Did you know that today is Endangered Species Day…and that each and every animal on the graphic above is endangered?  Geesh. Talk about a wakeup call!

According to its website, Endangered Species Day is an opportunity for people to learn about the importance of protecting endangered species and the everyday actions that people can take to help protect disappearing wildlife.

Protecting America’s wildlife and plants today is a legacy we leave to our children and grandchildren, so that all Americans can experience the rich variety of native species that help to define our nation.  Started by the United States Senate, Endangered Species Day is the third Friday in May. Every year, thousands of people throughout the country celebrate Endangered Species Day at parker, wildlife refuges, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens, libraries, schools and community centers. You can participate in festivals, field trips, park tours, community clean-ups, and many other fun and educational activities.

At the very least, I hope that you’ll take a minute or two to think (& possibly do something!) about our Endangered Species (Silver Lining).

A Prayer for Animals

Hear our humble prayer for our friends the animals, especially for

animals who are suffering; for animals that are overworked, underfed and

cruelly treated; for all wistful creatures in captivity that beat their

wings against bars; for any that are hunted or lost or deserted ot

frightened or hungry; for all that must be put to death.

We entreat for them all Thy mercy and pity, and for those who deal with them as ask a

heart of compassion and gentle hands and kindly words.

Make us, ourselves, to be true friends to animals, and so to share the blessings

of the merciful.

- Albert Schweitzer

My favorite is the Swiss Chard Raw Wrap. I’ve been munching on these tasty treats all week.  I hope that you enjoy them as much as I do...and as much as Buzz would like to!

Swiss Chard Raw Wrap

This may look complicated, but it’s really easy peasy (because it’s the only way I roll!). The only step that takes forethought (besides the shopping) is soaking the almonds overnight. The rest is a breeze, and it’s a fun snack, even for kids.

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup almonds, soaked overnight in 2 cups water
• 1 ½ tablespoons flaxseed oil
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
• 6 teaspoons fresh lime juice, divided
• ½ teaspoon sea salt, divided
• 2 ripe avocados, peeled and pitted
• 3 carrots, grated
• 2 red bell peppers, cut into thin strips
• 1 bunch watercress, upper stems and leaves only
• 4 ounces pea shoots or daikon radish sprouts (or both)
• 4 ounces bean sprouts
• 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced on a sharp diagonal
• 8 large, very fresh Swiss chard leaves, cut in half lengthwise and center rib removed

 Instructions:

1. Drain almonds thoroughly and place in food processor, along with oil, basil, 4 teaspoons lime juice, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Process until well chopped and nearly smooth. Scrape into a small bowl, cover, and set aside.
2. Place avocado flesh in a bowl, along with remaining 2 teaspoons lime juice and salt; mash to a smooth puree. Cover and set aside.
3. Place grated carrot, red bell pepper, watercress, pea shoots or radish sprouts, bean sprouts and scallions separately on a platter. Place chard leaves on a second platter. Serve with almond and avocado mixtures. Invite everyone to spread a small amount of avocado mixture on the underside of a Swiss chard leaf, place a nugget of almond mixture at one end, and then add small amounts of whichever vegetable fillings they choose; roll up and eat.

I hope that you enjoy this Silver Lined treat as much as we do!

{oh, and if you’re ever stumped on how to make the most of a carry-on, read my post about how to pack a carry-on for a five day trip!}

I get so excited when people truly think (& act!) outside of the box. This is exactly what Liam has done with this new model of philanthropy. It’s not the same-old, same-old which is an incredibly Silver Lined inspiration.

Liam kindly took the time to answer a few questions to explain the what, why and how of A Better Chicago.  I hope that you enjoy getting to know A Better Chicago as much as I have!

What is your mission? Our mission is to invest in a portfolio of high-performing nonprofit organizations that are dramatically advancing opportunities for our region’s low-income population.

What is your philanthropic model? We act much like a venture capital firm does, in that we help high performing nonprofits to grow and realize their potential.  Just like a successful venture capital firm, we rigorously screen nonprofits before investing, and then we hold them accountable to achieving results.  But our support goes beyond just a grant.  We also help our grantees in areas like strategic planning, marketing and technology.  So we’re helping our grantees to work more effectively, in addition to helping them to grow.

What are your priorities? At the heart of A Better Chicago is opportunity. We believe that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their potential and proudly stand on their own two feet. To that end, we support organizations that are equipping people with the education, skills and credentials to compete in the 21st century economy. Our funding is focused on three areas that are critical to creating opportunity and achieving self-sufficiency: early childhood development, K-12 education and workforce development.

How is ABC different from other charities? Our model centers on four aspects:

• 100% impact: Our board underwrites all of our operating expenses, so 100% of every dollar donated to A Better Chicago is invested in our region’s most effective nonprofits.
• Rigorous due diligence: We do the homework for you. A Better Chicago only funds the most effective and innovative nonprofits in our region. Further, we continually track our grantees’ performance to help them improve and hold them accountable to delivering results.
• Add value: Our investment goes beyond just dollars. We help our grantees tackle their biggest strategic and operational challenges by providing a variety of management support services. Examples include strategic planning, board development and communications assistance.
• Engagement: Our transparent investment approach helps donors to understand where their support is going, and how it is making a difference. Also, we provide opportunities for engagement with our grantees, such as volunteering or joining a board.

What are your plans for future growth? We made our first round of grants to three outstanding nonprofits last year.  Our plans are to grow our portfolio of grantees up to 15-20 organizations over the next 4-5 years.  To do that, we’ll need to build up our board, staff and base of supporters.

What challenges do you face? People.  It’s all about finding and developing great people to build our organization.  That will be the biggest driver of our success.  But building a team of great people isn’t easy.  It’s takes a lot of work.  If we do that right, then good things will follow.

What do you think will change about ABC over the next five years? Right now, we are a really young organization.  We have a staff of four and a board of five.  At this size, we need to be really entrepreneurial, and everyone needs to wear a number of different hats.  As we grow, we will build out our team.  That means our roles will change in some ways.  But I hope to keep that entrepreneurial spirit.  It keeps us hungry and creative.

What would you like for people to know about ABC? A Better Chicago makes it easy to make a difference in our community.  Chicago is facing a lot of challenges these days.  I think the biggest of all is that we are doing a bad job of educating and training our youth for the careers of tomorrow.  But the good news is that A Better Chicago is doing something about it.  We are helping our region’s very best nonprofits to serve more people in need.  That is creating opportunity for folks who wouldn’t have a shot at having a career, owning a home or providing for their children.  We make it easy for people to give with confidence because we do the homework for them.  We don’t invest a dime into a program until we have thoroughly vetted it.  Further, because our board generously covers all of our operating expenses, 100% of every donation goes to charity.

What is the best thing that has happened to you since founding ABC? I’ve had the opportunity to meet some incredible people, both on the fund-raising and grant-making sides of our work.  It’s really inspiring to see the passion that people have for Chicago and for helping those in need.

How can people get involved? There are lots of ways to get involved.  If we are going to be successful, then we need to raise the funds that enable us to invest in our grantees to help them thrive.  But it goes beyond that.  We are looking to engage folks who are interested in donating their time and talent.  For example, Latham & Watkins LLP is providing us with pro bono legal services, which is enormously impactful.  We would love to speak with folks who are passionate about the work we do and have a skillset that will provide real value to us.  Also, we can help folks find meaningful engagement opportunities with our grantees as a volunteer or, in some cases, as a board or advisory board member.  It’s all about helping people find an opportunity that’s a great fit for all sides.

From where did your personal interest in ABC stem? When I was in high school, I volunteered after school at an elementary school in in low-income area.  I helped third-graders with their homework.  After a few visits, it dawned on me.  These kids were struggling with basic addition and subtraction, even though they should have been working on long division and fraction.  The reality hit me all at once.  These kids—at just age 9—were already off track, and their futures were dim.  That experience got me fired up to give back.

What got me focused on A Better Chicago was from working in New York for a few years for an amazing foundation.  I learned first-hand that traditional philanthropy wasn’t working very well, but that another model existed.  In short, there is a lot that philanthropy can learn from the private sector.  Sure, they are not identical.  But, there is a lot we can learn from leading edge venture capital firms and how they help their portfolio companies to succeed.  When it comes to things like our country’s poor education system, people should remember that a solution exists for almost every problem out there.  That’s not the biggest issue.  The biggest issue is that we are really bad about scaling our best solutions.  And I think the venture capital space can teach us a thing or two about scaling.  When I moved back to Chicago seven years ago, I kept looking for a group that did similar work to what I found in New York, but I didn’t find it.  That’s what led me to eventually start A Better Chicago.

What is your professional background and how does it influence your work at A Better Chicago? Prior to founding A Better Chicago in 2010, I spent 10 years in the corporate and nonprofit sectors.  Most recently, I was a management consultant at Bain & Company.  Prior to Bain, I worked at the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, which is where I learned how philanthropy can be more effective.  Earlier on, I worked in the investment banking group of William Blair & Company and in the development office of ACCION USA.  I have a BA from Dartmouth College and a MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.

Who was your mentor as a child? My dad.  He is one of the most dedicated, thoughtful and generous people I have ever met.  And he does it all for the right reasons.  There is no ego there.  I learned a lot from him.

What inspires you? I’m inspired by the organizations we fund that are directly addressing some of our region’s most troubling problems.  These programs are the real deal.  They are truly transforming lives in a very concrete, measurable way.  That gets me fired up.  Also, I am inspired by the incredible folks we have on our staff and board.  I’m lucky to call them teammates.

What is your ultimate Silver Lining in life? My wife!  She keeps me on track and focused on what really matters.

If you’d like to learn more about A Better Chicago, please go to their website:  http://abetterchicago.org/

Shanon has been interested in fitness her whole life. Growing up in Colorado, she was very active…always hiking, riding bikes and playing a variety of sports.  However it wasn’t until after graduating from college and working part-time in a yoga studio that she really fell in love with the process of fitness.  It was the first time that she saw how exercise could truly affect and change her body, energy and mindset. It was at that point that she decided at to turn this love for fitness into a career.

During our trip, she shared some tips that I had never heard before (and I’ve heard and learned a TON about fitness and weight loss).  She generously agreed to share this really great information with The Silver Pen (Silver Lining).

What foods should you avoid after a certain time of the day? This is a tricky question and depends on the person.  But for weight loss I generally recommend not eating starchy carbs after 4 pm because most people’s metabolism begins slowing down a bit later in the day.  I also recommend eating dinner by 6 or 7 pm as many nights of the week as possible and don’t snack after dinner.  Going to bed with a slightly hungry feeling like you could eat something but aren’t starving is the best way to burn fat and lose weight while you sleep.  Also keeping alcohol and sugar to a bare minimum is always best for weight loss.

How do you get your body back (after a baby or medication-induced weight gain)? Consistency, balance and patience. It is important to remember that weight gained during pregnancy or because of a medication are situational weight gain scenarios.  Therefore, the healthier and more fit you are prior, the easier it will be for you to bounce back.To get your figure back after baby consistency is key. It is important to cut refined sugars and unhealthy fats (i.e. junk food, chips, cookies etc) and focus on a balanced diet full of healthy proteins, fats and carbohydrates, mainly in the forms of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. If you are nursing, it is important to keep adequate calorie intake to maintain milk supply, however nursing also helps with weight loss!  Exercise is also extremely important but above all, consistency with both is crucial.  Eating healthily and exercising on a regular basis, versus trying forms of yo-yo dieting will not only help you lose weight at a healthy rate, but also keep energy levels stable and instill a healthy lifestyle.  Although it is often difficult to come by after a new baby, sleep is important to keep cortisol levels down.

Medication-induced weight gain is a little more complicated, depending upon the type of medication and the reason for its use, however it is important to restore balance to the body after medication.  Usually medication causes inflammation and disrupts the flora in the intestinal tract, so taking probiotics will help restore balance.  Eating plenty of vegetables and healthy fats (i.e. avocados, olive oil) will help bring down inflammation and again, consistency with diet and exercise is key. It is also important to remember to have patience with your body.

With pregnancy, it took 9 months to gain the weight so it isn’t reasonable to assume you will have your pre-baby body back in a few weeks or months.  And medication-induced weight gain usually comes from some pretty serious medications and health issues, so it is important to listen to your body and give yourself time to heal and restore itself to it’s original vibrant form!  Eating foods that are full of antioxidants and nutrients in the form of brightly colored fruits and vegetables and broth based mineral soups will help restore lost nutrients to help with the healing process.

Hope Solo, Soccer

Ryan Lochte, Swimming

Serena Williams, Tennis

Ashton Eaton, Track & Field

Dwyane Wade, Basketball

Jonathan Horton, Gymnastics

Ryan Lochte, Swimming

Bryan Brothers

These are some of the most beautiful images I’ve ever seen in Vogue, just sayin’…Annie Leibovitz has outdone herself!