Local Corporations Raise Over $3.75 Million for Chairity

The inaugural Chicago Charity Challenge (affectionately known as Chicago Cha Cha), which launched in May and continues through December 2014, has already raised over $3.75 million for 19 local charities including Big Brothers Big Sisters, LaRabida Children’s Hospital, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, March of Dimes and Gilda’s Club of Chicago. In less than five months, employees from participating corporations have not only generated millions of dollars for their favorite charities, but they have also logged in more than 14,000 volunteer hours.

“The Chicago Charity Challenge has exceeded our expectations,” said Susan Hahn, Executive Director “The level of involvement from the corporations and the enthusiasm from their employees has been inspiring,” she adds. “It’s wonderful to see employees coming together for their chosen charities and their genuine desire to give back.”

The Chicago Charity Challenge is a 501(c)(3) charity that grew out of the giveback program created by the employees of Call One, a Chicago-based telecommunications solution provider and Founding Sponsor of this year’s Challenge. Since 2008, Call One employees have chosen and supported local charities, strengthened their company culture, and had fun in the process.

“Last year, while planning our giveback program, our team had an epiphany,” stated Derrick Havis Chicago Charity Challenge Board Member and Executive Vice President of Sales for Call One. “We asked each other what would happen if we encouraged our clients to choose a charity, too,” he adds. “This idea quickly morphed into the Chicago Charity Challenge, which was founded on the hope of inspiring businesses throughout Chicagoland to engage their employees in supporting a charity of their choice.”

Within weeks of its launch, the Chicago Charity Challenge registered such high-profile corporations as PR giant Edelman, Fannie May, Quaker, Discover, Chicago Fire, Starbucks, and Golub. The leadership of these companies, along with CEOs and presidents of several other prominent local businesses, jumped on board; eager to involve their employees, build team spirit, and raise awareness and funds for their chosen charities.

With less than three months to go of the 1st annual Chicago Charity Challenge, the participating corporations are giving it their all in an effort to raise even more funds and dedicate even more volunteer hours to their selected charities; competing for five monetary awards ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 (all of which will be donated to the charity of the winning teams).

“The Chicago Corporate Challenge has turned corporate giving into a team sport, which is exactly what we had hoped,” adds Hahn, who is already accepting applications from corporations for the 2015 Chicago Cha Cha.

“We’re hoping to change the face of corporate giving,” comments Havis. “It’s no longer about a CEO cutting a check; it’s about empowering employees to become involved and make a difference,” he adds. “And, I’m proud to say that it’s working.”

About Chicago Charity Challenge

Established in 2014, the Chicago Charity Challenge (affectionately called the Chicago Cha Cha), provides area businesses with a platform to support employee volunteer and fundraising efforts. Businesses partner with their favorite local charities to compete for five monetary prizes. This year, 19 teams are paired to compete in the inaugural Chicago Cha Cha. For more information call 312-506-5006 visit www.chicagochacha.org. Keep current with event announcements and more on www.Facebook.com/ChicagoChaCha and follow us on Twitter @ChicagoChaCha.

About Call One

Established in 1992, Chicago-based Call One is dedicated to providing premium communications services at competitive rates. The company was the first telecommunications provider certified as a Competitive Local Exchange carrier by the Illinois Commerce Commission and has since grown to become one of the nation’s largest providers of voice, data, and internet services and systems. Call One is proud to be endorsed as the preferred telecommunications vendor by Illinois’ leading industry and government trade associations. Call One has been named to Crain’s “Fast Fifty”, Inc. magazine’s “500/5000”, ICIC and Fortune Magazine’s “Inner City 100” and is recognized as a workplace of excellence by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. Learn more at www.callone.com, www.Facebook.com/callonechicago, or Twitter @CallOneConnect.