Chicago Booth Social Enterprise Initiative-We were there!

1. Our founder, Marla Mogul  representing A Night Out at On Board 2014 hosted by Chicago Booth Social Enterprise Initiative.
   

     Our founder, Marla Mogul,

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

If there's any hope for improvement, it will start here, with educating young men to express themselves without violence and young women learning they don't have to take it.

http://www.teendvmonth.org/

Thanks to Goldplaited Salon

Our first 2014 event took place the other night at Goldplaited, a new salon at 2803 N. Sheffield.  Our ladies were treated to hair styling and makeup preparation, in addition to a fabulous dinner provided by Goldplaited's neighbor, Zizi's Cafe. We can't thank them enough for helping us give our ladies a special night out. Pictured at left, Co-founder Alan Weintraub, clinicians Shelley Skrypnyk and Tera Schreiber, co-founder Marla Mogul and volunteer extraordinaire Jeff Lee.  Thanks to everyone who made this night possible.

The Wisdom of Martin Luther King Jr.

"Take the first step in faith.  You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step."

Mary Wilson and the Four Tops Holiday Extravanganza

  For our latest event, we took a group of ladies over the holidays to see the fabulous Mary Wilson and the Four Tops perform at the Harris Theater. Many of the women were on their feet singing along and dancing. Several of them knew a lot of the backgrounds of the acts...could name all 3 Supremes and also knew there was only one original & surviving member of the Four Tops performing.  As always, their appreciation of this special evening warmed the hearts of our volunteers and reminded us of why we do what we do.

Thought for the Day

Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another.
    Erma Bombeck

Thank You!

We at ANO would like to say a big thank you to all our supporters and especially to our donors. We couldn't have done it without your support. Your generosity has allowed us to offer 11 events for over 100 victims of domestic violence victims in Chicago. With your help, we look forward to a big 2014.

Cecil Williams and the Crowdfunding Phenomenon

You'd have to be living under a rock not to have heard the uplifting story of Cecil Williams and his seeing-eye dog, Orlando. When Mr. Williams fainted the other day and fell from the platform onto the tracks while waiting for a train, his dog went after him. They were both hit by the oncoming train but not seriously hurt. What touched the heart of thousands was the sad aside to the story-Orlando was about to be retired because of his age and insurance wouldn't pay to allow Mr. Williams to keep him. Within 48 hours of the story being aired on the national news, two crowd funding sites-Indiegogo and GoFundMe had raised more than $120,000 on their behalf.
Crowd Funding, for the uninitiated is a fairly new way to raise money for a variety of worthy causes and as you can see, lots of money is raised in small amounts from many donors. Please visit the link below to help us fund our project on Global Giving.


http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/a-night-out-for-350-domestic-violence-victims/?utm_content=Your%20project%20has%20been%20approved!&utm_campaign=project-approved&utm_source=email2.globalgiving.org&utm_term=No%20Test%20Cell&utm_medium=email

ANO's 1st Holiday Party

Our founders, Marla Mogul and Alan Weintraub address the troops last night at Francesca's on Bryn Mawr at our first holiday party. We enjoyed great food and drinks and celebrated our first year in business. We all share the wish that this first party be the smallest party we ever have and that we continue to grow and be able to help an ever-larger group of women. Happy Holidays to all of our supporters.

Survivor of Abuse Posts Craigslist Ad Looking to Rent a Family Through the Holidays

The ad reads, “I am looking to rent a mom and dad who can give me attention and make me feel like the light of their life just for a couple of days because I really need it,” reported Stockton’s News10. Turner offered to pay $8 an hour.

This story broke our hearts and we wanted to share it. The holidays can be a very tough time for victims of abuse who, through no fault of their own, find themselves without the love and support of family. The good news is, this woman heard from many people who wanted to share their holidays with her.


http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/abuse-survivor-tries-to-rent-family-on-craigslist-dozens-of

Please Check Out our Project on Global Giving

Please consider participating in our fundraising drive on the globalgiving.org website. We are trying to raise money for our 2014 events and we hope all our friends will consider making a donation-even one as small as $10 will provide snacks for five of the children we look after so that their mothers can attend one of out events.

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/a-night-out-for-350-domestic-violence-victims/?-approved

Chicago's biggest DV booster happens to be our mayor!

December 3, 2013 at 3:45pm

Those of us in the domestic violence community already know that Mayor Rahm Emanuel feels passionately for its victims.  Earlier this year, he was instrumental in seeing that a $1.8M settlement the city received from a recently resolved legal battle with a strip club would be earmarked for a new domestic violence shelter.  The dedication and groundbreaking, attended by Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Dick Durbin took place last month for the first shelter to be built in Chicago in more than a decade.
Now comes word that he is creating a intergovernmental task force to specifically address domestic violence. His office will be partnering with the police department, Cook County State's Attorney's office, the department of Family and Support Services and other advocacy groups in a collaborative effort to save lives.

Today is Giving Tuesday

Today is Giving Tuesday, a movement created by New York's 92Y, bringing 139 years of community outreach and partnered with the United Nations Foundation. We at A Night Out are offering three ways to give to our organization:

1. please visit our donate page at http://anightout.org/

2.Click the donate button on our Facebook page

3. visit our project page on Global Giving:

 http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/a-night-out-for-350-domestic-violence-victims/?utm_content=Your%20project%20has%20been%20approved!&utm_campaign=project-approved&utm_source=email2.globalgiving.org&utm_term=No%20Test%20Cell&utm_medium=email

VP Biden in Town for New Domestic Violence Shelter Dedication

This morning, VP Joe Biden will attend the groundbreaking dedication for a new domestic violence shelter being built in Chicago. Along with Senator Dick Durbin and Mayor Rahm Emanuel, he will be in attendance for what is truly an important event for our community. This will be the first shelter built in ten years. It will have 40 beds and comprehensive social services for women and their children.


http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-biden-coming-to-chicago-for-domestic-violence-center-groundbreaking-20131121,0,3640335.story

The World We're Living In

The other day, as I lay waiting to have a "procedure" done at Evanston Hospital, a kindly nurse said to me during the intake, "You seem like a happy person but I have to ask you a question as standard procedure. Are you safe at home?" I answered yes and it led to a conversation about ANO and why that question is asked of everyone who comes into the hospital as a matter of course.  She said that for some people, specifically someone being hurt at home, a hospital is the only safe place where they can let someone know what is happening to them and something will be done about it.  

Thought for the Day

It's True: Laughter is the best medicine

Pump up the Laughter Factor

You don’t need permission to laugh. Just do it!  Throw your head back and laugh like you were a kid again. I’ll bet you have something to laugh about. And if you don’t, create the opportunities to laugh:

• Watch a funny movie or TV show
• Check out a comedy act (I like Brian Regan)
• Seek out that funny friend
• Host a game night with friends (but don’t get too competitive)
• Play with children or a pet
• Let go and do something silly just for the sake of doing something silly
• Tell a funny joke
• Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself–just take a long look in a mirror

Incorporating more laughter into your everyday activities can improve the quality of your life. So take a moment and just laugh.  After all, haven’t you heard it’s good for your health?

http://discoveracmc.com/laughter-is-the-best-medicine/

The Wisdom of Walt Disney

 It's Halloween, a day for dressing up and make-believe.  Who better to conjure on a day like this than the master of imagination, Walt Disney. We at A Night Out are working toward something that sprung from imagining a better life for our ladies.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/ashleyperez/16-walt-disney-quotes-to-help-guide-you-through-life

Thank You To Saks Fifth Avenue

Where should we begin to thank Robin and Deidre at the flagship Michigan Avenue Saks Fifth Avenue for hosting an event for us last night?  When we walked into the private Fifth Avenue Club it was set up beautifully.  There were white chairs theatre-style, a fabulous spread of sandwiches, cheeses, chips, potato salad, cookies, brownies, soda. After they got food and sat down, Robin brought out a rack of clothes and showed how they could make many different looks from a few basics.  She showed different ways of using scarves. Some women came up to serve as models. There were 2 makeup artists from Guerlain who were just adorable.  They made the women glow, provided makeup and skin care tips. There was a very cool glitter spray that they used in their hair to make it sparkle. They tried on some jackets. They felt like models and they looked beautiful.  They were given totes filled with samples of fragrances and skin care products. So generous and kind. In addition to the 2 makeup artists, there were 3 staff members tending to every need and desire. They were personable and friendly and made the women feel special. We were blown away by the generosity of Saks. Below is a quote that Marla heard from Robin today :

"All I can say is Thank You, I am stillsmiling." Her reaction is the same one we all have after one of these evenings. We are the lucky ones because of how helping these brave women makes us feel.

Rounding Up Our Troops for Tomorrow

These yummy-looking, healthy treats designed and executed by our Shelley Skrypnyk,  director of child services are all ready to go for tomorrow's event.  While our 15 ladies have a great night out, Shelley and her volunteers will be looking after their 9 children with lots of fun activities and these adorable treats. Thanks to Shelley!!