Christmas Magic for Survivors
Donation protected
Connections for Abused Women and Children (CAWC) is a leader in the Chicago-area domestic violence arena. CAWC was the first organization in Chicago to initiate a domestic violence hotline, as well as create a domestic violence shelter. For over 40 years, CAWC has helped domestic violence survivors and their children start to heal from their abuse and begin a life free from violence.
I began volunteering with CAWC in 2016 right after moving to Chicago. This is our third Christmas Magic for Survivors campaign and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity support CAWC in this way. I grew up in a violent home and like many of the children CAWC serves, I witnessed horrific acts that no child should ever see or hear.

Can you imagine what it is like for a child to live in a shelter? Attend a new school? Be away from friends and familiar surroundings? To feel alone much of the time? They left their home, their toys, their clothes, their friends and now live in a place that they cannot even call home.
We may not be able to erase those memories or ease the fears and difficulties that come with starting over...
However, WE CAN make this holiday season a bit brighter and give them some new, magical memories to hang on to.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Museum of Science and Industry we'll be able to take all of the families living at the Greenhouse Shelter to their Christmas Around the World event. This will be their second year covering admission for our group. Thank you MSI!!
Your donation will allow us to purchase Christmas gifts for every family in shelter, secure transportation for all 50-60 people participating in the holiday outing to MSI, and will also make it possible to take everyone out for lunch that day. Last year was a huge success and I'm certain that with your help we can make this year even more magical!
Faces were completely blurred for privacy when this video was created but here is a glimpse of last year's outing.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about this project, thank you in advance to everyone who will make a contribution to this campaign, and thank you to those who will share this with their family and friends. Together we can make some serious holiday magic.
-edited on 11/5-
Gofundme has asked that I clarify a little in regards to how donations will be handled and spent.
As to how funds are managed:
I’m receiving funds directly. I do all of the shopping for the families myself and donations are held, by me, until I begin that process. Typically I start shopping in the first couple weeks of November, as soon as I receive a list of clients in shelter.
As to what donations will be used for:
First and foremost money is spent on making sure every person in shelter has at least one Christmas gift. How much is spent on each person depends entirely on how much money is raised. I try to budget for about $50 per person and plan for around 50 participants. Funds also cover the holiday outing which includes lunch at Olive Garden and transportation from shelter, to lunch, to the museum, and then back to shelter. Last year that ran around $1200. After those main priorities remaining funds have been used for past projects, and will be this time, for other shelter needs. Earlier this year we bought strollers for the shelter with funds remaining after the Back to School fundraiser. After any immediate needs are met all remaining funds are donated directly to CAWC. After the previously mentioned back to school project we donated $1000 to CAWC. I hope this answers any questions that gofundme or you might have.
I will leave you with some of the thank you cards I received from the families and staff last year. I hope they warm your heart as they did mine.

I began volunteering with CAWC in 2016 right after moving to Chicago. This is our third Christmas Magic for Survivors campaign and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity support CAWC in this way. I grew up in a violent home and like many of the children CAWC serves, I witnessed horrific acts that no child should ever see or hear.
Can you imagine what it is like for a child to live in a shelter? Attend a new school? Be away from friends and familiar surroundings? To feel alone much of the time? They left their home, their toys, their clothes, their friends and now live in a place that they cannot even call home.
We may not be able to erase those memories or ease the fears and difficulties that come with starting over...
However, WE CAN make this holiday season a bit brighter and give them some new, magical memories to hang on to.
Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Museum of Science and Industry we'll be able to take all of the families living at the Greenhouse Shelter to their Christmas Around the World event. This will be their second year covering admission for our group. Thank you MSI!!
Your donation will allow us to purchase Christmas gifts for every family in shelter, secure transportation for all 50-60 people participating in the holiday outing to MSI, and will also make it possible to take everyone out for lunch that day. Last year was a huge success and I'm certain that with your help we can make this year even more magical!
Faces were completely blurred for privacy when this video was created but here is a glimpse of last year's outing.
Thank you for taking the time to learn about this project, thank you in advance to everyone who will make a contribution to this campaign, and thank you to those who will share this with their family and friends. Together we can make some serious holiday magic.
-edited on 11/5-
Gofundme has asked that I clarify a little in regards to how donations will be handled and spent.
As to how funds are managed:
I’m receiving funds directly. I do all of the shopping for the families myself and donations are held, by me, until I begin that process. Typically I start shopping in the first couple weeks of November, as soon as I receive a list of clients in shelter.
As to what donations will be used for:
First and foremost money is spent on making sure every person in shelter has at least one Christmas gift. How much is spent on each person depends entirely on how much money is raised. I try to budget for about $50 per person and plan for around 50 participants. Funds also cover the holiday outing which includes lunch at Olive Garden and transportation from shelter, to lunch, to the museum, and then back to shelter. Last year that ran around $1200. After those main priorities remaining funds have been used for past projects, and will be this time, for other shelter needs. Earlier this year we bought strollers for the shelter with funds remaining after the Back to School fundraiser. After any immediate needs are met all remaining funds are donated directly to CAWC. After the previously mentioned back to school project we donated $1000 to CAWC. I hope this answers any questions that gofundme or you might have.
I will leave you with some of the thank you cards I received from the families and staff last year. I hope they warm your heart as they did mine.
Organizer
Felicia LaRose
Organizer
Chicago, IL
