NUSAC Invites Northwestern Staff to Give During the Holidays

EVANSTON, Ill. --- The Northwestern University Staff Advisory Council (NUSAC) invites staff members to give the gift of giving this holiday season by "adopting" a child or a family. The choice is to either donate purchased gifts of no more than $30 to $40 as an individual or as a department or program team.

The Evanston campus can help by donating to either Family Focus or the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Child + Family Center.

Family Focus has been providing family support programs for parents, children and teens to create a safe, welcoming place for more than 20 years. Programs and resources include mentors for pregnant and parenting teens, monthly family nights and a community gospel choir.

The Rice Child + Family Center treats children with a history of violence and abuse with the goal of returning them to a loving family. Highly-trained therapists work with the children individually and in groups to correct negative behavior and reinforce positive social contact with social skills training, counseling and psychiatric intervention.

To participate on the Evanston campus, e-mail Natasha Dennison at nusacgivesback@northwestern.edu by Nov. 10.

On the Chicago campus, there are two ways to help: Project Angel Tree and Inspiration Corporation.

Project Angel Tree works by connecting parents in prison with their children through the delivery of holiday gifts. For many of these children, this will be one of the few gifts they receive this holiday season.

Inspiration Corporation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide Chicagoans who are affected by homelessness and poverty with essential social services that create choices and enable participants to lead more fulfilling lives. During the holiday season, Inspiration Corporation provides gifts to mainly adults.

To participate on the Chicago campus, e-mail Laura Amsden at nusacgivesback@northwestern.edu by Nov. 10.

Participants will be provided with a name and some brief information on a child or adult by Nov. 17, along with instructions. Participants may be asked to wrap and label their gift(s). Drop-offs will be conveniently located on the Evanston and Chicago campuses during the week of Dec. 7.

NUSAC is a group of volunteer staff members appointed by President Henry S. Bienen to represent employee concerns to the University administration. For more information on NUSAC visit http://www.northwestern.edu/nusac/index.html.