Chicago, IL – Shopping is as American as apple pie and Mother’s Day.  And for just one day, a small group of committed volunteers would like to see the world community be the biggest benefactor of America’s favorite hobby. That’s why they are organizing Chicago’s 1^st Alternative Gift Fair – Mother’s Day Edition 2005 that will be hosted by The Peace Museum.

At the Chicago Alternative Gift Fair, attendees can support a variety of local, national and international nonprofit organizations with established track records of helping people and the environment by purchasing gifts directly from them. Those who make donations on behalf of friends and relatives will receive a beautiful card with a description of their gift inscribed by calligraphers. Gifts will range in cost from $5 to $100 and include offerings such as:

·        $5 given to Urban Meadows to buy flowers from a florist who hires workers who are challenged by a variety of obstacles to employment.

·        $25 given toward funding a project that includes the purchase of art supplies for grade-school children on the West Side of Chicago, who otherwise would simply never have these basic supplies in their class-room.

·        $50 given to an international education project that underwrites expenses for students at a school in India will buy lunch for a month for the entire eighth grade.

The Chicago Alternative Gift Fair – Mother’s Day Edition 2005 will be held at The Peace Museum, located in the beautiful gold-domed Garfield Park Fieldhouse, 100 North Central Park Avenue in Chicago on April 30^th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Admission and parking are free. 

Volunteers are needed to personalize gift cards with calligraphy, staff tables for organizations who cannot be present, design and install event signage and decorations, and help with set up and clean up.

The fair is being sponsored by EarthSave Chicago.  For more information, visit www.ChicagoGiftFair.org. To secure a table, or volunteer, contact Mary at                           (773) 528-1781 or via e-mail at maryd_altgiftfair05@yahoo.com.