Do you have a cause you would like to be considered?

If you would like to have your favorite charity considered, please email cindyvitek@yahoo.com and we will consider it.  

Thank you!

LaSalle Bank 

ABN AMRO

-Platinum Sponsor

Philanthropy Recipients

Below is a partial list of recent charity recipients that the Riverside Junior Woman's Charity has supported.

Riverside Recreation Department (www.riverside.il.us/rec/index.html#recreation) The RJWC has donated the ice skating rink liner in the Big Ball Park for many years now.

Riverside Independence Day Concert in the Park (www.rjwc-il.org) Usually held on July 3, the RJWC, Recreation Department and Chamber of Commerce together sponsor festivities surrounding Independence Day including a free “Concert in the Park” for residents.

Springtime “Bunny Brunch” (www.rjwc-il.org) Every year the RJWC sponsors a program geared towards preschool age children.  This year, Juniors are sponsoring an event called the “Bunny Brunch,” where kids can meet and have their pictures taken with a springtime bunny, participate in crafts and storytelling and enjoy preschool-aged entertainment.

RJWC Scholarship (www.rjwc-il.org) Every year the RJWC offers a college scholarship opportunity to young women in Riverside .  In the spirit of our organization, the scholarship is based solely on the individual’s commitment to community service.

Riverside Arts Center & Seguin Services (www.seguin.org) Seguin Services is an agency that focuses on helping persons with developmental disabilities, and has two group homes in Riverside .  The RJWC donation will be used to provide free art classes for Seguin clients.

Riverside Museum Signage The RJWC donated the funds to replace the museum’s damaged sign.

Canine Assistants (www.canineassistants.org) Canine Assistants is a non-profit organization dedicated to the utilization of specially trained dogs to enhance and improve the lives of children and adults who have physical disabilities or other special needs through the placement of service dogs, animal assisted therapy and disabilities awareness educational programs.  The RJWC donation covers the cost of training one dog, who can then be matched up with a physically disabled individual.

Riverside Fire Department (www.riverside.il.us/firedept.htm) The Riverside Fire Department is continuing to secure funding to purchase thermal imaging cameras, which allow firefighters to search for possible victims in the event of a fire.  The fire department has three trucks and today only one is equipped with a thermal imaging camera.  The RJWC donation will be used toward the purchase of a new camera, which costs $10,000.

Riverside Public Library (www.riversidelibrary.org) The Riverside Public Library is planning on purchasing a scanner for public use and furnishings for the toddler area including table and chairs with this year’s RJWC donation.

Riverside Elementary Education Foundation (www.geocities.com/reef96/index.html) The Riverside Elementary Education Foundation provides funds and mini-grants for educational programs that benefit residents of District 96.  REEF is sponsoring a program called the “Ethnic Salad Bowl.”  The RJWC donation will be used toward the costs of hosting the event, which will help keep the ticket cost down for residents.

Community Support Services (www.communitysupportservices.org) Community Support Services provides services that guide people with developmental disabilities and their families in obtaining and utilizing available resources, benefits and assistance.  One program example is the “Parents Night Out” program CSS hosts on Friday evenings, where a qualified support worker steps in to care for the person with a developmental disability while the family takes a break from caring for their loved one.

Jen’s Kids (www.jenskids.org) Jen's Kids is an outreach program of the RAC that provides therapeutic art activities for children under hospital care.  This year the funds will be used for craft bags, which are given to children who are unable to participate in group art activities and contain materials to complete a project at bedside when the child is feeling better.

People Care, Inc. (stpaulsparish.org/pc/index.html) People Care provides services to the homebound elderly in Brookfield , LaGrange Park , Lyons , North Riverside, and Riverside and is the all important link between those fragile and isolated homebound individuals and the outside world.  Powerful Tools for Caregivers, the newest program, is designed to train caregivers to better take care of themselves and reduce the stress experienced as caregivers. The RJWC donation will be used to support a ride program for the elderly.

Pilsen Homeless Service The Pilsen Homeless Service provides medical assistance to the homeless in Chicago .  The RJWC donation would be used to buy medical supplies.  The Pilsen Homeless Services donation will be used to provide pap smears for un-insured indigent women in the Pilsen and surrounding area.  The RJWC donation along with a cost-only charge from the lab that performs the test covers just about a years worth of this testing for the clinic.

American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to providing cancer information services, community programs and services, research, advocacy and public policy.  The RJWC donation supported a group of Riverside residents participating in the Society’s “Relay for Life” fundraiser to support the cause.

Riverside Public Schools (www.district96.w-cook.k12.il.us) The RJWC donation will help fund PRIDE, the Hauser Junior High School anti-drug program. The funds are used to underwrite the annual PRIDE convention that brings together student groups from all over the US/Canada to discuss anti-drug strategies, etc.

Riverside Spelling Bee (www.rjwc-il.org) Each year, the RJWC sponsors a Spelling Bee for 5th graders at all Riverside schools (including St. Mary's) and 7th graders at Hauser Junior High.   (the winner of the Hauser bee goes on to participate in the Chicago Tribune bee, which is connected to the national bee)

Riverside Police Department (www.riverside.il.us/policedept.htm) The Riverside Police Department is working on a project to provide cell phones for the elderly to make emergency 911 calls.  The RJWC donation would purchase two phones for elderly Riverside residents.

  Riverside Brookfield Township High School Drama Club  (www.rbhs.w-cook.k12.il.us/Fiardept/drax.htm) A fund to donate to the Fine Arts Drama Department of RB was set up for Melissa Meindle, an active member of the high school Drama Club who was killed by a train in 2002.  The school produces two events each year for students to participate in. 

National Osteoporosis (www.nof.org) The National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) is the leading nonprofit, voluntary health organization dedicated to promoting lifelong bone health in order to reduce the widespread prevalence of osteoporosis and associated fractures, while working to find a cure for the disease through programs of research, education and advocacy.

Patron’s Council Riverside Brookfield Township High School The RBTHS Patron’s Council sponsors a Post Prom Celebration to provide a safe, substance-free alternative for teenagers after the prom dinner dance.  The party is not a funded school activity and donations help keep the ticket prices affordable for all prom goers to attend.

The Liver Foundation for Kids (www.theliverfoundationforkids.org) The Liver Foundation for Kids is dedicated to the fight against Pediatric Liver Disease and to the promotion of organ donation.  The research funded theorizes that biliary atresia is, in fact, an autoimmune disease and through studying immune systems of babies with biliary atresia will attempt to identify the mechanism of biliary atresia and how it might be interrupted and treated medically.

Deborah’s Place (www.deborahsplace.org) Deborah's Place, a private not-for-profit corporation, serves women in Chicago who are homeless or formerly homeless. Food, shelter and supportive services are provided by dedicated volunteers and staff so that women can become empowered to take back and maintain control over their lives.

The Red Cross (www.RedCross.org) The RJWC donation was earmarked for the Tsunami relief fund.

Buddy’s Place, Community Care Options (www.ccoptions.org/BuddysPlace.htm) Buddy's Place offers support groups for children ages 4-18 and their families who have experienced the death of a parent or significant caregiver.