Incredible Results and Amazing Support -- THANK YOU!
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Dear Supporters and Friends,
The 2011 Donate Your Way Fundraiser which took place on Dec. 9 at State Restaurant in Lincoln Park was a HUGE success!
We raised nearly 500 toys for the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation’s Toy Drive and over $5,000 for Theofanis Yianas and Stathi Saltis, two Chicago boys who are battling Neuroblastoma. Our monetary numbers are still preliminary as we are waiting to receive a few more donations! It can only go up from here!
What started out as an idea three years ago for friends to get together and also do a good deed by collecting toys has erupted into something we never imagined. With all the support we have received from so many people, we are only left to believe that it will continue to grow year after year as we keep this new tradition going.
On behalf of the Donate Your Way team, we would like to send out a heartfelt thanks to everyone who made our third annual fundraiser a success: all our generous raffle and silent auction donors, all the staff and management at State Restaurant and all our dedicated supporters who helped us spread the word whether it be through Facebook, email, newsletters or newspapers. Most importantly, we’d like to thank all of those who came out to the event and generously brought toys and money to make a difference in children’s lives. Your kindness this holiday season will truly make a difference!
Thank you for making our dream a reality. Happy holidays!
Sincerely,
The Donate Your Way Team
Eleni Demertzis, Gia Marinis, Gina Gianakopoulos and Maria Kiagias
Where Your Money Will Go This Year - An Extra Special Cause!
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As you may have heard or read, the Donate Your Way group chooses a foundation each year to donate their monetary proceeds which highlights a rare pediatric disease. This year, we wanted to go past just sending money to a research foundation (though we know that's very important too). We knew there were families out there that need our help.
After talking to family and friends, we found out about two very special boys in the Chicago area who are currently battling Neuroblastoma, a rare form of pediatric cancer. These boys, Theo and Stathi, are constantly in and out of hospitals, getting treatments, having surgeries and getting scans done to keep track of their progress.
This year's monetary proceeds, which we will collect from donations, raffle tickets, silent auction bids and open bar wristband sales, will be split 50-50 and go directly to these two families to help with their sky-high medical bills.
What better way to give back this holiday season than by giving directly to a family and watching your money truly make a difference!
Meet the boys!
Two-year-old Stathi Saltis from Chicago
Stathi, known as "Superman" to his family and friends, has been battling Neuroblastoma for over a year now and has undergone a handful of surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. He is currently undergoing testing to see how successful his treatments have been. Read more about Stathi's journey by going to
http://stathisaltis.com/index.html
Six-year-old Theofanis Yianas from Palatine
Theofanis Yianas, also known as Theo, was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in May 2011 and has come a long way since that day. He recently just underwent an Autologous Stem Cell transplant and was just released from the hospital to return to his home. To find out more about Theo and his fight against Neuroblastoma, visit http://theofanisspot.blogspot.com/
Raffle/Silent Auction Items for Donate Your Way 2011!
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Emporio Armani Retail -- HD TiVo -- Perillo Car Detail -- $150 La Scarola Gift Certificate -- Play 18 Indoor Golf $100 Gift Certificate -- $100 ABT Gift Certificate -- $50 UGG Gift Certificate -- Gift Basket with assorted gift cards -- Various salon/spa gift cards and restaurant gift certificates -- and more!
The list is STILL growing - Anyone interested in donating should email donateyourway00@gmail.com or eleni.demertzis@sbcglobal.net!
Donate Your Way 2011 Fundraiser on December 9!
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"Spread the Joy, Give a Toy"
Donate Your Way Toys and Funds Drive
When: 9 p.m. - 2 a.m. Friday, December 9, 2011
Where: State Restaurant
935 W. Webster Ave, Chicago IL 60614
Suggested Donation: Unwrapped toys (up to 18 years old) or monetary donations
Contact: DonateYourWay00@gmail.com
Kids in need are waiting for a good deed…
so lend a hand by coming out to the
2011 "Donate Your Way" Toys and Funds Drive!
Get in the "giving" spirit and come out bearing toys or cash to make unfortunate children smile this holiday season!
Help out this winter by bringing a toy for the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation Toy Drive to benefit children throughout Illinois.
Feeling generous? Make a donation, bid on high-end items in our silent auction or buy raffle tickets to win great prizes all to benefit Neuroblastoma.
This year’s fundraiser will direct benefit children diagnosed with Neuroblastoma in the Chicago area.
A $30 wristband package is available with $10 dollars going to charity. Appetizers, great music and a night of “generous” fun is guaranteed for all those who attend!
So come dance, drink, and donate your way, whether it be a toy or monetary donation, to help kids out this holiday season!
Must be 21 and over to attend. Toys must be new, unwrapped, and for ages 18 and under. No limit.
Donate Your Way 2011 - in the making
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We welcome all ideas and thoughts! Hope to see you all there and check back soon for more updates!
Donate Your Way 2010- taking it to the next level
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The Donate Your Way concept was born in one of these brainstorming sessions. We wanted to throw more fundraisers, but knew it would be too difficult in getting a large crowd out to more than one event. "Why don't we help out more than one cause?" And "donate your way" was born.
Our fundraiser took place on Dec. 17 at Trader Vic's restaurant in Chicago's Gold Coast. We were able to provide free, delicious appetizers and discounted drink specials, in addition to validated garage parking for our guests. We were able to auction off great prizes for our raffle like Chicago Bulls tickets, car details and spa packages. So many came out and had truly a great time.
We raised over 750 toys for the WPCF and donated over $4,000 to the National Pediatric MS Society! It was an amazing feeling to know there are so many kind people out there!
Donate Your Way 2009 -- where it all began
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Eleni, Gia and Gina came up with a last minute idea to throw a toy drive for the holiday season. With less than a month to put it together, we were able to establish a date, venue and entertainment. We also reached out to a local organization to donate the toys to instead of choosing an already successful charity like Toys for Tots.
On Dec. 9, 2009, friends and family gathered at Xippo Lounge in Chicago to help us collect toys for the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation Toy Drive. Our expectations were not high as we had just very minimal time to really get the word out - but people truly surprised us. We collected 240 toys and $750 in monetary donations! Never in our wildest dreams did we expect to collect so many toys and that much money.
The day after our event, we drove over to Toys'R'Us and purchased over 60 toys with the money we raised. The graciousness of our supporters helped over 300 kids that holiday season!
Welcome to D.Y.W.
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What it is...
The Donate Your Way fundraiser is an annual fundraising event that offers something different and unique in the aspect of charity.
The charity giving is split into two different parts: toy drive and monetary funds.
New and unwrapped toys are collected and donated to the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation Toy drive, which distributes toys during the holiday season to less fortunate children throughout Illinois.
The monetary funds are collected and donated to a different cause every year. We have donated to the Juveniles Diabetes Fund and the National Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Each year, we choose a different fund which brings awareness to a pediatric disease.
This way, by giving people the option of bringing toys or donating money (or both), we offer them the "donate your way" opportunity in choosing how exactly they get to do something charitable every holiday season.
