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/