Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Note from Breakthrough | Breakthrough eNews July 2013

Check out the entire eNewsletter online here: https://aws.predictiveresponse.net/view_as_a_page/index.php?org=471&lea=20-10000075025-2&ite=347.

THE LATEST

Summer in the city

Girls move to East Garfield Park, intern at Breakthrough

In a small apartment off Madison Street, three college-aged girls wake up for another day in a new city. They don’t know each other, they don’t know the neighborhood and they don’t know what to expect.
But they are ready to experience it all.
The girls -- Meghan Grant, Annie Wei and Melanie Beachy -- came to live in East Garfield Park in June as part of an internship with Breakthrough where they will work with the Breakthrough Youth Network through August. Melanie will stay through January 2014…MORE >>

HUNGER WALK 2013

The Greater Chicago Food Depository’s 2013 Hunger Walk was a resounding success for Breakthrough as more than 200 walkers joined us in the fight against hunger the morning of Saturday, June 29.
The walkers were called to solicit sponsorship for their participation and their activism did not disappoint! They surpassed our set goal of $10,000 by raising $10,451…and the funds are still rolling in. Donations will be accepted through July 15.
Walkers included Breakthrough supporters of all walks of life: including our homeless guests, East Garfield Park residents, Fresh Market shoppers, volunteers, board members and faithful donors.

All money raised will be credited to Breakthrough’s account with the food depository…MORE >>


LEADER'S BRIEF

Dr. Arloa Sutter

Arloa Sutter, Founder and Executive Director

Shared success

Our fiscal year closed at the end of June and I want to thank all of you for helping us end in a strong financial position. Your gifts to both our capital campaign and operating fund made our 2013 fiscal year the best ever in our 21-year history. Thank you!
As we embark on a new fiscal year we're excited to announce that one of our partners is challenging us to find new donors by offering to match every gift, dollar-for-dollar, up to $300,000 from new sources. This is a real match that we will only receive as we show donations from donors who have not given to Breakthrough in the past two years. You can help by introducing us to people in your network who you think might be interested in joining you in support of Breakthrough.

As the construction of our FamilyPlex and renovation of our women’s center begins this fall, we are challenged to use this coming year to build our capacity and to scale up for future growth. We commit to stretch every dollar and put your gifts to use in bringing new opportunities to homeless adults and families in East Garfield Park. Together, we can bring hope and new life to people struggling with the effects of poverty right in our own backyard.


Friday, July 5, 2013

Note From Breakthrough | Summer Fun with Kids!

Happy 4th of July Weekend,

You are receiving this email because you have either expressed interest or have participated in a Youth Volunteering experience here at Breakthrough Ministries. We just wanted to take a minute to update you on all of the wonderful summer activities we have going for our youth program.

Summer Studies Volunteers!
Monday - Thursday, July 1 - August 8
- 9:00am - 3:30pm
- Academic enrichment
 
Summer Studies B.A.S.E.S.
- 4 Weeks - July 11th - August 1st
- Thursdays - 10:30am - 12noon
- Looking for volunteers to assist and lead mini lessons on creative arts and sciences topics
- Topics Include: Art and Nature, Music Rhythm and Dance, Soccer, Photography, Jewelry Making, Tennis, Portrait Drawing, and Robotics Boot Camp

Sports & Fitness Academy (B.S.F.A.)
- June - August
- Times Vary
- Looking for various coaches and assistants for summer sports

Home court (Friday Night Outdoor Community Basketball League)
Basketball Coaches:
July 12 - August 16: Fridays, 3:30 - 8:00pm ( Individual game times will vary)
- Ages 10-19, volunteers can pick the age they prefer to work with

Group Work Project Needed: Back Court - Yard (Outdoor Play Area for Kids) Revamp!
- Space needs painting, re drawing basketball Court Lines, Fence mending, etc.
- 15 + volunteers
- Group responsible for bringing supplies needed
- Pick your day(s) in July or August!


Donations Needed: Healthy Snacks, Running Club Apparel (Jogging pants or windbreaker jackets), Outdoor Basketballs



See something that you may be interested in? Feel free to contact me for more details and I will be happy to sign you up! Hope you all have a great summer.

Thank you

Tonisha Daniel
Volunteer Engagement Specialist
Breakthrough Urban Ministries
402 N St. Louis Ave
Chicago, IL 60624

T:773-346-1772 (Direct)

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Email - Volunteer Updates - July 2013

Greetings, Wonderful Breakthrough Volunteers!
It's July! We've got some fun stuff going on at Breakthrough this month - between the shrimp boil at the men's facility and the kids' basketball tourney and women's meal serve next Friday - you're bound to find something that tickles your fancy. So celebrate your Independence this month by coming out to volunteer with us at one of our service opportunities! Because nothing says "I'm declaring my Independence" quite like cooking or playing hoops with awesome kiddos... :)

HOME COURTSoul City is partnering with Breakthrough again this year with a cool kid's program called Home Court on Friday, July 19th. At Home Court, we'll be running basketball games, grilling out, making arts and crafts and serving the community. This is a great opportunity to get involved with the kids at Breakthrough.
When & Where: Friday, July 19th// 2:30p-8:15p// Joshua Center (3330 W Carroll Ave)I’m in! How do I sign up?: Email caitlinlittle@soulcitychurch.com

JULY MEAL OPPORTUNITIES
Here are the dates for this month's regularly scheduled serving opps:
  • Men's Facility Serve Thursday, 7/11 (402 N St. Louis) - SHRIMP BOIL! This is going to be a really great meal. We need some help to make it happen though. So now is the time to pull out that extra turkey fryer you have in storage and loan it to the cause of delicious morsels and full bellies. Don't have a turkey fryer (we'll return it - I promise!) - maybe you have a grill-sized propane tank? If so - we could use a few of those too. And of course, we can always use donations to help cover the cost of groceries. This is one of the big meals for the year - always a big hit. Let me know if you want to get involved!  :)
  • Women's Serve - Friday, 7/19 - Soul City is partnering with Breakthrough for the Home Court program this summer - our night to host that event falls on the same night as our regularly scheduled meal serve. If you want to try something new and you're available earlier in the day (2:30-*ish - see below for details), then contact Caitlin and come on out for our Home Court event. If you'd rather cook or aren't available until closer to 7pm, we're still hosting our regular meal serve too. Lots of great choices for volunteering next Friday!  :)
As always, just let me know if you're interested in and able to join us for a meal serve and I'll save a spot for you.

WANT TO GET YOUR COOK ON? LIKE FOR REALSIES?
Do you watch food network 24/7? Have fabulous ideas for feeding roughly 40 folks at a time? Or do you fancy yourself a chef? We're looking for folks to help lead meal serves! It would be great to offer our regular meal leads a break every once in awhile - but as our church grows, so does the possibility of taking on additional meal nights - or offering small group meal nights. Let me know if you're interested! :)

BEHIND THE SCENES TOUR
As you can tell from our Home Court program opportunity this month, Breakthrough is so much more than just a meal-serving opportunity. They have multiple programs for positively impacting the West Side of Chicago. Come out to one of their Behind the Scenes Tours to learn more about the many ways that Breakthrough is reaching out to folks living on the west side of Chicago. Tours are on the first Monday of each monthFor more information or to register for the tour,click here.

HUNGER WALK 2013 - SUCCESS!
The Hunger Walk was a great success! Breakthrough was able to raise more than their goal of $10,000. A huge thank you to everyone that came out to walk/run or supported the event online! We couldn't have met our goals without you! Read more here.

Thanks, everyone! Hope to see you soon!
Love and Hugs!
A&D

Monday, July 1, 2013

Note from Breakthrough | Hunger Walk a Success

Saturday's Hunger Walk was a true success!

Thank you for coming out to Soldier Field on Saturday to participate in the annual Hunger Walk. Breakthrough had over 200 people walking on our behalf which means that we earned $2,400 from the Greater Chicago Food Depository just from walker participation. 

And the grant total is...

Breakthrough's goal was to raise $10,000 which covers about 3/4 of our annual budget with the Food Depository. 
We're thrilled to announce that we've already raised $10,451 even though you have until July 15th to turn in all of your donations. That means that 149,300 pounds of food will be distributed to over 1,200 families this year because of all of you. Thank you.

If you still need to collect donations or if you'd still like to raise funds, please either send your donors tobreakthrough.org/hungerwalk to donate online (and designate you as their walker), or turn in their cash/checks to Breakthrough before July 15th with "Hunger Walk" written in the memo line.

A BIG thank you to...

Please join me in thanking Grace Chicago Church for providing the Breakthrough BBQ after the walk. Their hospitality and smiles made all of us feel celebrated and well-cared for. Thanks for your partnership and service, Grace!

Many blessings to all of you on this special week as we celebrate our country's freedom.

Gretchen Schmidt
Director of Volunteer Engagement
Breakthrough Urban Ministries