These amazing charitable organizations have partnered with True North Consultants for our 2024 March Madness® Charity Challenge Event. Feel free to explore each to learn more about their work.
Anti-Cruelty
Anti-Cruelty is more than a shelter. We are a comprehensive animal welfare organization whose mission is to build a community of caring by helping pets and educating people. From our humble beginnings in 1899, we are now at the forefront of animal welfare and humane education. From our open door philosophy to our commitment to find a home for every adoptable animal we provide compassionate care for any animal in need in the Greater Chicagoland Area. Find out more here https://anticruelty.org/.
Boys & Girls Clubs
Imagine a place where who you are, where you’re from, or the circumstances surrounding you don’t determine your access to experiences or opportunities. Through your support, Boys & Girls Clubs are making that vision a reality—in your community and communities worldwide.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF CHICAGO
Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago has built a legacy as the largest organization serving the needs of Chicago’s youth. With over 20 Club locations, each one serves as a home away from home during the after-school hours, giving kids ages 5 to 18 a safe place to learn, grow, and succeed. Over 20,000 youth are served each year through its programs. To learn more visit: http://www.bgcc.org/.
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF DANE COUNTY
At Boys & Girls Club of Dane County, it is our goal to lead the way in youth development programs by working together with local businesses, foundations, and community programs to produce positive outcomes for 6,312 young people and their families. To learn more visit: https://www.bgcdc.org/.
Feeding America
GREATER CHICAGO FOOD DEPOSITORY
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is Chicago’s food bank, serving a robust network of hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and other programs in Chicago and Cook County. They proudly serve anyone in need, including individuals, families with children, veterans, and older adults. Through partnerships with Chicago Public Schools and other local organizations, they ensure that youth in our community have access to the nutritious food they need to thrive year-round. In addition to meeting neighbors’ immediate needs for food, the Food Depository is committed to addressing the root causes of hunger – poverty, systemic inequity, and structural racism – by investing directly in communities impacted by generations of systemic inequity. In fiscal year 2023, the Food Depository distributed 92 million pounds of food across Cook County (the equivalent of 76 million meals). They also provided more than 280,000 prepared meals and distributed more than 375,000 meals at children’s programs. Those interested in joining the movement to end hunger or who need to find the nearest food pantry can do so at chicagosfoodbank.org
SECOND HARVEST FOODBANK OF SOUTHERN WISCONSIN
Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin began supporting those facing hunger in southwestern Wisconsin in 1986. Each year we help provide millions of meals through food distribution and promotion of other publicly funded food assistance resources. Our vision is that everyone in our community has enough nutritious food to thrive. Learn more at SecondHarvestSW.org.
Madison Reading Project
We connect our community with free books and literacy resources that ignite a love for reading and affirm and reflect the diversity of young readers.” In 2013, Madison Reading Project was started by founder and Executive Director, Rowan Childs. Childs searched for reading resources and discovered the alarming statistics associated with literacy rates and book ownership of families experiencing poverty. With a $1,000 seed donation, we served our first 30 children at the Salvation Army of Dane County’s after-school program. Over time, we’ve grown to serve thousands of children, families, schools, and community organizations by providing free books and offering fun and engaging literacy programs. To date, we have provided over 500,000 books to the children that need them most. Learn more here: https://www.
Make-A-Wish®
Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
MAKE-A-WISH® ILLINOIS
Make-A-Wish® Illinois grants life-changing wishes to children with critical illnesses. These wishes provide kids with hope, strength and joy when they need it most. We’re thrilled to share that in 2023 we granted 729 impactful wishes, representing a 47% increase year-over-year in wishes granted. However, the work is not done as we have over 1,500 children in various stages of their wish journey, waiting for their wish to be granted. In 2024, we plan to increase yet again and grant 750 life-changing wishes, but
we can’t do this alone. With more children being diagnosed and referred every day, your support has never been needed more to help make sure that no child has to wait an unnecessary day for their wish to be granted. To learn more about the impact of a wish, visit https://wish.org/illinois/our-stories.
MAKE-A-WISH® WISCONSIN
Make-A-Wish® grants wishes to kids ages 2 ½-18 that are battling critical illnesses. Wishes are a special type of medicine that provides children an opportunity to dream and anticipate a magical wish, taking their minds away from the treatments, doctor appointments, hospital stays, and emotional stress that they deal with during their medical journey. Wishes also provide hope and optimism to the parents and siblings. Currently, there are 420 wishes waiting to be granted throughout the state and over 50 in Dane County. To learn more visit https://wish.org/wisconsin.
Special Olympics
Special Olympics is a global movement that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sports. It empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities to become accepted and valued members of their communities, leading to a more respectful and inclusive society for all. Using sports as the catalyst and programming around health and education, Special Olympics works to end inactivity, injustice, and intolerance.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS ILLINOIS
Special Olympics Illinois is changing the game for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through inclusive athletic, health and leadership programs, people with intellectual disabilities are empowered to transform themselves, their communities and the world. Learn more at soill.org.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS WISCONSIN
Special Olympics Wisconsin is a statewide organization of the Special Olympics movement that unleashes the transformative power and joy of sports everyday around the world. Through work in sports, health, education and community building, Special Olympics has been empowering people with intellectual disabilities for more than 50 years, leading to a more welcoming and inclusive society. With the support of donors, coaches and volunteers, Special Olympics Wisconsin provides year-round sports training and nearly 150 yearly athletic events featuring 19 Olympic-type sports to nearly 9,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities. Join our online community by following us on Facebook and Instagram!
For more information, visit SpecialOlympicsWisconsin.org or call (608) 222-1324.
Susan G. Komen®
The mission of Susan G. Komen® is to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. Komen funds more breast cancer organizations than any other nonprofit while providing real-time help to those facing the disease. Komen offers patient navigation and financial assistance, funds research, and has local staff nationwide, including Chicago and Wisconsin. Learn more at https://www.komen.org.