About Us
At the core of what we do is the belief that making positive changes in the world starts with our kids. We're on a mission to create more grateful, happy, healthy children who will grow into contributing adults and improve the lives of people around them.
We also believe that when kids practice gratitude, and experience what it means to help others, it instills the practice of giving and builds strong values. That's why g2 programs are built around hands-on community service opportunities for volunteers of all ages.
Our mission:
To instill gratitude in future generations through education and service.
Our Story
g2 started with a simple Facebook post in 2017 by a mom who didn't want her young child's only focus to be on how she was being gifted regularly for becoming a big sister.
Lisa Sanders wrote, "I am looking to teach my daughter that giving is so much more gratifying than receiving." Sanders proposed a service event for kids to give their toys to children in need. The idea resonated, and her post was flooded with responses from other parents who felt the same way. Hundreds commented, and dozens of people attended initial meetings. Within weeks, five Northshore women founded Gratitude Generation.
In the years since, g2 has grown exponentially, expanding our reach with new programs, ever-increasing community friendships and supporters, and dedicated volunteers. Our impact has surpassed one goal after another—and it's still growing.
Founding Board members at g2's launch party in April 2018.
(L-R): Erin Kerpel, Allison Silver, Jill Rivkin, Lisa Sanders and Nicki Sutherland.
Our Signature Programs
Close to our heart are several special programs that grew organically out of our mission—programs g2 designed and that we continue to offer on a regular basis.
Our signature programs include:
Personal Care Support
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4 Your Care Packages
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Cleaning with Meaning
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Warm Soles Sock (and Underwear) Drive
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Gifting with Gratitude
Student Support
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Birthday Bags
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Bye-Bye Boredom Bags
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Deck the Dorm
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Holiday Gift Giving
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Sponsor-A-Student Backpack Program
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g2 Do Good Day
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Take-home Projects
Education & Teen Leadership
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Teen Board, Service Squad & Junior Leaders
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g2 Kindness Rock Garden
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g2 Mitzvah Team
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Gratitude Givers Advisory Board
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Caring Kiddos
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MLK Day: Making Leaders of Kids
Food Insecurity & Support
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FEED: Food is Essential Every Day
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g2 Fruit & Vegetable Garden for the Community
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Happy Paws Project
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Shop & Share
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Valentine's Meals for Veterans
Our Team
Staff
Executive Director & Founder
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Director of Development
Director of Special Events
Program Coordinator
Program Coordinator
Teen Board Leader
Teen Board Leader
Board of Directors
Mindy Abern
Board Chair
Info Law Group
Leslie Randolph
Vice Chair
Self-Confidence Coach for Teenage Girls
Iliya Rivkin
Secretary
Student, University of Illinois Chicago
Connie Masselink
Treasurer
Allstate
Jill Rivkin
Board Member & Founder
Jill Rivkin Communications
Allison Silver
Board Member & Founder
Compass Real Estate
Kate Garassino
Board Member
Pinnacle Performance
Gratitude Generation Chairs
Kelly Jakymiw
Event Creation Chair
Valentine's Meals for Veterans Co-Chair
Ronna Belinky
Productivity & Operations Chair
Lara Zeigler
GLOW! Curriculum Writer MLK Day Chair
Tiffany Larkowski
Mother's Day Co-Chair
Heather Farnham
Valentine's Meals For Veterans Co-Chair
Jodi Joffe
Shop & Share Co-Chair
Sue Cohn
Shop & Share Co-Chair
Lauren Bruss
Thank-You Note Chair
Michelle Rosenthal
Happy Paws Chair
Lisa Kaplan
Mitzvah Team Chair
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Jen Adam
g2 Garden for Community Co-Chair
Robin Taxman
Caring Kiddos Co-Chair
Amy Micari
Caring Kiddos Co-Chair
Emily Lyons
Inventory Co-Chair
School Supplies Co-Chair
Heather Scott
Inventory Co-Chair
Lisa Daniel
Website Chair
Ellyn Adkisson
Mac & Cheese Program Co-Chair
Elise Levin
Mac & Cheese Program Co-Chair
Tamara Reese
Do Good Day Chair
Andi Goldstein
Warm Soles (& Underwear) Sock Drive Chair
Marney Cohen
g2 Holiday Gift Giving Co-Chair, Mother's Day Co-Chair, School Supplies Co-Chair
Michelle Wise
FEED. and 4 Your Care Kits Chair
Patricia Haughney
Gifting with Gratitude Co-Chair and Caring Kiddos On The Go Co-Chair
Marcy Chez
Gifting with Gratitude Co-Chair and Caring Kiddos On The Go Co-Chair
Cherie Einum
Junior Leaders Chair
Kerri Gimbel
Gifting with Gratitude Co-Chair and Caring Kiddos On The Go Co-Chair
Mary Herman
Plarn Chair
Jill Rivkin
g2 Holiday Gift Giving Co-Chair
John Ford
4 Your Care Kit Distribution Chair
Committees
Programming Committee:
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Sue Cohn
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Jodi Joffe
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Kim Voigt
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Jill Rivkin
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Sari Shuman
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John Ford
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Marney Cohen
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Mindy Abern
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Lauren Bruss
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Deanna Nemchock
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Pauline Kalish
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Melanie Shaftal
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Leslie Randolph
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Amy Micari
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Jeannette Lee
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Marcy Chez
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Michael Rapaport
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Andi Goldstein
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Laura Lieberman
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Tara Hassebroek
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Nisha Hakhu
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Mark Davids
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Amy Wiley
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Kerri Gimbel
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Pat Haughney
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Tara Goldfarb
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Brooke O'Neil
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Becky Pechter
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Emily Lyons
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Heather Farnham
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Heather Scott
Pickleball Event Committee:
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Jen Adams
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Betsy Hara
Gratitude in Motion:
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Sheryl Depakakibo
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Lou Mezzano
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Amber Powers
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Carrie Zelko
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Ivona Rozowicz
Gifting with Gratitude Committee:
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Marney Cohen
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Tiffany Larkowski
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Sarah Lohr
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Phillipa Tabachow
Anniversary Gala Committee:
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Sarah Lohr
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Marney Cohen
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Jill Rivkin
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Carrie Cohan
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Mindy Abern
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Nicki Sutherland
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Betsy Hara
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Leslie Randolph
End-of-Year Campaign Committee:
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Nicki Sutherland
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Jill Rivkin
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Jen Adams
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Mindy Abern
A Safe Place
Alex's Lemonade Stand
Alive Rescue
Am Yisrael School of Jewish Studies
Anti-Cruelty Society
Bernie's Book Bank
Betsy's Blankets
BJBE
BNI
B'nai Tikvah
Bounce Children's Foundation
Brushwood Center
Buffalo Grove Police Department
Camp One Step
Caruso Middle School
CASA Lake County
CATCH
Catholic Charities
Chicago Help Initiative
Chicago Police Department
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Children's Medical Center at Summerlin
Hospital
Christ United Methodist Church
Cobra Back
Community Partners for Affordable Housing
Congregation Hakafa
Connections for the Homeless
Cook County Juvenile Court System
Cradles to Crayons
Dancing While Cancering
Daniel Wright Junior High School
DBR Chamber of Commerce
Deerfield High School
Deerfield Rotary
Edgewood Chamber of Commerce
Eisenhower Public Library
Emerson Elementary School
Estelle Sieb Center
Everett Elementary School
Exchange Club of Grayslake
Fill A Heart 4 Kids
Food Warriors/Night Ministries
Friendship Pet Food Pantry
Furever Home Dog Sanctuary
Gender Cool
Gigi's Playhouse
Girl Scouts of America
GiveNKind
Glencoe Youth Services
Green Minds LFLB
Greenbriar Elementary School
Half Day School
Hardwood Heights Recreation Center
Heartland Animal Shelter
Heller Nature Center
Hickory Point School
Highland Park Community
Foundation
Highland Park High School
Holocaust Museum
Hunger Free Northbrook
I Am Me Camp
Ida Crown Jewish Academy
Indian Hill
Indian Trail
Indian Trails Public Library
JCC Chicago
Jewish Family Experience
Kanine Reading Buddies
Keeping Families Covered
Keshet
Kinderhaven Preschool Academy
Kingswood United Methodist Church
Kipling Elementary School
Kiwanis Club Glenview-Northbrook
Lake Zurich High School
The Landing on Dundee
Legacy Charter School
Lincoln Elementary School
Makom Solel Lakeside
Maot Chitim
Maple School
Meadowbrook School
Meridian Middle School
Midwest Veterans Closet
Montessori Connection
New Life for Old Bags
Nicasa
Niles Township Food Pantry
Nora Project
North Lawndale Employment Network
North Shore Congregation Israel
North Suburban Synagogue Beth El
North Suburban YMCA
Northbrook BlueHawks
Northbrook Chamber of Commerce
Northbrook Rotary
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Northfield Township Food Pantry
Northside College Prep
Northwood Middle School
Nuestro Center
Oak Terrace Elementary School
Orphans of the Storm
Our Shining Stars
PADS Lake County
Paralysis Foundation
Park District of Highland Park
Paws for Patrick
Period Collective
Presbyterian Hospital
Primo Center
Project 180 Impact
Ravinia School
Reach Rescue
Reading Power
Red Oak Elementary School
Ridgewood High School
Roberti Community House
Ronald McDonald House
SaLT
Salvation Army Norridge Citadel
Save-a-Pet
Self Help Pantry
Seth Paine Elementary School
Share Our Spare
Sherwood Elementary School
Shepard Middle School
Sidekicks
Silverado
South Park Elementary School
South School
Special Education District of Lake County
(SEDOL)
SEDOL Foundation
Self-Help Closet and Pantry
Special Gifts Theater
Sprague School
Stevenson High School
St. Francis Food Pantry
Sue's Pantry
T and C Treats
The Art Center
The Grace Network
Todd Hall School
TOV Volunteer Network
Traveling Tutus
Tulips for Laurie
Uncle Pete's Lunches
USO of Illinois Great Lakes Center,
Great Lakes Naval Base
Vernon Area Library
Vernon Township Food Pantry
Walden Elementary School
Walk for Parker
Wayne Thomas Elementary School
Weinberg Community for Senior Living
Wescott School
West Deerfield Township
Willow House
Willowbrook School
Wilmot Elementary School
Windy City Cares
WINGS
Winkelman Elementary School
Wintrust Bank, Norridge Branch
The Woman's Club of Evanston
Wood Oaks Junior High School
Xpress Your INC
Youth Services of Glenview/Northbrook
Plus, 42 fire and police departments