Daisie Foundation is on a mission to surprise first responders, women in need and thousands of residents in Chicago’s overlooked, toughest communities most impacted by the pandemic
The Daisie Foundation, established in 2017 to empower women and children in overlooked communities, is in its fourth year of creating magical and heart-warming surprises for women, children, and community members in need. This year, in addition to women and children, the Daisie Foundation and partners are especially thrilled about surprising first responders – firefighters, police officers, EMTs, paramedics, and dispatchers.
The Daisie Foundation expanded its outreach efforts to Houston, TX. Prior to the holiday outreach event in Chicago, the Daisie Foundation board and ambassadors partnered with four Houston-based McDonalds restaurants to host a holiday event that surprised 400 Houstonians in six neighborhoods hardest hit by the pandemic.
Known for surprising under-resourced communities and organizations, the Daisie Foundation will kick off the Holiday Giveback and Random Acts of Kindness Event on December 15 at two local shelters. They will continue sprinkling surprises throughout the week at schools, fire stations, and local businesses in several neighborhoods – Englewood, Humboldt Park, Near West and outside the city in Crestwood and Homewood. Theme-oriented holiday outreach surprise events are as follows: Banana Republic and Gap Foundation Giveback Day, Raising Cane’s Giveback Day, Lou Malnati’s Giveback Day, and Chick-fil-A and Shiraleah First Responders Day. Lifeway Foods has generously committed to donating product for all events. Volunteers also will surprise residents with gift cards to local grocery stores and gas stations. “I look forward to supporting Daisie Foundation’s “Sprinkles of Joy” initiative each year because of the smiles, hope and joy it brings to the community,” said Julie Hightower, a board member.
Each December for the past three years, the Daisie Foundation has surprised students and faculty at Chicago schools with holiday celebrations and gift-giving events, reaching over 4400 students and 500 teachers in the toughest neighborhoods in Chicago. This year, we’re pivoting our outreach efforts to address the new challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, we will host a drive-up distribution event and drop off gifts and meals. Thanks to 17 partners whose donations total approximately $400,000, the Daisie Foundation will join other worthy holiday gift-giving events in Chicago focused on meeting the critical needs of our overlooked communities—many of whom have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
SPONSORS: Banana Republic, Gap Foundation, Sephora, ComEd, Chick-fil-A (Crestwood, Ford City and Homewood locations), Lifeway Foods, Benefit Cosmetics, McDonalds (Houston, TX), Raising Cane’s Chicago, Sugarfina, Shiraleah, Chicago Liposuction – Lift Body Center, Alternative Source Medical LLC, Lou Malnati’s, and ROW 24
SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
El Primo Center for Women and Children
BANANA REPUBLIC AND GAP FOUNDATION GIVEBACK DAY: Social distancing drop off donation of 10,000 pieces of new apparel and accessories totaling approximately $300,000; Lifeway Foods is donating product, and Shiraleah is donating masks.
La Casa Norte
LOU MALNATI’S GIVEBACK DAY: Social distancing lunch drop off to surprise staff and residents with their infamous deep-dish pizza and other goodies. Lifeway Foods is also donating products for this event.
Wednesday, December 16, 2020
Chicago Fire Department, Villages of Crestwood and Homewood
CHICK-FIL-A AND SHIRALEAH FIRST RESPONDERS SURPRISE GIVEBACK DAY: Social distancing drop off to surprise 300 first responders with breakfast, lunch or dinner and meal certificates courtesy of Chick-fil-A, and special gifts courtesy of Shiraleah; Lifeway Foods is also donating product for these events.
Friday, December 18, 2020
RAISING CANE’S GIVEBACK DAY FOR SCHOOLS Donation of 1,000 free meals to surprise students at three schools
