McHenry Nonprofits and Charities

Joni and her characters are amazing. Kids and adults both love them!

Giving comes in all forms. You can give your time. You can give your money. You can lend a hand. You can listen. You can give advice and you can give companionship and love. <br />Sometimes young people aren't sure how to get involved or feel like that can't make a difference without being able to make large financial contributions. I on the other hand, gave what I could, and in a years' time, my acts of giving turned into an amazing professional opportunity. <br />As the saying goes, 'If you give, you shall receive' and last year I started giving my time to Home of the Sparrow. Home of the Sparrow is a Chester County based (Philadelphia suburb) women's advocacy organization that partners with women facing homelessness to secure housing, achieve long-term stability, and chart new paths for their futures. Each year their programs serve more than 400 women and children from the local area. As a firm believer in second-chances, the organization's mission resonated with me and I quickly wanted to get involved. <br />My journey with Home of the Sparrow (HOS) started last November when I volunteered for a fundraising fashion show. Right away I became passionate about the work being done to uplift women in compromised situations either due to battery, divorce, or simply the passing away of a loved one. After the event I stopped by the volunteering office. I remember bringing my resume along and saying to the volunteering coordinator 'I can't give much financially, but these are my skills and I think I can help.' As a passionate speaker in my community, I hoped to help spread the word about the organization through my networks and increase engagement with donors. I've since become an advocate for the organization, the women Home of the Sparrow supports, and now, at 25 years old, I am proudly the youngest member of the Board of Directors, which is an honor and a privilege.<br />My giving story is one that in a short amount of time developed into a mutual partnership, benefiting both myself and HOS. Not only have I been able to help spread the word and secure donations through doing so, but being a member of the Board helps build my credibility as a young professional and has given me so much experience.<br />Organizations need young people, millennials, and fresh ideas to continue to evolve and make a difference in an ever-changing world. Though large philanthropic donations are critical for non-profits, more young people need to focus on what they can give, in any form. The saying goes 'Give and You Shall receive' and it couldn't be truer in the case of my giving story. Lending my voice and time to the community has had a major unintended impact on my career, while being proud in knowing that I'm making a difference. <br />

AGAG rescues any dog that is part golden retriever. AGAG covers all medical expenses and fosters the dogs to insure they are well socialized before adoption. The volunteer foster families know the temperament of each dog and helps choose a "forever family" that is a good fit. <br>I volunteer to transport relinquished dogs and I have personally adopted a mixed breed dog. This is a well organized group that gets a lot of "bang for the buck" because of so many dedicated volunteers.