Think Good, It’s Friday! 6.5.15

This week, Chicago’s very own Brad Keywell made news by taking the Giving Pledge—a commitment made famous by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates—agreeing to give away at least half his wealth.

The Giving Pledge obviously isn’t for everyone… but Brad’s words struck me as very true, and relevant to the way that the Trust is thinking during our Centennial year: “We (Brad and his wife Kim) believe that philanthropy is a good choice that is part of living a life that encompasses personal fulfillment and happiness.”

It’s important to remember that philanthropy is more than just monetary donations. It’s donating to clothing drives, volunteering at a soup kitchen, mentoring kids, participating in a park clean-up, coaching a youth baseball team or simply checking in on an elderly neighbor.

We are all philanthropists.

What kind of philanthropist are you? This Forbes article is a little old, but still worth a read.

More good news from across the Web:

• A Washington Heights CPS teacher who challenges her students to persevere through violence by channeling their feelings into hip-hop music videos from DNAInfo. (Curriculum from our good friends at the Mikva Challenge plays a role as well.)
• All around the state last Friday, police officers stood on the roofs of Dunkin’ Donuts locations as part of the Special Olympics’ “Cop on a Rooftop” campaign. From Officer Dan Simon, whose son has been helped by the organization, to Deerfield Police Department Communications Director Glowacz, who appeared in campaign PSAs with her friend and Special Olympian Ela—what an inspiring campaign raising awareness of and funds for this organization.
• The Chicago Defender shares the story of the owner of Dream Cafe & Grille in Englewood, working to better the community through food. (The beautiful mural on the side of the building, pictured above, will actually be completed tomorrow.)
• The 606 officially opens this weekend… a decade in the making. I’ll be at the opening of this community connector tomorrow and can’t wait to hear the stories of impact that it has on the lives of Chicagoans!

Which is a good lead into my friendly Friday reminder: we want to hear about the ways you, your family, friends, neighbors and colleagues are working to make Chicago better. Send us your “good news” stories of philanthropy at trust100@cct.org or on social media using the hashtag #whatyoudomatters. Maybe you’ll see them here, or elsewhere on cct.org!