ChiGivesBack reception this Sunday, December 15 from 5p-8p at VU Rooftop
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00:00Hey, it's Jen B.T. from 104.3 Jams, Chicago's number one for throwbacks, and I love this
00:06time of year.
00:07It is all about giving back, especially to our families that need a lot of our help this
00:12holiday season, and that's why I am so honored to talk to you, Sean Chase, from Chi Gives
00:18Back, an amazing local nonprofit.
00:21Good morning.
00:22How are you?
00:23Good morning.
00:24I'm feeling good.
00:25I'm feeling good.
00:26I'm here with your organization, Chi Gives Back, and you're doing a big thing this Sunday,
00:31December 13th.
00:32We are.
00:33Yeah, dive into it.
00:34Perfect.
00:35So, Chi Gives Back was thought of and created by a group of friends, and they just wanted
00:40to start off with a toy drive, and that one toy drive was seven years ago, and it then
00:46expound into a variety of different initiatives around the city of Chicago, and it's always
00:53came back to what started us from the beginning.
00:56So we're six years old, incorporated, well, as a nonprofit, but then the toy drive began
01:02one year prior to that.
01:03So we receive toys from all over the city through Dropboxes, Amazon Wishlist, things
01:12of that nature, and we culminate the season of giving, as we call it, with our annual
01:17toy drive reception, which is this coming Sunday, and it's an amazing thing.
01:23So we hope that you're able to make it, and we hope that your listeners are able to make
01:26it as well.
01:27Hey, I mean, it's all about having fun this holiday season, too, and I love that.
01:31You can go to an amazing, beautiful event.
01:33It's at VU Rooftop this year, right?
01:36Yes, it is.
01:37Our second year at VU, they've been an amazing, amazing team of professionals who have helped
01:42us for this second go-round, which we're excited to be back, and it's great because, I mean,
01:47it's on the rooftop of the Hampton Inn, which is right on the Cermak in Indiana, so you're
01:54able to see, like, unparalleled views of the city while you're giving back and having a
01:59good time.
02:00We have a silent auction.
02:01We have a great band.
02:02It's hosted this year by Jen LaFleur.
02:05She's also known as Mama Fresh.
02:07She does a lot of great things around the city for, you know, other cool moms like herself
02:12and the Littles, and then we also have Leon Rogers as our DJ, and we have a great local
02:16band, Park and Ride, who will be providing the soundtrack for Sunday evening.
02:20It's from 5 to 8 p.m., so make sure that you're able to stop by and support, and also don't
02:25forget your toy.
02:27Absolutely.
02:28So bring a toy, and where can we find tickets to attend the event this Sunday, December
02:3215th from 5 to 8 at VU?
02:34Yes, ma'am.
02:35Oh, that was a good recap.
02:36I'm a good listener.
02:37You give me all the information.
02:38Real quick.
02:39Tickets can be found.
02:40You can visit our website, www.shygatesback.com, or you can go directly to Ticket Falcon.
02:51It's ticketfalcon.com forward slash e, forward slash cgb, in order to get tickets.
02:57You must be 21 years of age or older because we don't want any Littles partaking in the
03:02alcoholic spirits that evening.
03:03Let's set a good time so you can still, you know, get out, have a good time, and then
03:07make it home in time to start your Monday off the right way.
03:10Yeah.
03:11I mean, that sounds like a lot of fun, Sunday, 5 to 8.
03:15VU, like you said, what a beautiful rooftop with the most beautiful views of Chicagoland
03:22and the Littles.
03:23Yes.
03:24Some cocktails.
03:25You're giving back.
03:26You bring a toy.
03:27So much entertainment.
03:28I think it's going to be so incredible.
03:31And then you're giving back to supporting families.
03:33Where do all the proceeds go to?
03:35There's a silent auction.
03:36You're bringing a toy.
03:37We are.
03:38Yeah.
03:39Oh, my goodness.
03:40So our giving is divided into two different ways.
03:44We sponsor families as well who are in need so people can nominate a family or they can
03:49nominate their own family because, let's face it, Jen, you know, the holiday season is,
03:54it can be hard for some.
03:55It can be very, very challenging, you know, with everything else that we're dealing with,
03:58you know, in the economy these days and just how life is, right?
04:03It can be hard.
04:04So we allow people to nominate and that's already occurred.
04:07The families have been selected.
04:09So we'll have sponsored families in attendance on Sunday as well.
04:12Some of the families like to pick their toys up from the event or they're dropped off there
04:16rather and then they're able to enjoy the evening as is.
04:19And then the following week, like Sunday just starts our fun.
04:23It just kicks our fun off.
04:24The following week we'll be at Leo High School on that Sunday, December 22nd, to, you know,
04:30pass out toys to the neighborhood.
04:32People can come and get toys.
04:34Families can come pick their toys up.
04:35So that's where the proceeds go.
04:36We put everything right back into the community.
04:39That is so amazing.
04:41And I love hearing more about it.
04:43I think that the VU rooftop event to just have some fun, but also know that you're having
04:48fun to give back is just incredible, especially around this time of year where there's so
04:54many families that need support, right?
04:56We're worried about our heating, our utility bills.
04:59There's so much to worry about, you know, being a mom myself of two boys, there's so
05:04many bills.
05:05So it's so nice.
05:06And I'm sure they're hungry.
05:07How old are your boys?
05:08Ten and seven.
05:09Oh, yeah.
05:10Busy and hungry.
05:11Yes.
05:12And then just also, you know, I'm from Chicago myself and a single mom household and just
05:19know how I've been supported in so many ways from organizations to do the things I wanted
05:25to do as a child.
05:27I know how important your organization is.
05:30And what an impact it really makes on kids and families so kids can grow up and feel
05:35secure and safe and still continue to live their dreams.
05:37So thank you so much for everything you guys do from the bottom of my heart.
05:43That was beautiful.
05:44Thank you so much.
05:45As you know, in light of what everything you've said, as you know, I'm a Chicago native.
05:49I sit on the board for Chicago's Back.
05:51I'm also the programming co-chair for all of our initiatives throughout the year.
05:55And personally, I've been the recipient of, you know, a donation when I was a child.
06:01So I understand, like, what the receiving end feels like to when, you know, your family
06:06is going through some difficult times and, you know, you may not have a Christmas this
06:10year, but there were people of the kindness of their heart who, you know, had an abundance
06:15of opportunity to be able to give back to us.
06:18So on the receiving end, I know what that feels like.
06:20So on the giving end, it means so much more.
06:23So thank you.
06:24So look at us.
06:25Both of us now is grown women in the way we give back and the success that we have.
06:30And I think it all drives down to, when you hear can instead of can't, you really take
06:36that with you your whole life to know that you're just surrounded by a support system
06:41and that there's always can, never can't.
06:43Absolutely.
06:44We have organizations like Chi Gives Back.
06:46Yeah.
06:47We, I mean, being a part of this organization has been, you know, a dream for, you know,
06:51for me essentially, because I love it, like, and I love what we do.
06:54And I feel like if you, you know, if you step out and you were just able to help people,
06:59it restores the humanity that you have in others.
07:01It makes you feel like, well, things can't be that bad because there's someone out there
07:05who can relate to what I've been through and who understands, you know, that everyone has
07:09a moment in their lives and their season that they may not be doing their best, but it always
07:14gets better.
07:15And there's people out here who can help you.
07:16So that's what we stand for.
07:17We're always here.
07:18And I love that you know, like that we can help our families, our kids right here in
07:21Chicago.
07:22Yes.
07:23Absolutely.
07:24That local impact is so amazing.
07:25So we got to go help support you guys.
07:28Please do.
07:29What an amazing event.
07:30This Sunday, December 15th, 5 to 8 at Roof Top.
07:35Can you tell us again where we can purchase our tickets?
07:38www.chigivesback.com.
07:39Awesome.
07:40And we'll make sure to put up a link so it could be really easy for everybody to purchase
07:46tickets.
07:48Thank you so much for talking with me this week.
07:49Thank you for having me, Jen.
07:50I really appreciate it.
07:51Thank you so much.
07:52Thanks to everyone at 104.3.
07:53We really, really appreciate your support.