Here’s this week’s Fab Giving round-up!

• Chicago shoppers, make your way up to North Damen this Thursday, 8/20, for the “Shop Around Damen” to benefit Dress for Success. In exchange for your donation, you will receive 15-25% discounts at participating stores. Second City Style has the details on their site!
• Looking for time-saving ways to change the world? Check out this list of “20 Ways to Change the World in 15 Minutes a Day” posted on Mashable.
• This fall, Macy’s and Feeding America will partnering in the “Come Together” campaign. The campaign encourages people to host dinner parties and ask guests to make a donation to Feeding America, instead of bringing a dish or bottle of wine. Forbes.com has the full story.
• This Saturday, the Chicago Theatre will burst with fashion and music as Macy’s Glamorama 2009 hits the stage! The event, a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, will feature the hottest fashions and a performance by Ne-Yo. Want to know more? NBC 5’s street team member, LaShonda, just posted “Ten Fab Glamorama Facts” on the Street Team page!

There you have it! Enjoy!

-kb

I know my first post is super late, but I’ve been volunteering at the MS Society all day. Well, at least, for the better part of the day…Anyways, I just walked in the door and have a couple of quick notes to mention!

• So far, 60 female bloggers have signed up to Rock the Red Pump on their blogs!!! Yay…That’s an amazing response within 3 days, so thank you to everyone who’s signed up and/or spread the word! For all of my Chicago peeps (guys and gals), we are organizing a fundraising happy hour next Tuesday to benefit the Chicago Women AIDS Project. I’ll post the details tomorrow!

• Don’t forget to take your gently used pants to LOFT stores in exchange for $15 off a new pair! You have until Sunday to do so!

• Did you watch the Celebrity Apprentice on Sunday? Head on over to The Examiner and check out my twist on the traditional recap where I take things that happen on the show and translate them into lessons for the nonprofit community! 

Hope you all had a great day!!!

-kb

The week is almost over! Here are some quick hits for your viewing pleasure…

• Jennifer Hudson’s rendition of the National Anthem will be sold for charity on iTunes with proceeds benefitting the Hudson-King Foundation, founded in memory of her slain family members
• The Jet Set Girls are partnering with Crest and Oral-B in a campaign designed to benefit Operation Smile, an organization that travels the world helping children with facial deformities
• The controversial Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia dolls have been renamed (Sweet Sydney and Marvelous Mariah), and the toymakers will donate proceeds from the sale of the original dolls to charity

-kb

I tend to cover charity/philanthropy that’s a little more accessible than your big-ticket $500/ticket galas. However, if you’re like me and still interested in what events Chicago’s top movers-and-shakers attend, then check out Crain’s Chicago Business’ Social Whirl section. Mary Cameron Frey does a great job of covering events and you can also check out the photo gallery for a true Who’s Who in Chicago!

Click here to be whisked away!

Candace Jordan (Image by Paul Sherman)

UPDATE: 

You should also follow Candace Jordan, one of Chicago’s premiere and F-A-B socialites. She wears many philanthropic hats and is always on everyone’s A-List. Read her adventures on her site, Candid Candace!

Also, there is a new website launching called Chicago Society Book. Bookmark the site now by visiting this link!

Happy socialite hunting!

-kb

Happy Friday! If you’re interested in celebrities and some of their the causes they support, then take some time to browse the quick hits below…

• Usher and Swizz Beatz are featured on YBF.com for their do-gooding. Usher is highlighted for his work encouraging folks to vote. And, Swizz Beatz is profiled for his work with the Children’s Cancer and Blood Foundation (CCBF) at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Click here for the story and pics!

• Many celebrities came out to show support for for Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research a couple of nights ago. The foundation, created by music producer Denise Rich, hosted Gabrielle’s Gala and stars like Patti Labelle, Ashanti, and Nicole Miller came out to enjoy the festivities. Click here for Entertainment Tonight’s coverage of the event!

• Hilary Duff has been traveling the country to help raise awareness of the Blessings in a Backpack, a program which is designed to ensure that children from low-income households do not go empty over the weekends or holidays. Click here to read about her visit to a Kentucky elementary school!

Happy Hump Day! Here are a few quick hits for today:

• USA Today did a series called “Sharing in the USA,” examining how Americans give. The articles cover how philanthropy has evolved over the years, how celebrities give, and how the economy is affecting our contributions. You can access the stories here.

• The Auxiliary Board of Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation is hosting their “Okto-bear-fest” this Friday, October 17th at Sedgwick’s Bar and Grill (1935 N. Sedgwick). The cost of the event is $30 and includes domestic beers, wines, and call drinks, and it will last from 6-9p. For more information on Bear Necessities, click here!

• Tomorrow, October 16th, the Junior Board of Girls on the Run will host a wine tasting at Lush Wine and Spirits (1257 S. Halsted). The event costs $30, and covers three hours of wine tasting. Girls on the Run is provides programs for girls between the ages of 8-13 years. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. For more information, visit www.gotrchicago.org!

Hey, all! Sorry for the last-minute post, but tonight is the “Roscoe Village Shop Crawl” event! Participating boutiques near the Damen and Roscoe intersection will be donating 15% of sales to Children’s Memorial Hospital! The event lasts from 5-9p. Happy shopping!

-kb

It’s Thursday and that means that the weekend is almost here!!! Man, I will be happy to see 5p on Friday…Anyways, here are a few quick hits for you!

• This Friday, an informal dinner buffet will be held at Cafe Ciao in the West Loop (939 W. Madison) to benefit Sudan International. The cost is $35, and the menu includes appetizers, main courses, and desserts. The dinner will be held from 6:30-8:30p, and due to the size of Cafe Ciao, reservations are definitely suggested. Please call 312-847-2426 for reservations and more information!

• We’re halfway through July, so I hope that you’re taking advantage of shebang’s online sale benefitting Dress for Success! The donations only last through this month, so definitely take a look.

• TONIGHT: There are two major shopping events this evening: Carnivale (AKIRA) and the Designer Shopping Sample sale. Hit the streets and see what goodies you can find (for a good cause and for yourself)! I plan on heading over to AKIRA, so hopefully I see some of you there!

-kb