Ah, February: the promise of things like Groundhog Day, perhaps snow, and, of course, Valentine’s Day…but why stop there? Warm up the winter season by aiming Cupid’s arrow at charitable causes and their events in Boston, New York, and Chicago.
Chicago’s Cycle for Survival: break a sweat while raising funds for cancer research and treatment.
BOSTON
Saturday, February 11 | 6 p.m. – 1 a.m.: Big Brothers Big Sisters: Big Night 2.0 with the Counting Crows. Rock out with the Counting Crows at the House of Blues at this cocktail party, with drinks and food prepared by some of Boston’s top chefs. All proceeds will go towards youth programs by Brothers/Big Sisters of Greater Massachusetts. 15 Landsdowne Street, Boston | bignightboston.com
Saturday, February 11 | 6:30 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: Project Cupid’s Charity Date Auction for Pediatric Leukemia. Bid for a date with Boston’s most eligible bachelors and bachelorettes to fundraise for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute and its research and treatment ambitions. Aside from bidding for a hot date, you’ll also have a chance at sporting events, memorabilia, hotel stays, and other auction items. 1 Boylston Place, Boston | project-cupid.org
NEW YORK
Saturday, February 4 | 8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.: Hope Gala for Conquering Childhood Cancer. This black-tie optional event, hosted by the New York City and Northern New Jersey Chapters of the Penn State Alumni Association, solely benefits pediatric cancer patients at Penn State Children’s Hospital, especially those in most need of financial assistance. 137 West 26th Street, Manhattan | nychopegala.com
Saturday, February 4 | 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: 3rd Annual Wine Tasting for Kiva NYC. This remarkable nonprofit pools funds raised by chapters around the U.S. (in this case, the New York Chapter) to go directly towards providing capital and microlending services to poverty-stricken populations with entrepreneurial potential. Bonus tip for those with a soft spot for giving: attend this wine tasting and afterward, stroll up seven blocks to attend the Hope Gala (listed above), which you’ve registered for ahead of time in a moment of brilliant foresight, of course. It’s on the same night, and one ends right before the other begins. Your giving–and Saturday night–just got a massive boost! Bring friends (and a date) for extra points. 5 West 19th Street, Manhattan | kivanyc.com
CHICAGO
Saturday, February 11, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.: Cycle for Survival for Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Equinox’s The Loop location hosts this all-day indoor spinning fundraising fest, where teams of four to eight people join classes, back-to-back, as a relay. There’s a $1,000 fundraising minimum, and all members must join classes. Why not sign up and break a sweat while helping to fund Memorial Sloan-Kettering’s cancer research and treatment efforts? 200 West Monroe Street, Chicago | cycleforsurvival.org
Saturday, February 24, 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.: 5th Annual Bowling Night for North Shore Research Institute, Cerebral Palsy. Help the NorthShore Research Institute bowl its way towards finding a cure for newborns with cerebral palsy, especially famlies whose children are in special need of life-saving attention. Food, drinks, raffle prizes, and, of course, bowling shoes and balls, are included. 2747 North Lincoln Avenue, Chicago | northshore.org