The Chicago Charity Challenge Kicks Off Its Philanthropic Competition in Chicago With an Online Auction

The Chicago Charity Challenge, an innovative new fundraising/volunteering competition for Chicago-area businesses, proudly launches its inaugural Challenge with an enticing online auction from June 16, 2014 to July 25, 2014. The Chicago Charity Challenge (affectionately called the Chicago Cha Cha), provides a platform for businesses to engage employees through fundraising and volunteering.  The teams vie for awards ranging from $5,000 to $10,000, which will be donated to their chosen non-profit.

In an effort to energize the competition, boost community involvement, and raise funds for the 20 participating charities, The Chicago Charity Challenge is hosting a six-week online auction from June 16th through July 25, 2014. Each week, the auction will feature new items from participating teams, with all proceeds going to support the teams’ charity partners.

“The online auction is an easy way for anyone to get involved in the Chicago Cha Cha and to support the fundraising efforts of the Challengers in this inaugural year,” said Susan Hahn, Executive Director of the Chicago Charity Challenge. “Bidding is open to the masses, which means anyone can bid on these items and boost their karma at the same time, since all funds raised from the auction will support many worthy causes.”

This week’s Chicago Cha Cha’s online auction features items and experiences such as:

•       An exclusive Fannie May Chocolate Party for eight in one of their Chicago-area stores to support its charity partner, Park Lawn, which serves individuals with developmental disabilities.

•       Eight Tickets in premier seats to the Chicago Bears vs. Eagles pre-season game on August 8, 2014, donated by the Adams Plastics team to support Anixter Center’s Chicago Hearing Society.

•       VIP tickets to the Firefly Music Festival in Dover, Delaware (June 19th-22nd), from festival organizer, Red Frog Events to support its charity, St. Jude Children’s Hospital.

•       Baby Cubs Gear, including umbrella stroller, baby carrier, potty ring, and step stool, along with a two-year membership to Neighborhood Parents Network from Kolcraft, a manufacturer of baby products, in support of its charity partner, The March of Dimes

•       Four tickets for Train and the Wallflowers at Ravinia on August 22, 2014 from Associated Agencies to support the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Bidding for the week begins every Monday at 10:00 AM and closes Friday at noon. New auction items will be added weekly, ensuring something for everyone. To view the auction and place your bid, please visitwww.chicagochacha.org/auction/. New bidders will be prompted to create a profile before placing a bid. Once registered, you can place bids online from your computer or mobile device or by texting your bid to the three digit item number. Auto bid is available so the system can bid on your behalf up to a designated maximum. The six-week auction ends at noon on Friday, July 25, 2014. 

Support the Chicago Cha Cha and Chicago-area non-profits by bidding early and bidding often atwww.chicagochacha.org/auction/. All funds raised by the online action will support the charities of the participating teams.

Founding Sponsor Call One is providing technical and administrative support and funding start-up costs for the Chicago Charity Challenge and the online auction. Award money for the $10,000 Grand Prize Give Back Winner will be raised by Call One’s employees. Other award sponsors include MB Financial Charitable Foundation and Avaya.  Support will also be provided by the University of Chicago Booth School of Business Social Enterprise Initiative.

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, twenty 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 by liking our Facebook page and following 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 atwww.callone.com, www.Facebook.com/callonechicago, or Twitter @CallOneConnect.