C.I.T.Y. NEWS

As we begin to see the signs of winter holidays and festivities, we want to wish you all a wonderful season with your loved ones. In addition to sending you holiday wishes, we also want to talk about our wishes for our C.I.T.Y. of Support. Since we were officially founded (only 6 months ago!), we have been humbled by the outpouring of support and generosity of our community. This newsletter will try to summarize 1) our recent successes, 2) our initiatives for the coming year, and 3) upcoming events.

You will NOT want to miss these events, so make sure you read through the entire newsletter. Some of them require registration, so make sure to visit the eventbrite links and reserve your spots soon! As a subscriber to this newsletter, you are hearing about these events first, so take advantage of your early notice! Remember, in order to receive these newsletters via email (and not rely solely on social media notifications), you have opted to sign up as a member of our C.I.T.Y. using this link from our website's homepage. Thank you!

We were thrilled with the turnout for our first community-building fundraising event! We had over 80 guests, 16 vendors, 29 raffle prizes, 6 varieties of wine to taste, 5 live musicians, 3 heartfelt speakers, and countless demonstrations of generosity through our sponsors, sales, and donations. As is our mission, we were determined to provide both in-person and online shopping opportunities with our flexible vendor participation, C.I.T.Y. of Support promotional items, and raffle ticket sales. Thank you to all who attended/participated in some way, and due to the great feedback we received, we are hoping to host this event again in the fall.

As is necessary with any non-profit organization, we rely on the generosity and participation of our community members in order to remain sustainable. This past fall, we hosted our first bi-annual fundraising campaign, appropriately called "Thanks and Giving" and we also encouraged donations on "Giving Tuesday."

Our organization has been managed exclusively by volunteers, which remains feasible for small endeavors. However, with increased funds, comes the possibility to use this organization to make an even larger impact. The Board of Directors created a 5-minute video to help describe the three wishes/initiatives that we hope to accomplish in the coming year, as they align perfectly with our mission: "To create a dynamic community, both online and in person, that supports all families navigating the needs of their child in therapy."

We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of so many, and there is still time to participate! On our website's homepage: www.cityofsupport.org, there is a yellow "DONATE" button for those wanting to contribute financially to our initiatives. A $10 donation will support a full "Welcome to our C.I.T.Y." gift, making a significant difference with just a simple gesture. Please consider our tax-exempt organization when you are making your philanthropic donations at the end of the year.

You can also choose to write a "Note Upon Checkout," where you can designate if you would like to make a donation in honor of someone in particular, and C.I.T.Y. of Support will send them a note of gratitude on your behalf. We imagine that this would be a particularly meaningful holiday gift for a teacher/therapist/family member.

If you are unable to donate financially, please look through our revised volunteer sign-up list, which includes many different ways to contribute time, talent, and/or resources to our C.I.T.Y. We truly cannot do this without your help, and we thank you for your support!

And as always, all of our events can be found on our Google Calendar link!

We're going to try something new in the Northwest Suburbs starting in 2019. Monthly parent groups (coffee groups) can be difficult to coordinate with busy schedules. In fact, there will be NO coffee groups during the month of December due to the holidays. Starting in January, we will be hosting this monthly weekend event at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library. We are hoping to foster more adult conversations while the children are occupied with the provided engaging activities. Feel free to bring your child or just yourself, and we will casually chat about things that matter to you. All are welcome to this free event!

On a quarterly basis, C.I.T.Y. of Support sponsors "Great Therapy Playdates" at therapy clinics across the various regions of Chicago. These coordinated, open-house style playdates are held at the same day and time among different locations, which rotate based on availability and interest. Children in therapy and their siblings can play in the fun, inclusive space and parents can mingle, all while exploring valuable clinical resources in the community.

Space is limited, so early registration is recommended through our eventbrite link! For our next Great Therapy Playdate on Sunday, January 13th from 10:00-11:00 am, we have clinics in two regions who have offered to host:

• Northwest Suburbs: AHSS Autism Center - 3385 N. Arlington Heights Rd. Suite K, Arlington Heights, IL 60004
• North Suburbs: Pediatric Interactions - 649 Barron Blvd (Route 83), Grayslake, IL 60030

**If you or a facility you know might be interested in hosting a Great Therapy Playdate in the future, please contact us at: hello@cityofsupport.org. Opportunities are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.**

This is the perfect excuse to get out of the house this winter for some engaging (indoor) fun! Register for specific entry times through our eventbrite link (to avoid over-crowding) and join us in the festive sensory gym, following the valentine's hearts around to each of our 15+ creative obstacle course stations. At each station, the children will participate in different interactive games including zip lines, rock walls, swings, sensory play, and more. They will also receive a valentine and information/handouts from the different local clinics, offices, and businesses sponsoring each station.

Parents will learn of resources in the community, meet other families, and enjoy a fun, indoor activity with their children. And after completing the obstacle course, families are welcome to complete a project at our craft table, enjoy some snacks from our sweet table, and participate in our raffle filled with child-friendly prizes!

**This event is made possible in part by the generous sponsorship of In2Great! Pediatric Therapy Clinic in Arlington Heights. Thank you! There are also many other opportunities for local businesses, clinics, and offices to participate in this interactive event. If you/someone you know would like to be included in this resource-sharing/community-building event, please contact us at: hello@cityofsupport.org. Opportunities are provided on a first-come, first-served basis.**

Thank you for being an important part of our C.I.T.Y. of Support community.

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, thoughts, or ideas.

We value your input and participation, and we want to make sure this community is

meaningful and relevant for you and all of our members.

Our mission is to create a dynamic community, both online and in person, that supports all families navigating the needs of their child in therapy.

Email: hello@cityofsupport.org
Website: www.cityofsupport.org
Location: 800 E. Northwest Highway Suite #109, Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Phone: (224) 409-7150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cityofsupport/
Twitter: @cityofsupport