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2023 Chicago Cause Winners
Off the Streets Club
Off The Street Club (OTSC) is Chicago’s oldest boys and girls club, located in West Garfield Park. West Garfield Park is one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in the country and OTSC has one simple mission—to bring hope, play, and casual joy to the deserving kids who live there. Every year OTSC serves over 3,000 kids by offering community, mentorship, tutoring, and access to opportunities or experiences they wouldn’t have otherwise.
A new website. This includes website design + development, copywriting, content entry, digital strategy consulting, and GA4 setup and review from Orbit Media Studios, plus free website hosting for the life of the website, valued at $50,000.
And Rise Women Inc
Rise Women’s mission is to empower women to be the ultimate versions of themselves no matter what adversities they’ve faced. We offer female sexual and domestic abuse survivors with free mental health services such as counseling and support groups, financial education workshops, career development with resumes and mock interviewing skills. We also take a holistic approach to healing and offer art therapy, sound bath meditations, reiki, and offer workshops such as orders of protection and child support and custody. We have served 3446 women through our support groups alone and over 3650 women through all of our events collectively.
Digital marketing strategy, which may include SEO, content and paid media strategies from Digital Third Coast, valued at $20,000.
Grand total = $70,000
2022 Chicago Cause winners
ISC is an independent 501c3 organization that engages, educates, and entertains the public about science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in our everyday lives.
A new website. This includes website design + development, copywriting, content entry, digital strategy consulting, and GA4 setup and review from Orbit Media Studios, plus free website hosting for the life of the website, valued at $40,000.
Community Action Together for Children’s Health (CATCH)
(CATCH) is a Northbrook-based, volunteer-dependent, 501c3 focused on empowering families to foster resilience and prioritize mental health and emotional wellness in their children through educational programming, access to resources, and peer support.
Digital marketing strategy, which may include SEO, content and paid media strategies from Digital Third Coast, valued at $20,000.
Grand total = $60,000
2021 Chicago Cause winners
CREATE REAL ECONOMIC DESTINY — is an anti-gun violence organization co-founded in 2016 by Arne Duncan, a former U.S. Secretary of Education and CEO of Chicago Public Schools, and Laurene Powell Jobs, the founder and president of Emerson Collective, a Palo Alto-based social impact organization. Chicago CRED works with community leaders, like-minded organizations, and hundreds of young men and women to radically reduce gun violence and bring hope back to Chicago.
A new website. This includes website design + development, copywriting, content entry, digital strategy consulting, and Google Analytics setup and review from Orbit Media Studios, plus free website hosting for the life of the website, valued at $40,000.
Collaboraction, Chicago’s theater for social change, collaborates with a diverse community of Chicagoans, artists and community activists to create original theatrical and virtual experiences that cultivate dialogue and action around the world’s most critical social issues. Since the company’s founding in 1996, Collaboraction has pushed artistic boundaries working with more than 3,000 artists to bring more than 60 productions and events to more than 150,000 audience members.
Digital marketing strategy, which may include SEO, content and paid media strategies from Digital Third Coast, valued at $20,000.
Grand total = $60,000
2020 Chicago Cause winners
C.H.A.M.P.S. Male Mentoring Program
C.H.A.M.P.S. Male Mentoring Program is a Mentor Illinois Gold Star Award Program based in Chicago, IL and offers a culturally sensitive approach to developing the mindsets of African American and Latino young men. They focus on the 3E’s; Education, Empowerment, and Exposure. They mentor young men ages 12 and up old daily.
Website design + development (including content entry), digital strategy consulting, and Google Analytics setup and review from Orbit Media Studios, valued at $30,000.
Website upgrade and replatform from Orbit Media Studios, valued at $10,000.
In an atmosphere of dignity and respect, Inspiration Corporation helps people who are affected by homelessness and poverty to improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency through the provision of social services, employment training and placement, and housing.
Digital marketing strategy, which may include SEO, content and paid media strategies from Digital Third Coast, valued at $20,000.
Since 1894, their mission has been to protect, heal and educate children and families so they can build better lives. Every child in their care has experienced trauma–abuse, neglect, poverty, toxic stress, or violence. They use a clinical framework called Attachment, Regulation and Competency (ARC) to encourage healing and personal growth
Digital marketing strategy with ready-to-implement recommendations, custom execution training and consulting from Lightspan Digital, valued at $12,000.
Reading Between the Lines uses discussion of literature to build critical thinking and communication skills with formerly and currently incarcerated women and men. This intellectual exchange nurtures self-confidence and collaboration, offering participants a chance for a different future.
Grand total = $72,000
2019 Chicago Cause winners
A new website (design + development), content entry, digital strategy consulting, and Google Analytics setup and review from Orbit Media Studios, valued at $30,000.
Digital marketing strategy, which may include SEO, content and paid media strategies from Digital Third Coast, valued at $20,000.
Social media video, production, launch and promotion of the video from Lightspan Digital, valued at $6,000.
Grand total = $56,000
2018 Chicago Cause winners
Connections for Abused Women and Children (CAWC)Opens a new window
Selected to win website design + development (including content entry), digital strategy consulting, and Google Analytics setup and review from Orbit Media Studios, valued at $30,000.
The Friendship CenterOpens a new window
Selected to win digital marketing strategy, including Google AdWords, SEO and content plans from Digital Third Coast, valued at $15,000.
Recovery on waterOpens a new window
(ROW) has been selected to win social media and digital marketing audit with ready-to-implement recommendations, custom execution training and consulting from Lightspan Digital, valued at $12,000.
Selected to win PR Consulting from Flanigan Communications, valued at $5,000.
Grand Total = $62,000
2017 Chicago Cause winners
Animal House ShelterOpens a new window
A new website (design + development) from Orbit Media Studios, valued at $20,000
The Kids Equipment Network (TKEN)
A new website (design + development) from Orbit Media Studios, valued at $20,000
Casa CentralOpens a new window
Digital marketing strategy, including Google AdWords, SEO and content plans from Digital Third Coast, valued at $15,000.
Social media and digital marketing audit with ready-to-implement recommendations, custom execution training and consulting from Lightspan Digital, valued at $12,000.
Holiday HerosOpens a new window
Awarded consulting services from Lightspan Digital.
Chicago Parks FoundationOpens a new window
PR Consulting from Flanigan Communications, valued at $5,000.
Total donation = $72,000
2016 Chicago Cause winners
Website design + development from Orbit Media, valued at $20,000. Bernie’s Book Bank collects, processes and distributes quality new and gently used children’s books to significantly increase BOOK OWNERSHIP among at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout Chicagoland.
Children’s Oncology Services
SEO & content training workshop, a content strategy & calendar, and PPC/Google grants consultation and strategy from Digital Third Coast, valued at $10,750. Through Children’s Oncology Services’ One Step programs, they offer camp experiences and other educational and excursion programs throughout the year that allow children with cancer to just be kids.
Digital marketing strategy; including content marketing, social media, email marketing, etc. from Lightspan Digital, valued at $15,000. Syncere’s (Supporting Youth’s Needs with Core Engineering Research Experiments) goal is to prepare the minds and create pathways for underrepresented and disadvantaged students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
PR consulting from Flanigan Communications, valued at $5,000. Open Heart Magicians offer more than just “a show.” They work one-on-one with children, using magic as a means to encourage participation, engage the imagination, and help these kids find their own sense of confidence and mastery as they learn to perform the tricks for their doctors, families and friends. The powerful effects of their laughter speak for themselves.
2015 Chicago Cause winners
Website design + development from Orbit Media, valued at $20,000. For over 30 years Family Rescue has been dedicated to eliminating domestic violence in the Chicago community by providing comprehensive support services and shelter to victims of domestic violence particularly abused women and their children; engaging in advocacy to promote future system change; and encouraging prevention through community education.
Code PlatoonOpens a new window
Website design + development from Orbit Media, valued at $20,000. Code Platoon is a nonprofit organization tasked with a mission to prepare veterans for a career in software development. Good coding bootcamps have great placement rates, but are too expensive for many veterans. Code Platoon will try to bring great education at a very affordable rate for veterans.
Received SEO & content training workshop + a content marketing strategy from Digital Third Coast, valued at $10,000. Rainbows for All Children is dedicated to being the premier source of support for all youth as they navigate grief and heal from loss, whether from death, divorce, deployment, or other trauma. Rainbows fosters awareness that youth require support to heal.
Project OnwardOpens a new window
Received digital marketing strategy and planning from Lightspan Digital, valued at $6,000. Project Onward supports the professional development of 60 artists with exceptional talents and challenges. The artists, whose challenges range from autism to mental illness, are provided with workspace, materials, professional guidance, exhibition opportunities and access to markets to sell work and advance their careers.
Adventure Stage ChicagoOpens a new window
Received PR consulting from Flanigan Communications, valued at $4,000. Adventure Stage Chicago is a professional theatre for families and young audiences. ASC serves approximately 7,500 children (ages 8 – and up), and families per year; a majority of the children served are Chicago Public School students.
2014 Chicago Cause winners
A new website + content development valued at $20,000 from Orbit Media Studios and SEO services with a site audit from Digital Third Coast valued at $7,500 has been awarded to Rape Victims Advocates. RVA focuses on non-judgmental crisis intervention counseling, individual and group counseling, and medical and legal advocacy.
PR Consulting from Flanigan Communications valued at $5,000 has been awarded to ALIVE Rescue. ALIVE Rescue was founded in 2008 as a no-kill animal shelter and animal adoption organization. Their main responsibility is to the animals in open-access shelters (such as Chicago Animal Care & Control) with a high probability of being euthanized.
Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition
Video production services from ShiftFocus valued at $10,000 has been awarded to Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition. Green Chicago Restaurant Coalition GCRC’s mission is to conserve natural resources and preserve the environment by helping the foodservice industry reduce its collective environmental footprint, and by educating consumers about environmental sustainability.
Social media marketing training from Lightspan Digital valued at $2,500 has been awarded to HighSight. HighSight provides academic and social support to Chicago high school students. HighSight provides scholarships, tutoring, mentoring, leadership development and college readiness programs to its students.
2013 Chicago Cause Winners
Leave No Veteran BehindOpens a new window
Website design + development from Orbit Media, valued at $20,000 – Leave No Veteran Behind. LNVB provides educational and employment services to Veterans who face economic hardship. Through their innovative educational debt relief scholarship, community service, employment training, and job placement programs, LNVB invests in heroes who have honorably served our nation and seek to continue their service as productive citizens in their communities.
Albany Park Community Center
Brand strategy & design from SeedhouseOpens a new window, valued at $20,000 – Albany Park Community Center. APCC is a social service organization that impacts thousands of people a year, primarily immigrants, with services like ESL & GED classes, a Housing Resource Center, workforce development, veterans transition services, and citizenship classes. They will serve nearly 10,000 people this year.
Culinary CareOpens a new window
Social media management from Lightspan Digital, valued at $3,200 – Culinary Care. Culinary Care is a non-profit organization dedicated to delivering free and balanced meals to caregivers and fighters managing the stress of cancer.
SEO + content strategy from Digital Third Coast, valued at $6,000 – Illinois Safe Schools Alliance. The Alliance promotes safety, support, and healthy development for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth in Illinois schools and communities through advocacy, education, youth organizing, and research.
PR consulting from Flanigan Communications, valued at $5,000 – Sacred Transformations. Sacred Transformations is dedicated to helping people who are tattooed, scarred, branded, and/or burnt from negative experiences to transform those marks into art pieces that celebrate one’s individuality. People who receive their services include domestic violence victims, human traffic victims, military veterans, family members of homicide victims, former gang members, former prisoners, and others.
The Night MinistryOpens a new window
Video production from ShiftFocus Productions, valued at $10,000 – The Night Ministry. The Night Ministry is a Chicago-based organization that works to provide housing, health care, and human connection to members of our community who are struggling with poverty or homelessness.
2012 Chicago Cause winners
Website (design + development) valued at $16,000 donated by Orbit Media. Build works in some of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods to provide at-risk youth with alternatives to gang activity and violence.
Fresh Moves
Food Desert Action (dba) Fresh Moves received $10,000 worth of video production services donated by ShiftFocus Productions. Fresh Moves brings fresh foods at competitive prices in accessible locations, responding to families who seek to consume more fruits and vegetables and foster healthier lifestyles.
Received a site audit + 6 months of SEO services worth $11,500 donated by Digital Third Coast and PR consulting valued at $5,000 donated by Flanigan Communications. Snow City Arts is a pioneering program that provides arts, cultural, and educational programming to hospitalized children unable to attend school because of serious illness.
Received social media management for 3 months valued at $3,200 donated by Lightspan Digital. West Town Bikes promotes youth social skills and a safe place for urban youth to get educated on the most environmentally friendly urban mode of transportation.
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