Part of our mission has always been to give back and support those in need. Today, we announce an initiative to do just that. Over the next couple of months we are supporting the Holiday Giving Initiative for SOS Children’s Villages Illinois, which will help ensure a merry and bright holiday for some of the most vulnerable youth.

SOS Illinois is a unique and proven foster care model in which full-time professionally trained foster parents keep sibling groups together in private, single family homes within a village designed as an intentional community of care.

With a 100% high school completion rate (the national average is 50%) and more than 75% electing to attend college in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree (the national average is below 11%) SOS Illinois is a difference-maker for hundreds of children who — through no fault of their own — are in the foster care system.

Over the past 6 months during the Covid pandemic, the number of children entering the system has increased. However, without the ability to host in-person fundraising events such as their annual Dining & Conversation and Evening of Hope, SOS Illinois has lost a significant portion of their annual revenue.

The Holiday Giving Program is a way to allow the foster parents to purchase gifts for the children in care. Traditionally, corporate partners have provided gifts at various village-hosted Christmas parties, but with those in-person gatherings eliminated this year, money is needed.

With a total goal of raising $50,000, SOS Illinois estimates $30 per gift and 5 gifts per child spanning the following categories: educational enrichment (books, flash cards, etc.), winter warmth (coats, gloves, etc.), arts enrichment (painting kits, children’s instruments, etc.), outdoor recreation and wellness (sports equipment, yoga mat, etc.), and hobbies/fun (dolls, electronics, etc.).

Pasatiempo Barbecue is committing our efforts to help:

• 10% of every Down With the Swine purchase in September and October will be donated to the Holiday Giving Program

How you can help:

• If you donate $10, we’ll send you a limited edition Down With the Swine sticker (see image above)
• If you donate $20, we’ll send you a code for 20% off anything on our site
• If you donate $30 (enough for one gift), we’ll send you a free bottle of Down With the Swine
• If you donate $50, we’ll send you a custom Down With the Swine Christmas ornament
• If you donate $100, we’ll send you a free Down With the Swine t-shirt and rub.
• If you donate $150 (enough for one child’s gifts this Christmas), we’ll send you all of the above and give you a virtual backstage pass (includes first access to our new rubs, special tastings and input in future products, and more)

So how can you donate? Simply click one of the donate links above or follow this link to our donation dashboard, make your donation, and then send us proof of your donation via email (pasatiempobarbecue@gmail.com).

Thank you for your support!

SOS Illinois is a well established organization (30 years) with a four-star Charity Navigator and platinum Guidestar rating, so you can be assured that your donation is being put to good use. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.