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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:

Inspiring 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.

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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:

Birthday Bags (formerly Gratitude Gifts)

4 Your Care Packages

Project Shop & Share

The g2 Personal Care Closet

Valentine's Meals for Veterans

Sponsor-a-Student Backpack Program

Bye-Bye Boredom Bags

FEED. (Food Is Essential Every Day)

Cleaning With Meaning

Deck the Dorm

Holiday Gift-Giving

Our Team

Our Team

Staff

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Nicki Sutherland
Executive Director & Founder

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Erin Kerpel
Director of Programming & Founder

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Betsy Hara
Director of Special Events

Board of Directors

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Lewis Lefteroff
Board Chair
Opus Solutions

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Stephanie Roseman
Vice Chair

Allstate

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Jill Rivkin
Secretary & Founder

Jill Rivkin Communications

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Connie Masselink
Treasurer

Allstate 

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Lisa Sanders
Founder

Glencoe School District 35

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Mindy Abern
Info Law Group

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Allison Silver
Founder

Compass 

Gratitude Generation Chairs

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Linsey Friedman
Teen Board Chair

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Jon Mall
Teen Board Chair

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Lara Zeigler
GLOW! Curriculum Writer 
and MLK Day Chair

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Deb Shapiro
GLOW! Curriculum Writer

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Sue Cohn
Shop & Share Coordinator

Jodi Joffe
Shop & Share Coordinator

Hayun Cho
Impact Report Chair

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Lauren Bruss
Thank-You Note Coordinator

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Paul Snyder
Golf Outing Coordinator

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Lisa Kaplan
Mitzvah Program Coordinator

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Ronna Belinky
g2 Personal Care Closet Chair

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Robin Taxman
Private Events Chair

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Kelly Jakymiw
Event Creation and Valentine Meals for Veterans Chair

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Amy Miller
Take-Home Project Chair

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Kim Voigt
g2 Personal Care Closet Chair

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Lisa Daniel
Website Chair

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Ellyn Adkisson
Private Events and Mac & Cheese Program Chair

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Elise Levin
Mac & Cheese Program Chair

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Meredith R.
Instagram Chair

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Andi Goldstein
Warm Soles Sock Drive Chair

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Nancy Snyder
Merch Chair

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Michelle Wise
FEED and Care Kits Chair

Community Friendships

Community Friendships

Alex's Lemonade Stand
Backyard Grill
Bella Via
Bernie's Book Bank

Bimbo Bakeries
BJBE
BNI
B'nai Tikvah
Bounce Children's Foundation
Brushwood Center

Burn Boot Camp
Caruso Middle School
CASA Lake County
Catholic Charities
Chicago Help Initiative

Chicago Police Department
Chicago Wolves
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Children's Medical Center at Summerlin

     Hospital
Christ United Methodist Church

Cobra Back
Community Partners for Affordable Housing
Connections for the Homeless
Cook County Juvenile Court System
Core Power Yoga
Cradles to Crayons
Dancing While Cancering
Daniel Wright Junior High School

DBR Chamber of Commerce
Deerfield High School
Deerfield Rotary
Discovery Day Camp

Edgewood Chamber of Commerce
Everett Elementary School

Exchange Club of Grayslake
Fill A Heart 4 Kids
Fluid Management
Fly Girl Dance
Food Warriors/Night Ministries
Friendship Pet Food Pantry
FSA
Gender Cool
Gigi's Playhouse
​GiveNKind

Glencoe Youth Services

Green Minds LFLB

Greenbriar Elementary School

Half Day School

Heartland Animal Shelter
Heinen's Bannockburn
Heller Nature Center
Hickory Point School

Highland Park Community
     Foundation
Highland Park High School
Highland Pop
Highwood Rec Center
Homethrive

Hunger Free Northbrook
I Am Me Camp
Indian Hill

Josh's Hot Dogs
Keeping Families Covered/Twice As Nice

     Mother & Child
Keshet
Kinderhaven Preschool Academy
Kipling Elementary School

Kiwanis Club Glenview-Northbrook
La Principal

Lake Zurich High School
Legacy Charter School
Lincoln Elementary School

Loft 21

Maple School

Max & Benny's
Midwest Veterans Closet
Montessori Connection
New Life for Old Bags
Nicasa
Nora Project
North Lawndale Employment Network
North Suburban Synagogue Beth El
North Suburban YMCA

Northbrook BlueHawks
​Northbrook Chamber of Commerce
Northbrook Rotary
Northern Illinois Food Bank
Northfield Township Food Pantry
Northwood Middle School
Nuestro Center
Oak Terrace Elementary School
Once Upon a Grill

Our Shining Stars

PADS Lake County
Paralysis Foundation
Presbyterian Hospital
Primo Center
Project 180 Impact
Red Oak Elementary School

Roberti Community House
Rootz
Ronald McDonald House
SaLT

Seth Paine Elementary School
Share Our Spare

Shauni's Sweets
Sherwood Elementary School
Shepard Middle School
Shri Yoga
Sidekicks
Silverado
South Park Elementary School
Special Education District of Lake County

     (SEDOL)

Sprague School
St. Francis Food Pantry

Sue's Pantry
T and C Treats
Traveling Tutus
Tulips for Laurie
USO of Illinois Great Lakes Center,

     Great Lakes Naval Base
Vernon Township Food Pantry
Versiti Blood Center of Illinois
Walden Elementary School
Wayne Thomas Elementary School
Weinberg Community for Senior Living
Wescott School

West Deerfield Township
WheelPower Studio
Whole Foods
Wild Roaster
Willow House

Willowbrook School
Wilmot Elementary School

Winkelman Elementary School
The Woman's Club of Evanston
Wood Oaks Junior High School
Xpress Your INC

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