
Featured Article
Root2FruitPosted: June 28, 2008
By: Lauren Wiscomb
Root2Fruit, the brainchild of Ann Balusek and her sister Nancy Mammel, is a grant program that nurtures grassroots not-for-profit organizations in Evanston. Just like the organizations that it helps, Root2Fruit started with a simple idea grounded in giving back to the community. ...
Root2Fruit, the brainchild of Ann Balusek and her sister Nancy Mammel, is a grant program that nurtures grassroots not-for-profit organizations in Evanston. Just like the organizations that it helps, Root2Fruit started with a simple idea grounded in giving back to the community. Utilizing the resources of a family foundation set up by their father, Ann and her sister have been giving back to their communities for years, including through a program similar to Root2Fruit in their native Omaha. The Evanston version of the project started when Ann approached the Evanston Community Foundation with an idea for a program that focused exclusively on small not-for-profits in the Evanston area. Six years later, Root2Fruit thrives. Many organizations are successful "graduates" of the three-year grant period and over ten others currently receive support. Root2Fruit chooses grantees based on many factors, and is not the sole financial supporter of any of them. "All of the organizations [that we consider] have so much to offer, but we want them to benefit from the collaboration. It's about the family," said Ann of her thought process in choosing from many deserving organizations. Root2Fruit is, above all, a community umbrella under which all of these great causes can come together and learn from each other in order to make an even bigger difference. During our interview, Ann referenced the many colorful personalities with whom she comes into contact on a daily basis. From mothers who have turned their personal struggles into community crusades, to musicians and artists channeling hardship into expression, the range is wide but the message is the same. All of these people have set out to make their community better and they have all found a valuable resource in the form of Root2Fruit. It is clear that this operation is truly about fueling and supporting people's passions. As its name suggests, Root2Fruit is about the growing process. The grant program lasts three years and acts as a springboard from which these organizations can hopefully begin to thrive. Many of the organizations that it helps are in great need of the money that Root2Fruit can provide them, but they are also in greater need of publicity and awareness of their cause. One of the major tenets of the program is encouraging not only success within a not-for-profit community but volunteer participation from everyone who has time to give.
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Comments
I am really glad you're doing this - but I'm not sure what the "this" is. It looks like a lot of wealthy women have gotten "the spirit" to grow greener - or at least look like they are. But this looks kind of like fluff to me. Are you selling the vintage wine and the outings, or REALLY trying to make a big difference in this hurting world? It concerns me that there is a breezy tone that almost looks like fashion pages. We are facing a global crisis of unparalled proportion. Maybe you're just using your considerable resources to present an attractive picture to get more women involved. OK. But - an "ecology" art fair, Wilmette family days, etc. just seem like new packaging for the wealthy. Please, I beg you, have a cutting edge - we need a cutting edge. I'll continue to read with interest but hope you'll make waves, not just little ripples.
by: Anonymous @ Monday June 30, 2008 | 8:59:08 AM
I am so glad that you shared your thoughts with us! The more people who join us, the bigger the waves we will make. Our goal is to support anyone's efforts to Make It Better - living greener, helping others - and to inspire others to follow their example. We aren't judgmental about how little or how big the cause is. (Although we do believe, as you imply, that the more we live for others who need our help, the happier our lives will be.) Just how edgy should we be here? I welcome your nomination of stories that you want told or organizations that need support. We are trying to strike a balance between celebrating the best of our local communities, earnest appeals to worthy causes and sophisticated wit that will appeal to our well-educated and affluent community. We are also trying to give users something that will help their own lives. Sometimes that is just how to have a better night out, or where to take the kids. The Make It Better staff (Mibs) is probably a good reflection of our intentions. We are all passionate about our "causes," but those areas are diverse - social service, the environment, the arts, helping all kids, health care, etc. In many regards these women reflect the best of our "privileged" community. We appreciate the opportunity to live and raise our families in a safe, supportive environment and feel a strong urge to share and leverage our resources to give that same opportunity to as many others as possible. I hope that others - Mibs or readers - will respond to this important issue that you raise. What is the best way to Make It Better for as many people on the North Shore and outside of it as possible? I would love to launch a Tidal Wave of worthwhile content and actions! Susan B. Noyes Publisher Make It Better.net
by: SusanBNoyes @ Monday June 30, 2008 | 5:02:23 PM