Jim's Bridge to a Brighter Future

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Jim's Bridge to a Brighter Future

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We strive to foster a legacy of giving and helping others. Our purpose is to establish a legacy of sharing, caring and helping others in memory of James F.

Mikulski, a wonderful and loving husband, step-father, son, brother, and friend who suddenly passed away on October 2, 2013. Jim's Bridge to a Brighter Future accomplishes its purpose through sponsored activities and fund-raising by promoting service and fostering an opportunity to support the wellness and education of disadvantaged school aged children. The organization is entirely run by volunteers. The James F. Mikulski Memorial Group, Inc (aka. Jim's Bridge to a Brighter Future) is organized and operated exclusively for charitable purposes in accordance with Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Jim's Bridge is funded through private donations, online contributions and donations in recognition of volunteer services. The beneficiaries of donations received through these activities are certified grade school educational institutions in the Chicago area.

10/08/2026

The final 2026 Jim’s Bridge volunteer event is the Hot Chocolate 5K/10K/15K on Sunday November 1st. Please note that the time change is that morning (“Fall Back” .…we get an extra hour’s sleep). Check in at the volunteer compound on Sunday is no later than 5:15am. The volunteer compound is located downtown in Grant Park.

Our group will once again provide guidance and directions to the runners, walkers, and spectators at the race. We will be stationed across a number of zones in and around the Grant Park race area. Upon check-in, all volunteers will receive Hot Chocolate swag and after volunteering, there will be chocolate treats for us.

Here is the signup link (it is a new registration process, so lmk if you have questions)

https://venturesendurancevolunteers.givepulse.com/shift/6988189?pkey=9a06cfdb83005e3fc01a

Our assignments will last no later than 9:45-ish. We will do our best to accommodate everyone's schedule for departure.

Message me or text/call me at 708-267-9343 if you have any questions.

10/07/2026

Our thanks to everyone who contributed to the Jim's Bridge Fall Festival Fundraiser on Sunday Oct 4th. Close to 90 people joined us at our new venue at the Palos Country Club for good times, great prizes and wonderful food. Special thanks to all of our friends and businesses that contributed items for our raffles and silent auction.

09/30/2026

Coming up this Sunday October 4th is the Jim’s Bridge to a Brighter Future 2026 Fall Festival Fundraiser. Tell your Family and Friends. We hope you can join us!

Sunday, October 4, 2026
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Palos Country Club
13100 Southwest Hwy
Orland Park, IL 60462

Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. You can purchase tickets or donate by

PayPal, Credit or Debit (you can also scan the QR code in flyer)
https://bit.ly/jimsbridge2026

Zelle to: [email protected]

Mail to: James F. Mikulski Memorial Group
405 Shadow Creek Court
Palos Heights, Il 60463

Just like our prior fundraisers, we have delicious food, a silent auction and raffles plus Spin the Wheel and Split the Pot.

We have lots of great prizes lined up including
• Free pair of running/walking shoes of your choice
• A golf package for four at the Palos Country club
• Museum package with Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum and the Skydeck
• Waterford Crystal basket
• Multiple Restaurant gift baskets including Gibson’s, Season’s 52, Francesca’s, Wildfire, Bonefish Grill, Franklin’s Public House, Jen’s Guesthouse and many more
• Grocery basket from Trader Joe’s, a family game basket and more!

As always, we appreciate your support of Jim’s Bridge!

09/20/2026

Great work by all of the Jim's Bridge volunteers today at the CARA Ready 2 Run "20" Miler!

There may have been stormy skies, rain, wet ground and a delayed start, but our volunteers rose to the occasion. We found an ideal spot for Gear Check and set it all up so we were ready for the runners after they crossed the finish. Super Job everyone! Thank you so much for your help, ingenuity, organization skills and tolerance for getting rained on!

09/18/2026

Sign up soon If you would like to volunteer with Jim's Bridge at the Chicago Marathon! All volunteer registrations need to be completed by Oct2nd. I hope you can join us.....here is the info and sign up link.

Join Jim’s Bridge as a volunteer at the Chicago Marathon as part of the Grant Park Information Team - Sunday October 11, 2026. Tell your family and friends!

The Jim’s Bridge volunteers will work on the first shift of the Information Team stationed along Michigan Avenue across the street from Grant Park. Volunteers should arrive at the volunteer compound in Grant Park by 4:45am. All volunteers will receive a light breakfast as well as a Chicago Marathon volunteer jacket and a cap (see attached photo). We generally work no later than 9:00am. After that time, the day is yours.

Here is the signup link for Jim’s Bridge

https://cemevent.rosterfy.com/invite/pWlFenADMQcX7pmVxCP4id0BK2fv1HsVYChVhKyH4fZjY7WVgXfzbFiVcbx7

All volunteers MUST register online individually at the race organizer’s website by 11:59pm on Friday October 2nd. All volunteers need to be 18 years or older. Feel free to pass the link along to anybody else who would like to volunteer.

We will have carpooling from my house in Palos Heights. Let me know if you would like to join the carpool.

Feel free to send your questions to me regarding this volunteer opportunity. You can text/call me at 708-267-9343 or message me.

Thanks much!

Maureen

09/06/2026

Join Jim’s Bridge as a volunteer at the Chicago Marathon as part of the Grant Park Information Team - Sunday October 11, 2026. Tell your family and friends!

The Jim’s Bridge volunteers will work on the first shift of the Information Team stationed along Michigan Avenue across the street from Grant Park. Volunteers should arrive at the volunteer compound in Grant Park by 4:45am. All volunteers will receive a light breakfast as well as a Chicago Marathon volunteer jacket and a cap (see attached photo). We generally work no later than 9:00am. After that time, the day is yours.

Here is the signup link for Jim’s Bridge

https://cemevent.rosterfy.com/invite/pWlFenADMQcX7pmVxCP4id0BK2fv1HsVYChVhKyH4fZjY7WVgXfzbFiVcbx7

All volunteers MUST register online individually at the race organizer’s website by 11:59pm on Friday October 2nd. All volunteers need to be 18 years or older. Feel free to pass the link along to anybody else who would like to volunteer.

We will have carpooling from my house in Palos Heights. Let me know if you would like to join the carpool.

Feel free to send your questions to me regarding this volunteer opportunity. You can text/call me at 708-267-9343 or message me.

Thanks much!

Maureen

09/05/2026

Many thanks to everyone who donated to the Jim’s Bridge Summer Clothing Drive! Today we delivered over 6400 pounds of soft goods, hard goods and books/media which will get the charity almost $1200 for Chicago school children on financial need.

Special thanks to everyone who helped us load and unload the truck to Savers on a hot sunny morning. And a big shout out to Callaghan’s Moving Services for the truck and crew to get us there!

09/02/2026

We have Very Important News about the Jim’s Bridge Fall Festival Fundraiser on Sunday Oct 4th.
WE’VE MOVED!!! The new fundraiser location is

Sunday, October 4, 2026
1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Palos Country Club – Grand Ballroom
13100 Southwest HWY
Orland Park, IL 60462

We were sad to learn that Zachary’s Grill, our fundraiser location since we started, has closed. But we are very excited to announce that we have a wonderful new location at the Grand Ball Room of the Palos Country Club.

We will have a wonderful heavy appetizer menu, with our usual silent auction, raffles, Spin the Wheel and Split the Pot. See the enclosed flyer for updated details.

Tickets are $40 in advance or $50 at the door. You can purchase tickets or donate by

PayPal, Credit or Debit (you can also scan the QR code in flyer)
https://bit.ly/jimsbridge2026

Zelle to: [email protected]

Mail to: James F. Mikulski Memorial Group
405 Shadow Creek Court
Palos Heights, Il 60463

Please join us and support Jim’s Bridge at this new location! This is the premier fundraising event for Jim’s Bridge to help Chicago area school children in financial need. Since 2014 we have granted over $370,000 for the children, including 163 scholarships. Your attendance or donation would be greatly appreciated.

As always, we are grateful for your support of Jim’s Bridge.

John and Maureen Mikulski
708-267-9343/[email protected]

08/23/2026

It was a beautiful sunny morning volunteering today along the lakefront path with Jim's Bridge at the SuperTri Chicago. We served up water and Gatorade to thousands of thirsty athletes as they completed the Run Phase of their Triathlon! Our thanks to everyone who volunteered with us!

08/20/2026

What a fun time on a beautiful day today at the Erie Neighborhood House Back to School event at their West Town location! Jim's Bridge was proud to be one of the sponsors.

The event featured all kinds of great food - including hot dogs, cotton candy, snow cones and popcorn, plus a bounce house and games. And, of course fully stocked backpacks for the children as they head back to school.

We thoroughly enjoyed it....and so did our grandsons....on their last day before school starts!

Address

405 Shadow Creek Court
Palos Heights, IL
60463

Website

http://www.jfmmemorial.org/about.html

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