Event Overview
Don’t miss our signature 2nd Annual Holiday Cheer Challenge on December 11th. This high-energy holiday scavenger hunt infuses giving back with an unforgettable winter adventure — sending Chicagoans of all ages on a race around downtown, performing tasks to spread kindness and cheer while raising vital funds to fuel Honeycomb’s year-round programs.
Teams of families, adults, and corporate groups…ALL are welcome!
Challenge Format
The fun kicks off on Thanksgiving (November 26th) with a host of extra-credit missions. Teams can earn early points by collecting supplies or completing volunteer tasks to benefit Honeycomb’s network of nonprofit partners. Then on Sunday, December 11th, participants will convene in downtown Chicago for the main event.
Guests will sip warm holiday drinks and sample tasty treats at the Chicago Cultural Center while taking in the city’s winter skyline. Teams of 4–6 will descend upon downtown to see which can complete the most tasks that make others smile: caroling at Cloud Gate, giving out thank you notes to city workers, staging scenes from the Nutcracker…and so many more!
Folks at home can follow the fun on social media – tuning in live from the field and completing missions in their own neighborhoods. Finally, we regroup indoors at the Cultural Center for the award ceremony and a spirited send-off.
Host Committee
Gabrielle Martinez & Jeffrey Sorensen, Co-Chairs
Raji & Soni Bedi
Soo Choi & Stephen Swedlow
Kristin Carey Leos & Greg Leos
Allie & Hart Passman
Alison & Blair Blake
Board of Directors
Meagan Newman – Chief Operating Officer, Bartlit Beck LLP (Board President)
Jennifer Paik Chung – Senior Director of TBM, Chicago Trading Company (Vice President)
Catherine Tannen – Co-Founder, The Honeycomb Project; Attorney (Treasurer)
Sabera Choudhury – Managing Director, Baker Tilly (Secretary)
Paris Byrd – Chief of Staff: Legal, Obama Foundation
Carlos Garcia – Executive Director, Product Strategy, Innovation & GTM, BlueCross BlueShield of IL
Kathryn Konrad – Executive Director and Banker, J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Kristina Lowenstein – Co-Founder and Executive Director, The Honeycomb Project
Gabrielle Martinez – Co-Founder and Managing Partner, EA Collective
Jeffrey Sorensen – Director, PwC
Sponsorship Opportunities
Honeycomb’s Holiday Cheer Challenge sponsorship opportunities are designed to increase brand visibility, help your team bond with each other, connect with our community, and give back during the holiday season. You’ll also enjoy year-round benefits — making a lasting impact in Chicago’s communities.
“The opportunity to examine and live the values we practice everyday at work out in our communities is incredible. And Honeycomb is just a natural partner to do that.”
– Melvin Williams, Chicago Trading Company
We are thrilled to invite you to participate in our Inaugural Season of Service — a 6-week long, high-visibility event series engaging individuals, families, and corporate groups of all sizes to make lasting change in Chicago’s communities. Our expanded holiday offerings include 20+ in-person volunteer projects, 6 high-impact drives, and a kindness-themed scavenger hunt in Millennium Park.
About Us
The Honeycomb Project is Chicago’s go-to organization for family volunteering. For more than a decade, we’ve provided vital resources, volunteers and staff support to Chicago’s nonprofits. Our family-centered programs put kids ages 3–17 at the forefront of social change, helping whole families learn, give, and grow together.
Last year, over 3,500 volunteers from 95% of Chicago’s neighborhoods participated in Honeycomb programs. Our projects address the immediate needs of local nonprofits working in areas such as food insecurity, housing, environmental conservation, social justice, and public health.
Why Now?
Our city needs Honeycomb now more than ever. Our 40+ nonprofit partners experienced unprecedented demand for services during Covid-19. To this day, many are struggling to find their footing and build their capacity. These organizations are looking to Honeycomb to provide dedicated volunteers, in-kind donations, and staff support to get them back on track.
Your donation, at every level, helps to expand our family-centered programs and provides vital support to local nonprofits in need.