A GIFT THAT:

•    expresses your and the recipient’s values?
•    brings the hope of the season to some of the most mistreated people in the world?
•    has an impact long after the season?

A contribution to RefugeeOne – either in your name or in honor of a cherished friend or family member — would be such a meaningful gift.  Particularly as your gift would help mark RefugeeOne’s 30th Anniversary.

In 1982, a “small group of determined people” created Interchurch Refugee and Immigration Ministries.  Thirty years later, “Interchurch” is RefugeeOne, and has grown big enough to help more than 2,000 people each year.

Since 1982, RefugeeOne has resettled tens of thousands of refugees from every major crisis in history: Pol Pot’s killing fields, Rwanda’s genocide, Milosevic’s Serbia, Jews from the U.S.S.R., Kurds from Iraq, Iranians fleeing the Revolution. For thirty years, some of the most mistreated people in the world have found meaningful refuge at RefugeeOne.

Will you honor this 30-year history of compassion with a meaningful gift today?  Simply click on the box below.

RefugeeOne is one of the largest refugee resettlement agencies in the country. It is also among the very few that provide a full range of services. Newly arriving refugees find housing, free English classes, job placement, school support and even mental health care at RefugeeOne. Now, we need your help to ensure that vision of dignified refuge remains a beacon of safety for years to come.

A holiday anniversary gift means refugees escaping the tragedies of tomorrow will find a better life here in Chicago.  Will you contribute today by clicking the box below?

When you do, you will help new arrivals from Darfur. RefugeeOne recently welcomed its first family from Darfur – and more arrive each week.  Your anniversary gift will help RefugeeOne provide interpreters, teach them English, and help them find jobs.

An anniversary gift of $30, $300 or $3,000 can mean the difference between these families spending their first months in Chicago living – once again – in poverty, or experiencing true refuge.

Will you provide meaningful refuge for some of the most mistreated people in the world? You can make a difference NOW if you click on the box below.

RefugeeOne wishes you and your loved ones the best this holiday season. We look forward to partnering with you to provide dignified resettlement for refugees who will start a new life in Chicago in 2012.

In 1982, a small group of concerned citizens responded to the call to help refugees by creating Interchurch Refugee and Immigration Ministries.  Thirty years later, “Interchurch” is now RefugeeOne.  During that time, the organization has resettled thousands of refugees from every major conflict around the globe:  Pol Pot’s Killing Fields, people fleeing genocide in Rwanda, Milosevic’s Serbia, Jews from the U.S.S.R., Kurds from Iraq, Iranians fleeing the Islamic Revolution. For thirty years, some of the most mistreated people in the world were helped by compassionate people throughout northern Illinois through the organization.

Over the years, many people have raised their voices for refugees.  Volunteers gave their time and expertise.  Staff advocated for better resettlement conditions. Board members helped strengthen the agency and improve services. Donors who helped with everything from paying refugee’s first months of rent to keeping the electricity on at the main office.  Thirty Years.  Many Voices.  One Vision:  refuge.

Today, RefugeeOne honors its founders’ vision by continuing to offer refuge – safety – to people fleeing war, persecution and terror.  During the upcoming months you will see notices about events and anniversary happenings that culminate at our annual event on Friday, April 27, 2012.

Is Yours One of RefugeeOne’s Many Voices?

We are looking for refugees, volunteers, donors and former staff members who’d like to share a story about their experiences for our 30th Anniversary.  If you’d like to share your experience with RefugeeOne, contact us at info@refugeeone.org .

30 Year Anniversary Events

2012 Many Voices. One Vision. Annual Event

Thanks to First Congregational Church of Western Springs, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church on Addison, Grace Lutheran Church of La Grange, Glenview Community Church, Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, the CTC Trading Group, Ascension Lutheran Church in Riverside, Robbin, St. Lutheran’s Church Park Ridge, Niles North High School, Rebecca and Manpower for donating to our Winter Clothing Drive. It has been a great success!

Keep up with us on Facebook!

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Teenage girls from RefugeeOne’s Youth Program began meeting in April 2011 for “Girls Group,” a weekly gathering that was created for young women ages 13-19 to address relevant topics including Chicago safety, free resources in the city, self-esteem, and women’s health. Young women professionals including a photographer, a registered nurse, and a representative from the YWCA were invited to partake in the meetings and answer any questions that the girls had.

In May, Girls Group celebrated two birthdays by playing games, dancing to music from the girls’ home countries, and doing henna. Girls Group also took a Saturday field trip to Hyde Park where the girls were able to meet with members of Chicago’s teen girl roller derby team, which invited the girls to go watch them play this August in Chicago.

The girls are looking forward to spending time together over the summer and are working to contribute ideas in preparation for Girls Group in the fall.

Keep an eye on our Girls Group activities via Facebook.

Members of the Volunteers Committee will be expected to perform the following:

• Attend planning meetings

• Recruit committee members

• Recruit volunteers for pre-event activities, e.g., raffle days

• Recruit volunteers for day of event (silent auction, raffle, setup and strike)

• Train volunteers

Contact us:

p: (773) 989-5647 | e: info@refugeeone.org

Members of the Sponsorship & Tickets Committee will be expected to perform the following:

• Attend planning meetings

• Solicit sponsorship and in-kind donations to offset costs

• Encourage committee members to approach businesses they patronize for donations

• Manage acknowledgments for sponsorship donations

• Brainstorm and identify social and community groups to solicit

• Establish reward and incentive system for top-ticket sellers

• Ensure all committee members receive tickets and are participating in sales

Contact us:

p: (773) 989-5647 | e: info@refugeeone.org

Members of the Silent Auction Committee will be expected to perform the following:

• Attend planning meetings

• Recruit members for auction committee

• Determine type of auction items desired

• Solicit businesses and contacts for auction items

• Assist with the packaging of auction items

• Create bid sheets

• Create auction catalog that can be sent in advance of event and posted online

• Help with setup of auction on-site

• Oversee and train auction volunteers at the event

• Coordinate the acknowledgement of auction donors

Contact us:

p: (773) 989-5647 | e: info@refugeeone.org

• Members of the Raffle Committee will be expected to perform the following:

• Attend planning meetings

• Develop raffle timeline

• Solicit  members for raffle committee

• Identify and determine raffle prize

• Monitor raffle sales

• Set up and coordinate raffle days at various locations and events

Contact us:

p: (773) 989-5647 | e: info@refugeeone.org

Members of the Media & Communications Committee will be expected to perform the following:

• Attend planning meetings

• Send event info for posting on community calendars

• Research media opportunities to promote the event

• Develop social media promotion plan

• Determine web content relating to the event

• Determine schedule and content for email updates

Contact us:

p: (773) 989-5647 | e: info@refugeeone.org

Members of the Entertainment Committee will be expected to perform the following:

• Attend planning meetings

• Research entertainment possibilities for event

• Audition groups as necessary

• Select entertainment

• Determine tech needs

• Arrange tech schedule

• Coordinate logistics with entertaining groups

• Arrange provisions for entertainers

• Coordinate stage manager

• Oversee rehearsal and sound checks

Contact us:

p: (773) 989-5647 | e: info@refugeeone.org

Members of the Design, Décor, and Theme Committee will be expected to perform the following:

• Attend planning meetings

• Determine 30^th anniversary theme

• Determine 30^th anniversary-related activities

• Determine design for event-related materials including invites, save the date web info

• Determine décor for the event

• Determine table decorations for both reception and dinner

Contact us:

p: (773) 989-5647 | e: info@refugeeone.org

Members of the Catering Committee will perform the following:

• Attend planning meetings

• Determine menu theme

• Solicit wine and liquor donations

• Solicit restaurants to provide catering for reception

• Attend tastings

• Determine food for reception rotunda

• Determine dinner menu

• Determine volunteer meal

• Determine specialty dessert

• Determine serviceware and linens

• Determine layout and logistics for the event relating to catering

Contact us:

p: (773) 989-5647 | e: info@refugeeone.org

Join Our 2012 Benefit Committee

Many Voices, One Vision is RefugeeOne’s premier annual fundraising event supporting our mission of creating opportunities for refugees fleeing war, terror, and persecution to build new lives of safety, dignity and self-reliance. The event will be held Friday, April 27, 2012 at the Chicago Cultural Center and will mark the organization’s 30^th anniversary—350 people are expected to attend.

The event kicks off with a cocktail reception featuring a silent auction and a variety of cultural performances.  Dinner follows, highlighted by an award presentation and culminates with a featured inspirational speaker.  The evening is emceed by Jerome McDonnell, host of Chicago Public Radio’s Worldview.

RefugeeOne is seeking committee members to assist with the planning, production and execution of its 2012 Many Voices, One Vision annual benefit.  Each committee member is asked to commit to bring in a minimum of $1,500.00 through a combination of the following revenue streams:  event ticket sales, silent auction items secured, corporate sponsorship, donations, program book ads or raffle ticket sales.

Members can serve on one or more of the following committees:

(Click on a committee to learn more.)

• Catering Committee

• Design, Décor and Theme Committee

• Entertainment Committee

• Media and Communications Committee

• Raffle Committee

• Silent Auction Committee

• Sponsorship and Tickets Committee

• Volunteers Committee

About RefugeeOne

RefugeeOne is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that provides a full range of services to refugees brought to the United States by the U.S. State Department for resettlement in the Chicago metropolitan area. RefugeeOne’s services are provided to refugees displaced from their homelands due to war or persecution.  RefugeeOne provides housing, food, and clothing to refugees as they go through agency programs to learn English, acclimate to American culture, become computer literate, develop employable skills, and find jobs that enable them to become self-supporting.  RefugeeOne programs assist women, seniors, and children/youth.   In 2010, RefugeeOne welcomed 539 refugees—approximately 35% of all refugees resettled in the Chicago area.

On Saturday, May 14, 5:00 p.m. – Midnight, over 500 teens participated in a Dance Marathon held in the Main Contest Gym at Niles North High School, 9800 North Lawler Avenue, Skokie, IL.  A full year of fundraising efforts spearheaded by teens from Niles North and Niles West High Schools! We are so grateful for their efforts.

Thank you to all who attended and supported our 2011 Many Voices, One Vision event! Pictures coming soon.