This place rocks! If you have a child between the ages of 12-17, he or she might be eligible to…read morejoin this very special organization. It's a safe place where teens can study, learn new skills, or just hang with friends. They offer classes in topics such as cooking, sewing, archery, billiards, self-esteem, mechanics, technology just to name a few. They have a sound room connected to a stage where they can play live or work the sound room. Community service hours can be earned through Project Serve or Project Give (e.g.,working the thrift store, helping veterans, making dog beds). There are pool tables, ping pong, old school & newer video games, air hockey, and a study area. Additionally, certain Friday nights they have karaoke nights or DJing. The Bridge offers so much, you will need to visit their website to get a gist of their programs. In regards to safety, it's a little like Fort Knox which I love. Not just any adult can walk in, and you need to make an appointment to do a tour of the place not during the hours that the kids are present. This place is special and my son and his friends love it here.

0/10 - Bingo is rigged…read more We played probably over five rounds of bingo and I didn't win once Would not recommend bingo it's very hard

Styles for kids has been in our lives for 6 yrs, we are so lucky this place exists! We have been to…read moremany of the braiders and have never been disappointed! My daughter always walks out looking beautiful and feeling confident!

They did an awesome job on my Goddaughter hair. Her mom was looking for a stylist that specializes…read morein biracial kids hair. We saw their advertisement on tv and wanted to try them. Ashley was the hair stylist and she did an awesome job to my baby hair. Beautiful design and style and extension color. Plus Ashley added the bows to make it perfect and beautiful. I recommend this place and try to book ahead of time because they are busy and booked.

Small location but very active!…read more I've been coming here to play Volleyball for a few years now and am looking to put my daughter in the gymnastics program here. The staff here is truly great and I have gotten to know a few of them well. The parking situation is here a bit hectic especially around 6pm. Other than that, this place is the bees knees.

People working there are extremely incompetent. This is a place for community however they do not…read morevalue the community. Poor communication skills from the top down. Do not trust this place. Do not bother inquiring, they don't care.

A place where they find people furniture when they need it most. In 2025 they had their first bed…read morerace and they created beds on wheels and encourage people in the community to dress them up and it was a lot of fun to see the races with people dressed up. What a nice way to raise money and get donations for a great cause. We came to donate and get the cute TS for $25 each and they had a raffle. They pick up unwanted furniture and donate to those who need it.

I donated furniture and the movers were timely, kind and careful. Great service for a great cause!read more

It was ny first time volunteering at this charity. They were very welcoming and explained their…read moremission and how they help other charitable organizations. The work was helping organize pots in the warehouse and it felt rewarding to contribute. I would definitely do it again

I just placed my first small order at GiveNKind for holiday cards to send to Board members of our…read morenon-profit organization, and I am happy with my order. I received 80 cards for $10 and cannot wait to write on them. Each card is packed in its own plastic sleeve and some are really cute and festive pop-up cards. They are really good quality paper too. I did have to pull several cards that seemed odd or inappropriate but otherwise it was a great deal. It's a little far from my service area to drive to their site in Buffalo Grove, but I look forward to more orders in the future. Note that they only ship on orders of $300 and up. It is not a place for personal use but if you work for or own a 501(c) 3 organization, check this place out for sure. The application process was easy. The staff is also super friendly, helpful and customer service focused. They are helping many non-profits, keeping volunteers active, and keeping items out of our landfills too.

After 5:00 summer series Wednesday wine down:I recently visited this Little Black Pearl, and I have…read moreto say the energy when I walked in was great. I was surrounded by such positive, welcoming people of all ages. Throughout the night, we sang karaoke, played cards, shot pool and listened to good music. What really stood out to me was how safe, inclusive, and comfortable the environment felt. Everyone was so kind and genuine. But what truly touched my heart was how the community embraced my brother, who is special needs. There was no judgment only acceptance, laughter, and open arms. For the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I had to be on guard, watching to make sure he was being treated with respect because everyone just welcomed. It was a relaxing night filled with connection and joy. I would absolutely come back and recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, warm, and safe space. Thank you for such an unforgettable expeience.

The organization for which I work recently held an event at Little Black Pearl (LBP). The support…read moreand service we received was beyond stellar! LBP provided the space, catered the food (via their onsite cafe, Carver 47), connected us to amazing balloon and floral vendors, and provided other accoutrements (e.g., tables and chairs, table coverings, a stage, sound and tech support, package management). LBP's one-stop shop especially helpful given that our planning team resided outside of Chicago. There is so much to applaud from the experience: the warm and inviting space exuded elegance; the feast was as beautiful as it was delicious; and the LBP team's interactions with us (from planning to completion) was the epitome of grace and hospitality. They accommodated every request and did so with an exceptional level of excellence. When we asked that the menu include a vegetarian and Halal dish, they ensured guests had multiple options. When we requested assistance erecting our banner, they took on the task of assembling the entire structure, even machine washing and drying it when they noticed a stain. Compared to other spaces we considered (and have used in the past) across the city, LBP's offerings and support stood head and shoulders above and their love was palpable in their attention to details.That they have a heart-centered mission and work in support of youth and community was tasty icing on an already amazing cake. Thank you, Little Black Pearl team, for making our event a world-class experience!

They have horrible customer service and instructors, not friendly at all. Not willing to help and…read morethey talk down to you when you ask questions.

I used to come to the Y it was very dirty. The sun was filthy very bad mold smell. The Jacuzzi had…read morepoop floating around in it and I noticed they got rid of it. A lot of people come to this Y because they go to these different programs just to have a free gym membership. I think they should cut that out and improve the Y more and start charging people people that come there most people go there just because it's free not really interested in anything but getting what they can for free

Could not have had a better experience here! Sage, our adoption counselor, was super knowledgeable…read moreand took the time to really get to know us, answer any questions and suggest which cat would be the best fit for us. He did a phenomenal job, as the "Duchess" is already bein' a lap kitty the first night home. We're really so appreciative and are excited to give this lil' girl a loving home experience. Also this is a beautiful facility! It's heartwarming to know that these rescue animals have a wonderful space to stay until they are carefully placed in their new homes. Well done HHS!

Adopted my most amazing dog Marco from here 9 years ago :) he's the sweetest boy I'm so lucky to…read morehave him. Thank you for saving him off the streets

The donation boxes are very convenient and helpful when cleaning out the closet and downsizing,…read moregetting rid of unwanted clothes. Used to put then in bags in the alley for whoever wants and needs to take but oftentimes I find them all messed up, thrown on the ground which defeats my purpose. So off to the donation box it all goes. Wish there were more of the boxes around town. I'd rather drop it off at the box then drive to the Goodwill. Everyone complaining of it being sold etc it's the same thing the Goodwill.and Salvation Army does. But at least I don't have to drive far or wait in line when I'm in a time crunch in a busy week, and don't want to haul bags of stuff in my car for weeks until I am able to go to a Goodwill and don't have the time to list on ebay or marketplace but need closet space at the same time. I think what Gaia is doing is very good. At the end, someone does use the clothes, and they're not thrown around in the alley on the ground where nobody will want them. I could care less for a tax deduction because I'd always forget the slip when tax time comes and plus it don't make much difference anyway. Tried donating to shelters before only to learn that those who work there scavenger the donation and keep what they like/what's newer for themselves instead of giving everything to those at the shelter. If you want to give directly to the homeless then give it to them on the spot. But it's also hard to figure out if the pants size will fit them etc. So when I'm in a time crunch and need to clean out fast, don't want to haul bags of clothes waiting to go to Goodwill and making myself seem like I live in my car with random bags of clothes waiting to be donated, I just drop it off at the Gaia donation box. It's also helpful with the website that gives location of the boxes so if I'm traveling O can easily look up the nearest box. Honestly, think that everyone complaining about the concept of these donation boxes works for Goodwill or Salvation because then they don't get direct donations to sell at the store. Gaia boxes are convenient too being available 24/7 specially when working an odd schedule I can never make it to a Goodwill to drop off. At the end of the day, someone still makes use of the clothes, they don't end up in a landfill and maybe if I don't want to donate such clothes then I'll just not buy anything until my current wardrobe wears out. I don't make a penny from donating to Goodwill either, only the buyer gets to have new clothes, some brand new at a cheap price. But I don't have time for that so I just drop off at Gaia box. I also.like the little projects they have going on, fun stuff, and everything they do on local level at the warehouse to everything being done abroad in the developing countries, environmentally. Keep it up!

I donated clothes multiple times, then I read the charity watch review of this company and I was…read morenot very pleased with the outcome. Clothes is sold,not given to people. They have a big "over head" to run their business so there is really no money left to help others in need. I probably will not use again. Please check for yourselves and decide if you still want to continue using their bins. Gaia please change your practice, you could be a wonderful place to use.

After spending my career in the nonprofit world, in 2021 I stepped out on my own in the for-profit…read moreworld. I had a brilliant business idea and launched away! I joined my local Chamber of Commerce and started working a plan, but I still had so many questions about my offerings, my pricing, how to best spend my work time, and I felt scattered about what to do next. I met Jason Rosado through my chamber connection. It was great to find this incredible business coach! So, I was happy to talk to an expert. I kept the notes from when Jason and I first spoke about what an experienced business coach could do for me. Jason told me about five areas that his coaching would help me. 1. Clarification of my vision and direction 2. Strategizing my actions to reach my goals 3. Upgrading critical skills 4. Developing leadership skills 5. Being productive and focused with time management skills And that's exactly what he did! He helped me in many additional ways too: * Clarifying my message * Effective networking skills for building partnerships * The value of leveraging relationships I already had but didn't see for myself * How to be comfortable in my new world * And so much more. There were so many incredible takeaways I had. Every session was packed with helpful information, ideas, and strategies that he helped me get to work on and implement right away, and my business is taking off as a result! Whether you're starting a new business like me, or established and just need to re-focus, I recommend a discussion with Jason. I wouldn't be where I am today without him.

AAfter a couple years in business, I found myself busy but very overwhelmed, working really long…read morehours, doubting myself and my business strategies, and very stressed out. Working with Jason was truly life changing, not only professionally but also on a personal level, and I'm very grateful for coaching with him. The pandemic has forced me to completely changed my business model and processes, and thanks to what I have learned with Jason, I was able to go through this transition in a stress-free, smooth manner. I'm happy to say that my business, team and income have been able to grow as Jason has helped me in important areas such as business strategy, time management, "Smart Mapping" (his secret weapon), messaging and sales. Most importantly, he's helped me change my mindset regarding uncertainty, challenges, and opportunities for growth, which has not only helped my business, but my overall quality of life as well. My stress level is very low now, I'm confident in myself, my business and my support staff. I only offer the services that I truly enjoy providing, and I have enough time to dedicate to my friends and family. I highly recommend Distinctive Coaching for Business Success, especially during a time of uncertainty and changes on how business is being done. Personally, I know it's an investment that is going to continue giving me value for many years to come. Jason, I mean it, I can't thank you enough for what you've given me, my family and my business.