Making a better future for inner-city children
December 2008

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Recent Happenings  -  Save the Date  -  Student Surveys  -  Quotes of the Month  -  Spotlight On
Making it Happen  -  With Appreciation  -  How You Can Help

From the Executive Directors

Thank you to all who supported Urban Initiatives this year. Our teachers, parents, and coaches remain dedicated to the Urban Initiatives vision, and it is the support of our financial donors and volunteers that allows our shared vision to flourish. This year, Urban Initiatives was tremendously successful in affecting change in the lives of Chicago youth in underserved communities with our health and education soccer program. The Work to Play Program helped children excel on the soccer field, in the classroom, as well as with their personal development. In addition, we continued to grow as we replicated our program into three new schools: Libby in the spring as well as Goethe and Walsh in the fall. We are grateful to have the support that allows us to sustain our program as well as expand our program for the last five years.

Safe and structured extracurricular activities, such as the Urban Initiatives Work to Play Program, are vital to the long-term development and success of children in underserved communities. Youth programming complements and expands upon lessons children learn in the classroom, such as interpersonal skills, respect for themselves, a sense of belonging, teamwork, and more. Despite the unfortunate state of our Nation’s economy we hope you will stay committed to the Urban Initiatives Work to Play Program, as well as the mission that all children should have the opportunity to reach their potential, with your financial support. Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts.

~ Jim Dower and Daniel Isherwood

Recent Happenings at UI

Goethe and Walsh Get with the Program

This fall Urban Initiatives expanded into two new schools: Goethe and Walsh. These schools are wonderful additions to the Urban Initiatives team and extend our impact into two low-income communities we did not service before with our health and education soccer program. We are thrilled to have these schools involved and thank our supporters who made this expansion possible.

Crosstown Classics a Score for both the Home and Visiting Teams

Crosstown Classics are an Urban Initiatives tradition. Each fall and spring students from all Work to Play Program schools take buses to Northbrook and Wilmette to play soccer with children from other communities. Children from our program and suburban travel teams, the Northbrook Spartans and the Wilmette Wings, combine to form teams, and then the teams formed play against each other. Afterward, all students come together with their families for a picnic. This year the Wilmette classic was on October 3 and the Northbrook classic was on October 17. Each event had approximately 150 soccer players. Crosstown Classics serve not only as a fun soccer experience but also as a tool to directly combat the social isolation of CPS students in their home neighborhoods. Thank you to all the parents and volunteers that helped make the Crosstown Classics successful.

“I think the exposure that the kids have to places and things outside their neighborhoods is more valuable than any lesson someone can teach a child! The kids venture to Wilmette and Northbrook and see that kids everywhere are just like them!” – OSPD and teacher at Sherman School Laura Baker

Principal for a Day

Thursday October 30, nine Urban Initiatives supporters ventured to five of our schools to serve as the Principal for the Day, a high-profile Chicago Public Schools program now in its tenth year. CPS seeks to establish relationships with the Principals for a Day by which the individuals, their companies, organizations or associations stay involved throughout the year with the school they visit. Thank you to Monique Burgos, CPS’ Project Manager of PFAD for Chicago Public Schools, and to our dedicated “principals”:

• Attucks School: Rob Redd, BMO Capital Markets
• Goethe School: Trish Robb, JR Albert Foundation; Connie Falcone, Urban Initiatives; Dave McGranahan, Credit Suisse
• Libby School: William Zanoni, Hub International; Jan Smith, @ Properties
• Schiller School: Chris Morgan, Lantern Partners; John Buehler, Buehler Family Foundation
• Walsh School: Bill Devers, Devers Group; Cristian Galli, Taurus of Chicago LLC

“Principal for a Day was such a fulfilling day personally. To witness the dedication and commitment of the Crispus Attucks entire staff was both refreshing and a joy to witness. Spending the day with the staff and student body truly motivated me to try and develop a long-term relationship with the school. Without my PFAD experience I would not have made the connection.” –PFAD Ronald Redd, BMO Capital Markets

“The reward of soccer participation appeared to be a high motivation factor to achieve academic success with the children I met at Walsh Elementary School.” –PFAD Bill Devers, Devers Group

Halloween Party “Booooooosts” the Work to Play Program

The Sixth Annual UI Halloween Party at Ohm nightclub was a big hit. More than 650 people attended, and the event raised $13,000. Jim and Dan outdid themselves once again; this year the duo came as Juno MacGuff and Paulie Bleeker from the movie Juno. Congratulations to Green Man, Body World, and Superman for their first, second, and third place finishes in the costume contest. Thank you to the UIUA, DJ Lo Pro, and DJ Jacobs for their contributions and making the party a success.

The Urban Initiatives Urban Achievers Spark Creative Fundraising

The Urban Initiatives Urban Achievers (UIUA) held a fabulous fundraising event at Tory Burch on December 3. The event attracted 50 patrons to the store for wine, snacks, shopping, and to support Urban Initiatives. The new event yielded $400 for the Work to Play Program, and it was a lot of fun. We look forward to future events hosted by the UIUA. Thank you to the UIUA, especially Colin McCourt for hosting the event, and Katie Welsh for her help.

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Save the Date

3rd Annual Soccer Ball Benefit to Be Better Than Ever

Please join Urban Initiatives on Friday, January 23 at Salvage One, 1840 W. Hubbard, for the Third Annual Soccer Ball. Tickets are $90 and include drinks, appetizers by J&L catering, dancing, and a silent auction. This year Arne Duncan, the CEO of Chicago Public Schools, will return to the Soccer Ball to support Urban Initiatives and for the first time will serve as the honorary chairman of the event. Also, if you are interested in getting more involved, we are still looking to add items to the silent auction. Contact cfalcone@urbaninitiatives.org with questions. Tickets can be purchased online at www.urbaninitiatives.org.

The Impact of the Work to Play Program from Student Surveys

Quotes of the Month:

Student responses to “What is your greatest accomplishment from doing the Urban Initiatives Work to Play Program?”

• “Learning how to be a good sport. When someone scored on me I even said ‘good job.’”
• “Being on the honor roll, having perfect attendance, and getting a trophy.”
• “Helping each other and supporting one another.”
• “Getting a chance to play soccer and be healthy.”
• “Improving my grades. I got A’s and two B’s.”
• “Learning the importance of responsibility.”
• “Learning how to be the bigger person.”
• “Meeting new friends.”

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Spotlight On

Newest Board of Directors Member Dasan Robinson

In August, Dasan Robinson of the Chicago Fire Major League Soccer Team joined the Urban Initiatives’ Board of Directors. Dasan was introduced to the Urban Initiatives program in 2006 by then fellow teammate Jim Curtin. Since then Dasan has been involved with the Work to Play Program by working hands-on with the children as a coach and a mentor, as well as now serving as a board member. Dasan has contributed a significant amount of time and effort to helping the Work to Play Program. In the fall of 2007 with the help of Brad Self, Head of Soccer for Nike, Dasan was able to contribute 150 soccer balls to the program. He is committed to helping Urban Initiatives act on its belief that all children should have the opportunity to achieve their potential.

Throughout his life, Dasan has been dedicated to both promoting soccer and serving the community. A Cleveland native, he started playing soccer in a recreation league at seven years old. Playing the sport he loves, Dasan flourished. He later started four years at the University of Dayton where he majored in Sports Management. He is now a third year defender for the Chicago Fire. In his first two years on the Chicago Fire, Dasan started in 44 games out of 60 and played in 4,229 game minutes, more than any player in their first two years out of the 2006 draft class. He has become a valued asset to the team in a short amount of time.

Dasan is much more than a skilled soccer player; he is a compassionate man that uses his abilities to affect change in the lives of others. Dasan believes that through his experiences he can help encourage those who love the game of soccer to continue to pursue their dreams and aspirations. In addition to his dedication to Urban Initiatives, Dasan has volunteered his time to the Boys and Girls Club of Chicago, T.O.P. Soccer in Dayton, and as a spokesperson for community soccer initiatives of Illinois Youth Soccer Association. Robinson’s heart of gold increases the value of our already wonderful board. We are honored to have him as part of our team. We encourage everyone to go to the Fire games to cheer on number 32, Dasan Robinson. Thank you Dasan for your ongoing support.

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Making it Happen

Nike is Just Doing it for Urban Initiatives

Our Fall Season marked the beginning of a partnership with Nike. The company donated all the soccer balls, cleats, jerseys, t-shirts and other equipment we needed for the year. Nike and FC Barcelona also sponsored the opening of Goethe School.

Financial Contributors Enable UI in Achieving its Goals

Thank you again to all our financial supporters, who have provided the necessary resources to successfully implement the Urban Initiative’s Work to Play Program. Over the last five years, Urban Initiatives has been a rewarding journey for us as we have strived to create the best possible opportunities for the children we serve. We are proud of our progress and we fully understand that it would not have happened without you.

Special Recognition to Our Donors of $1,000 or More:

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With Appreciation

• Thank you to our Soccer Ball sponsors for their generous support of our Third Annual Soccer Ball Benefit. We understand the magnitude of the economic woes facing our nation and appreciate your willingness to give to our health and education soccer program.

• Thank you to the Noren family for organizing and to the Junior Board for implementing the 2008 winter clothing drive. Because of you, more children at Attucks school (the school with the highest homeless population in the CPS) have warm clothes for winter.
• Thank you to Mike Widell and the Chicago Indoor Sports Center for donating indoor soccer space to our program both during the fall season and for the upcoming winter season.
• Thank you to the On-Site Program Directors and the program volunteers for donating their time and energy to provide extracurricular activities as well as positive role models for Chicago students.
• Thank you to Rhonda Holcomb and Katy Gannon for taking the photographs for the newsletter.
• We thank you all for your support and invite you to continue giving back to the community through Urban Initiatives. Together we make a difference.

How You Can Help

Give When You Shop Online

This holiday season we invite you to give to Urban Initiatives while you shop online. Simply create an account with www.igive.com. Each time you login, UI will earn a percent of every purchase you make, depending on from which store you make your purchase. And for every new member that joins and buys between now and Christmas we will receive a $5 bonus. Our organization link is www.igive.com/urbaninitiatives. Thank you for giving.

Give When You Search Online

Please consider using GoodSearch.com and selecting Urban Initiatives as your preferred charity when you routinely search the Internet. Here’s how it works: Sign up and enter Urban Initiatives when prompted with, “Who do you GoodSearch for?” Then search using GoodSearch.com, Every time you do, Urban Initiatives will receive a contribution. We hope you’ll give it a try.

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We want your feedback: Send comments and suggestions to info@urbaninitiatives.org.

Urban Initiatives
650 W. Lake St., Suite 340
Chicago, IL
60661
312-715-1763

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