with AMC Theaters to help get this important message out.”

“AMC is an excellent partner and strategically selected theaters that are in or near communities where we have TAP Centers. This promotes many layers of awareness, including seeing the advertisements in theaters, visiting the website and having the option for direct contact at centers in participants’ own communities,” said Ms. Rains.

The participating theaters are

• 600 North Michigan 9, Chicago


• River East 21, Chicago


• Showplace Cicero 14, Cicero


• Showplace New Lenox 14, New Lenox


• Webster Place 11, Chicago


• Showplace 12, Edwardsville


• Showplace Carbondale 8, Carbondale


• Savoy 16, Savoy


• Showplace Mattoon 10, Mattoon


• Showplace Springfield 8, Springfield


• Showplace Pekin 14, North Pekin; Willow Knolls 14, Peoria


• Showplace Rockford 16, Rockford

The Autism Program of Illinois (TAP) is the nation’s largest statewide autism services and resource network. Administered by The Hope Institute for Children and Families, TAP has 13 regional centers across Illinois, and more than 30 partners, including universities and nonprofit organizations providing diagnosis, treatment and support to children with an ASD and their families.

Learn more at The Autism Program of Illinois' website.

2012 Community Report from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network

The Centers for Disease Control has released the 2012 Community Report from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. Within the report, the CDC outlines the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs)among multiple areas of the United States.

The ADDM issued several key findings within the study including:

1. More children were diagnosed at earlier ages—a growing number of them by 3 years of age. Still, most children were not diagnosed until after they were 4 years of age. On average, diagnosis was a bit earlier for children with autistic disorder (4 years) than for children with the more broadly defined autism spectrum diagnoses or pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (4 years, 5 months), and diagnosis was much later for children with Asperger disorder (6 years, 3 months).
2. Five times as many boys were being identified with ASDs as girls (1 in 54 compared to 1 in 252).
3. The largest increases over time were among Hispanic and Black children.
   
4. The majority (62%) of children the ADDM Network identified as having ASDs did not have intellectual disability. The largest increases during 2002 to 2008 were among children without intellectual disability (those having IQ scores higher than 70), although there were increases in the identified prevalence of ASDs at all levels of intellectual ability.

You can read the report in its entirety here and find further information on the CDC website.

Preview of 2012 NTEN Benchmarks Study

First a big thanks to Joe Boland at Fundraising Success Magazine for directing me to the new NTEN infographic previewing the 2012 eNonprofits Benchmarks Study.

At the 2012 Nonprofit Technology Conference, the Nonprofit Technology Network and M+R Strategic Services will unveil their sixth annual eNonprofits Benchmarks Study. As a preview, NTEN has released an infographic of this year's study highlighting some of their findings. Among the data released from the study you will find nonprofit email marketing statistics for fundraising and advocacy, online giving metrics, social media, and mobile technology results.

Click on the image to view the larger graphic or download in .pdf here.

Complimentary subscription to The Nonprofit Times

As The Leading Business Publication for Nonprofit Management, The NonProfit Times, published 22 times a year, will provide you with hard hitting, and useful information on the business of managing your nonprofit organization.

Each November issue includes The NPT 100, the ranking by revenue of the nation's largest nonprofits that receive at least 10 percent of income from public sources. The August issue unveils the annual NPT Power & Influence Top 50, a feature of the 50 movers and shakers in the nonprofit world during the previous 12 months. The NonProfit Times commission independent research several times each year, which is published as a special report.

Nonprofit managers have come to rely on The NonProfit Times, with more than 300,000 unique subscribers to the various offerings.

Subscriptions are available FREE to individuals who meet pre-established demographic criteria.

Click here to get your free subscription to The Nonprofit Times

Originally posted at www.jaridslog.com

Check out Springfield Foreclosures

Free Subscription to Fundraising Success Magazine

Published monthly, FundRaising Success provides fundraising professionals at nonprofit organizations campaign strategies and expert advice to help generate the necessary revenue to fulfill their organization’s mission. Although Fundraising Success Magazine is often viewed as a printed trade publication, the magazine has evolved to become a valuable resource . . .

→ Read More: Free Subscription to Fundraising Success Magazine

Tips for Creating a Functional and Organized Home for Families with Autism

Children diagnosed with autism thrive in a highly structured environment. Creating a functional and organized environment which incorporates predictable routines can reduce environmental “surprises.” Visual cues can be used in the home environment to facilitate independence and eliminate those “surprises” which often overwhelm the child. For example, labels (word + picture) can be placed around the home to indicate the location of personal and household items such as clothing, utensils, and personal hygiene products. Labeling areas of the home that are consistently part of the child’s routine (bathroom, bedroom, and kitchen) will help the child with organization, movement and understanding of physical space, memory, and problem solving. In addition, providing a consistent daily schedule with picture cues will teach independence in the home setting. By facilitating these skills, the child’s development will be positively impacted. As a result, the child will be able to manage predictable routines in the home setting without frustration.

Meet the dream room expert

Talitha Mueller, M.Ed., J.D., has 20 years of experience in the field of special education. She has worked with students, ranging from three to 21 years of age, in both private and public school settings. For the past five years, she has worked as an ABA therapist and special education consultant assisting families of children diagnosed with autism. She is passionate about helping special education students achieve their fullest potential in both school and the community.

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders have difficulty with sensory integration. In other words, receiving and processing information perceived by the senses can be challenging and may impact the child’s ability to adapt to situations involving sensory input. A child with an autism diagnosis may be hypersensitive or hyposensitive to sounds, textures, tastes, and movement patterns. Therefore, it is important to control sensory input and avoid overwhelming the child. Soft lighting and colors, as well as reduced clutter, can minimize the level of sensory input. In addition, design elements that can be used to alert or calm the child’s senses can be added to make a room child-friendly. Bean bag chairs, large soft pillows, therapy balls, fiber optics, and a sound system for music can help the child learn to self-regulate.

Home Design Project Addresses Unique Everyday Challenges of Families With Children With Autism

The Hope Institute’s Chicago Dream House Raffle partners with Ethan Allen to create “Dream Room” design for inclusionary families

How can families dealing with a child with autism create a home that meets the unique needs of both the autistic child and other family members?

The Hope Institute for Children and Families and Ethan Allen launch today the “Chicago Dream House Raffle - Dream Room Project” to combine the expertise of Ethan Allen designers with the knowledge of Hope Institute staff. Together, they will create a model home environment that provides unique solutions to everyday challenges faced by families and children with autism and other developmental disabilities. The model rooms will be unveiled on Tuesday, December 20.

The setting for the Dream Room Project is the $1.2 million dream home featured in the Chicago Dream House Raffle, the Hope Institute’s largest fundraising initiative (www.ChicagoRaffle.com). All proceeds from the fundraiser will help The Hope Institute provide services to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities throughout Illinois. Ethan Allen designers, consulting with Talitha Mueller, an expert on autism spectrum disorder, are working for the next three weeks to design comfortable, family-friendly spaces within the home. The concept of the project is based on Hope Institute’s model of inclusivity, where they encourage spaces designed for children with and without developmental disabilities, rather than an either-or approach.

The final designs will be unveiled on December 20, where families and friends of the autism community will get to walk through each of the rooms and hear directly from the designers involved in the project.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Ethan Allen on the Chicago Dream House Raffle - Dream Room Project. There are more than 29,000 families who have children on the autism spectrum in Illinois. This project is intended to demonstrate how design can help overcome some of the everyday obstacles these families face, and establish a sense of comfort and function while fostering independence,” explains Clint Paul, Interim President and CEO, The Hope Institute for Children and Families.

The Chicago Dream House Raffle - Dream Room Project will be chronicled via www.chicagoraffle.com/DreamRoom. Parents and interior design enthusiasts will be able to follow the progress of each of the rooms (family room, eat-in kitchen, dining room and children’s bedroom.) Designers will share their thoughts on the process, and will offer tips on how families can incorporate essential elements in their own homes.

"Ethan Allen is very excited to be a part of the Chicago Dream House initiative,” says Pam Bemus, Regional Design Manager. “Our local designers can’t wait to bring their talents to the family room, eat-in-kitchen and girl’s bedroom, especially knowing that the proceeds from the raffle of this home will benefit such a deserving cause.”

Ethan Allen is also hosting a complimentary Holiday Design Workshop in its Lombard Design Center on Saturday, December 3, from 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Their pros will lead attendees through a series of quick ideas for adding a feeling of warmth and welcome to their homes.