Chicago Holiday Cards For Charities
By Staff in Miscellaneous on Dec 3, 2009 6:00PM
Special to Chicagoist from Betsy Mikel
Now that we have crossed the threshold into the month of December, it is officially holiday season. Chicagoist plans to mail season's greetings to our friends and family as soon as we get around to it. We just need to get some stamps. And sift through past emails to relocate new addresses. Oh, and we need to buy some cards. Ideally our holiday cards this year would support Chicago-based organizations. And it would be great if some of the profits from these cards would go towards a good cause. Luckily, there are plenty of organizations in Chicago that do just that. If you know of any more, please let us know in the comments.
We've listed all the organizations as well as links to where you can buy them after the jump.
- Alzheimer's Association: Cards features artwork from individuals living with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia. A box of 25 stock cards and matching foiled-lined envelopes costs $16.99. Personalized cards and envelopes are also available.
- American Brain Tumor Association: Cards purchased from the American Brain Tumor Association support the organization's efforts to eliminate brain tumors through research and to meet the needs of brain tumor patients and their families.
- American Red Cross of Greater Chicago: Follow the link to cardsforcauses.com on the American Red Cross of Great Chicago site, and 20 percent of your purchase will go towards the Chicago chapter. There are over 500 designs to choose from, including business, personal, and recycled holiday cards.
- Art Institute of Chicago: The Art Institute provides a wide selection of architecture, art-inspired, Asian, humor/parody, modern, novelty, and religious holiday cards.
- Chicago History Museum: The Chicago History Museum store sells 11 holiday card designs, some of which incorporate artwork from Frank Lloyd Wright, Edward Gorey, and Charley Harper.
- Chicago Lights: Students in the Chicago Lights Tutoring Program created the designs and verses on this year's holiday cards. The sales directly fund literacy programs and contribute to library books, computer and job training, and hot dinners. Packages of 16 cards cost $15.
- Children's Memorial Hospital: The holiday cards come from Children's Expressions, a special collection of products featuring artwork created by patients and their siblings. The proceeds help support family services programs for patients and their families at Children's Memorial Hospital.
- Feeding America: Donate to Feeding America in the name of friends and family. Each will receive a hope honor card, which lets them know a gift in their honor has been made to support Feeding America's network of over 200 food banks.
- Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust: The holiday cards are part of the trust's merchandising programs, which help finance the organization and exist to increase awareness, appreciation and understanding of architectural design and Frank Lloyd Wright's legacy.
- Marwen: Every year, Marwen hires high school students to design a series of holiday cards. The revenues fund Marwen's free visual arts education, college planning, and career development programs for Chicago's under-served youth in grades six through 12.
- Shanti: The Shanti Foundation for Peace sells 8-packs of peace cards. Profits go towards Shanti's programs for schools, after-school programs, and communities, and professional development workshops.
- Spertus: The Hanukkah cards help Spertus fund its public programming, exhibitions, collections, research facilities, and degree programs.