Sweet Miss Giving's, The One-Of-A Kind Bakery and Unique Employment Program of Local Non-Profit Chicago House, Experiences Tremendous Success In First Year of Business
Created just over one year ago as an employment program for Chicago House - a local non-profit providing housing and support for the formerly homeless and HIV/AIDS affected - Sweet Miss Giving's bake houses have grown rapidly from a small, start-up operation, to a flourishing brand of unique and successful bakeries. Since the doors opened on October 23rd 2008, SMG has experienced profound success with skyrocketing monthly sales and a presence in over 54 different locations throughout Chicagoland - including the newly opened SMG in the new French Market at the Ogilvie Transportation Center as of December 3rd.
What began as a simple idea from Rev. Stan Sloan, CEO of Chicago House, quickly became a reality as he procured prominent businesses, bakers, public officials, foundations, and corporate sponsors to rally around, support and enable the Sweet Miss Giving's business concept to come to fruition. Even though most small businesses and social enterprises do not succeed, and if they do are rarely profitable in their first year of business, faith, hard work and strategic collaboration has enabled SMG's positive growth. In the past year, SMG has satisfied thousands of sweet tooth cravings while providing Chicagoans-in-need with unique employment opportunities, an incredible sense of self-worth and much-needed hope for the future.
Rev. Stan Sloan, CEO of Chicago House, is available to discuss how Sweet Miss Giving's has achieved its business success, how the funds raised are helping those in need, as well as the unique business dichotomy of a fundraising venture and employment program for the formerly homeless and HIV/AIDS affected. We can also provide SMG employees and Chicago House members to share their stories of success and excitement at enjoying their first holiday season back on their feet.
This past November, Chicago House hosted their Inaugural Annual Speaker Series in partnership with President Clinton to spread awareness to those HIV/AIDS affected. When asked his thoughts on Sweet Miss Giving's, Clinton answered: "This is the best example anywhere in the country of all the AIDS outreach efforts that I am aware of." He also noted that efforts in Chicago to curb the spread of HIV are notable, as Chicago has the 6th highest number of AIDS cases in the nation, but isn't the 6th largest city, which means "you're [ Chicago House and its donors ] doing a good job."
The success of SMG has been a dream come true for Rev. Stan Sloan, as well as the hundreds of lives it has helped along the way. "The way the community has embraced Sweet Miss Giving's, despite the recession that has hit in the past year, has been inspirational and motivational for Chicago House and all of its members. We look forward to working hard and breaking more ground in 2010," explains the Rev. Sloan.
Sweet Miss Giving's Info:
· The program has enrolled 49 interns in baking, packaging, delivery, and customer service workshop since opening. Of that group, 39 interns advanced to a six month internship at the bakery, of which 15 have graduated. Upon graduation, 33% of graduates have been placed into full time employment in food service and hospitality/customer service.
· Partners include businesses, bakers, public officials, foundations, and corporate sponsors such as Northwestern/Kellogg School of Mgmt, Loyola, Perkins and Will, Goldberg & Kohn, Whole Foods ( Halsted Street & North/Kingsbury ) , Broadway In Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, French Market/Ogilvie Transportation Center, University of Chicago School of Business, AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Harris Bank, Fiji Water,
· Over 50% of all profits go to help the formerly homeless and HIV/AIDS affected men, women and children of Chicago House
· Monthly sales have increased seven fold since January 2009
· Available in over 54 Chicagoland locations
· SMG beat over half a dozen other bakeries for a spot at the French Market at the Ogilvie Transportation Center, opening its doors on December 3rd 2009
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About Sweet Miss Giving's: SMG was founded on October 23, 2008 by Rev. Stan Sloan, Episcopal priest and long-time CEO of Chicago House, the first provider of AIDS housing in the Midwest. Sweet Miss Giving's is an employment program created for the formerly homeless and HIV/AIDS affected, as well as a delicious way to fund Chicago House's support services. Over 50% of all profits go to help the formerly homeless and HIV/AIDS affected men, women and children of Chicago House. Sweet Miss Giving's was founded on the mantra of being both "Unquestionably Kind" and "Unreasonably Good" by delighting taste buds with scratch-baked, preservative-free, made-to-order muffins, scones, bars, brownies, cookies, and cupcakes. Monthly sales have increased seven fold since January 2009, with SMG now available at Whole Foods ( Kingsbury location ) , Broadway in Chicago, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens Theater, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Timeline Theatre, O'Hare International Airport, Kellogg School of Management, Café Too as well as other Chicago cultural institutions. Wholesale orders are also filled for events ranging to large-scale occasions to private birthday parties. www.sweetmissgivings.com
About Chicago House: Since 1985, Chicago House has provided permanent housing and supportive services to men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS. Their programs have since expanded to include community case management, substance abuse counseling, HIV prevention, medical adherence and the Midwest's first employment training and placement program specific to people with HIV. Chicago House also now offers free, anonymous rapid HIV testing. www.chicagohouse.org
