* Today is GivingTuesday…

GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world on December 3, 2019 and every day.

It was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past seven years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

So, with that in mind, I encourage you to donate today to Lutheran Social Services of Illinois. We all know how important the foster care program is, and LSSI is on the front lines…

LSSI provides placement and casework services for children who have been removed from their families because of abuse and/or neglect. The goal of LSSI’s foster care services is to return the child back to his or her family. Services include training and licensing for foster families. Foster parents, working with LSSI, support the child’s connection to his or her family by providing transportation to or hosting sibling visits, and visiting with parents when the child welfare team mutually agrees upon this.

Children who cannot be safely reunited with their families may become available for adoption.

LSSI is the largest statewide provider of foster care services in Illinois. Approximately 10 percent of Illinois children under the guardianship of the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) are served by LSSI.

Those services cost money. Yes, LSSI does receive government funding, but they also rely on donations. So, please, click here and donate to LSSI today. I will match the first $1,000.

And, remember, we’re doing this fundraiser in Wordslinger’s memory. I’m hoping to arrange a meet and greet reception with Wordslinger’s family during the upcoming spring session. That’ll give you a chance to tell them how you donated to LSSI because you respected him so much. Please, click here.

*** UPDATE 1 *** A generous anonymous donor just contributed $1,000. Wow! I contributed my pledged matching amount, so we’re now up to $3,170 of our $5,000 goal. Thanks to everyone! Now, let’s hit that target! Click here.

*** UPDATE 2 *** Wordslinger’s brother just texted to say that it would’ve been Word’s 56th birthday today. Wow. What a great coincidence! Please click here to donate.

*** UPDATE 3 *** Holy moly, we reached our interim $5,000 goal. That was fast. I’ve increased it to $6,000. Click here and let’s keep this going! Thanks!!!

*** UPDATE 4 *** Well, we reached our second goal, so I’ve bumped it up again. Please click here and donate if you haven’t done so already. Thanks!!!