Improv Marathon Helps Kids

A Chicago improv group is holding a 30 hour improv "marathon" to raise money for local school kids.  

K.C. Redheart will start performing tonight at 5 p.m.  Then every hour, a different guest improv group will join them until it wraps up at 11 p.m. tomorrow night! 

The money they raise from the event will go directly to Namaste Charter School in Chicago.  Karisa Bruin, K.C. Redheart member, describes whey they wanted to support the school: 

"The Namaste Charter school is an amazing school that seeks to integrate the health and wellness and the mind - as a group, we were all very excited about this idea because it seems like such an obvious thing - of course your body and physical health affect your mind - yet it is so rarely addressed in the education system - in fact, in the district where I went to elementary school they've just cut all P.E. classes"

And as the comedian she is, Bruin was sure to add a tidbit to make us laugh: 

"I think we should cut English before P.E. - English are stoopid and no one use it."

Photos from K.C. Redheart's Facebook page

Last year was K.C. Redheart's first "marathon" fundraiser.  They raised several thousand dollars for a childhood literacy organization called Reach Out and Read, which provides books to places like doctors' offices.

Part of the proceeds from the performance this year will also go toward The Playground Theater, which is hosting the whole event.

Check out the groups Facebook page for more information on the event.   Also, you can click here to buy tickets!

Art Therapy

Photo: Keri Wiginton/Chicago Tribune

A disabled man from Libertyville who can only communicate by moving his eyes is using art to express himself better than ever before. 

21-year-old Armando "Mandi" Saltiel began taking art therapy and his parents say it's transformed him.  They say the sessions have made him a more confident communicator and have given him something to be passionate about. 

In fact, it's even given him hope for a future in the professional world.  He now has a goal of becoming an artist and having his own exhibit.   Here's what his mom, Lori, told the Chicago Tribune about her son becoming an artist:

"Everyone wants a purpose. He's expressing himself. He's telling us something he has within him that he can't verbalize."

Check out a full story about Saltiel in The Chicago Tribune: Disabled man who can't speak finds voice through his art

Former Bear Encourages Reading

 An NFL Veteran and former Chicago Bear is inspiring kids to read and live healthy lifestyles. 

Linebacker Chris Draft visited the Chicago Public Library's Richard M. Daley Branch on Kedzie to get middle school kids in Chicago excited about reading and going back to the classroom after their summer break. 

He encouraged the kids to go to their public library and get a library card to help keep their minds sharp.  The Chicago Public Library is definitely the place to be to spread that message! It has more than 70 neighborhood branches and offers free access to a huge collection of books, DVD's, music and magazines.

Draft also read from his children's book, Do You Want To Play Catch?  It's his own story of how a simple game of "catch" can teach valuable lessons and strengthen family bonds.

All proceeds from the book go directly to The Chris Draft Family Foundation, which empowers families to lead healthy lifestyles.  Draft gave away copies of the book to the kids at the library and hopes his message inspires them to never stop learning.

From Lemonade to Popcorn

Abby Enck with all her donations!

Do you remember the adorable and inspiring Abby Enck?  Last summer we shared her story after she sold lemonade kits to buy more than 1,000 boxes of crayons for children at Advocate Lutheran General Children's Hospital in Park Ridge.  

This summer, the 9-year-old decided to do even more for the kids at the hospital. She made and sold popcorn kits so she could bring them "Movie Days".  

Abby's hand made popcorn kit!

Abby originally decided to start helping the hospital because that's where her younger brother, Cameron, goes for treatment.  He suffered brain damage as a result of a meningitis infection when he was just one week old.

This year, Abby's popcorn kits raised nearly $1,000 dollars and she used the money to buy DVD's, popcorn and candy.  She brought it all to the hospital on Friday for the first big movie day.  The 9-year-old even sewed a pillow case to give away as a prize to one of the patients!

Abby with the pillow case she made herself for a patient!

All leftover money is being donated to the hospital's Child Life Program, which assists patients and their families.

Abby plans to keep holding these fundraisers every summer because she loves being able to make the doctors, patients and their families smile!   Way to go, Abby!!

 

Hockey Dream Come True

A little girl from the south side of Chicago never imagined she’d have the opportunity to play ice hockey. It’s not something that’s available in her neighborhood, not to mention how expensive it is to get all the equipment and the ice time.

But thanks to a non-profit called 1World Sports, 11-year-old Aja Collins got to attend a youth hockey camp for a whole week this summer on a scholarship from the Blackhawks! Take a look:

1World Sports is dedicated to teaching at risk youth important life values through sports. In December, INSPIREme Chicago shared a story about the organization after it brought 60 kids from Chicago Housing Authority to skate on the Blackhawks practice ice and meet Duncan Keith. Aja Collins was with that group of children. She wrote a touching essay after the experience that led to the Blackhawks inviting her back for their youth camp. 

One Man Makes A Difference

A Lake Geneva man is being recognized nationally for his generosity and compassion.  CNN just featured Sal Dimiceli in its "CNN Heroes" segment after learning about all the people in his town he's personally helped.

Dimiceli has a newspaper column in the Lake Geneva News called The Time Is Now To Help.   People who have fallen on hard times write to Dimiceli and he personally responds to them to try and help.  He's being considered a "Dear Abby" for the down and out.

Here's an example of one recent letter written to him by a woman requesting he help her elderly mother.  In this case, you can read how he helped move the mother in with her daughter and gave them some financial assistance too.

I love this story because it proves that one man with a good heart can truly make a difference.  Dimiceli created an official non-profit to help his cause, which has the same name as his column, The Time Is Now To Help 

Check out the full CNN article about Dimiceli here and take a look at a shortened version on video below:

Visit The Time Is Now To Help to find out how you can help this hero on his missions.

If you know somone who should be recognized by CNN as a hero, you can nominate them here.