It's Our Little Secret (IOLS) is a non-profit organization comprised of volunteers dedicated to providing a voice to emotionally, physically, and sexually abused children and teens through advocacy, creative expression and various programs. It is IOLS' mission to promote a healthy recovery for the abused children and youth, and to stop the destructive future behavioral patterns of the abused towards their own and other children.
It's Our Little Secret's goal to make a difference in the lives of the children and youth through our various programs and services. It is our goal that the youth that we serve will learn to love themselves and enjoy life, learn to LIVE and not just survive.
It’s Our Little Secret is organized as a nonprofit corporation, and operates under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is, therefore, exempt from federal and state income taxes, except as to unrelated business income. Contributions to It’s Our Little Secret are deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code.
It’s Our Little Secret Inc. Federal Taxpayer I.D. Number is 27-1091802. It’s Our Little Secret Inc.'s IRS 990 Statement and Audited 2010 Financials can be viewed in PDF by August 2011. *990N Submitted for 2009
Kelly Hilton, MA, NCC (Teen Support Group for IOLS)
Kelly has a master’s degree in counseling from the University of North Carolina. Kelly has worked as a school counselor at Marian Central Catholic High Scholl for the past three years. Prior to working as a guidance counselor, Kelly was employed at KinderMourn, a non-profit agency in Charlotte, North Carolina. As the children's program director, Kelly conducted individual counseling sessions and lead structured support groups for grieving children/youth who had experienced the death of a close loved one. Throughout her career, Kelly has worked with children ages 4-18 with a focus on positive decision-making skills.
Aaron Mays, BA (Uh-Uh Play for IOLS)
Aaron Mays is an up-and-coming Chicago playwright. While attending Northwestern University, Aaron found a passion for theatre where three of his plays were produced, two of which he directed. In 2007, he was commissioned to write a new play for Northwestern University’s African American Theatre Ensemble, titled "The Street Corner." Recently, his work has been performed by AstonRep Theatre and Dramatis Personae.
*Bio to Follow...
Looking for a Clinician for a Physcho-educational Support Group for Adult Survivors (Volunteer), please contact Kristie Sams-Faulkner at 773.450.9455 if interested.
You Can Be a Hero Program to introduce the IOLS Journey Pack for children going into the foster care system. The Journey Pack will include a Suitcase (Size Approp.), Luggage Tags that can be personalized, Blanket, Coupon for a Free Photo Session, Photo Album, Hygiene Kit, Mingo, the Lion Stuffed Animal and a “You Can Be a Hero Too” book to help them overcome their fears of leaving their home environment.
Items Needed: Gently Used and/or New Suitcases, Luggage Tags (Made or Purchased), Blankets (Child/Teen Sized), Small Photo Albums, Stuffed Animals, Books, Coloring Books, Crayons, Hygiene Items (Toothbrushes, Combs, Brushes, Lotions etc.)
Looking for Photographers in McHenry County that would sponsor 1 (one) Professional Sitting & 3 Photos to a child in Fostercare!
**The importance of this is life altering; imagine looking back on your childhood only through the memories in your head!
Please contact Kristie Sams-Faulkner at ksams@itsourlittlesecret.org for more information!
Thank You Kyuki DO Martial Arts of Huntley
KMA hosted a self defense course for the community that benefited IOLS. KMA's goal is to donate 100 Journey Packs for our You Can Be Hero Program!! Thank you to everyone at KMA for the CARE and LOVE you put into this very important project to benefit children in Fostercare!
Sharing Our Secrets
Huntley Firefighters Union Local 4106 3rd Annual Golf Tournament
Save the Date - Wednesday, June 8th at Pinecrest Golf Club! IOLS was choosen by the Hunltey Firefighters Union to benefit from this very special event! Thank you to everyone for your support! Visit iaff4106.org for more info.
Thank You Kyuki-Do Martial Arts of Huntley
KMA hosted a self defense course in April for the community that benefited IOLS! KMA's goal is to donate 100 Journey Packs for our You Can Be Hero Program!! Thank you to everyone at KMA for the CARE and LOVE you put into this very important project!
2011 Backpack Drive
The goal of the drive is to collect 200 Filled backpacks for children in Fostercare. IOLS will also gladly accept the following items (new condition only): Backpacks, Pocket Folders, Wide-Rule Spiral, Notebooks, College-Rule Spiral Notebooks, Washable Glue Sticks, Wide-Rule Filler Paper, College-Rule Filler Paper, Large Erasers, Crayola Crayons, #2 Pencils, Child Safety Scissors, Pointed-Tip Scissors, Plastic or Wooden Rulers , Markers, Pencil Sharpeners, Pencil Cases, Pencil Cap Erasers, Red, Blue, and Black Pens, Water Color Paint Sets, 1” 3-Ring Binders, Colored Pencils, Highlighters, Calculators, Protractors, Compasses, Winter Wear (Scarves, Gloves, Hats) and Index Cards.
For more information about donating items, please call 847.651.9878 or email ksams@itsourlittlesecret.org
February Valentines
Make valentines for a child in fostercare. It can say anything like "Precious child, you are loved today and everyday! Happy Valentine's Day!" "Wishing you the best Valentine's day yet! "The world would not be the same without you in it. Sending you lots of love! Happy Valentine's day!" Be creative! For info email aadame@itsourlittlesecret.org
2010 Toy Drive
Thank you to everyone that helped IOLS bring christmas joy to so many children and teens in McHenry and surrounding counties! IOLS Donated 100's of toys, blankets and other neccessities to DCFS McHenry County, Shelters, Inc., S.O.S. Villiage, Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center, PADS Homeless Shelter in Cary and various other families that were in need!
Wells Fargo
IOLS received a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation. Thank you to the Wells Fargo Foundation for your generous donation!
1 Year Anniversary
IOLS celebrated our one year anniversary on November 19th! Thank you to so many buisnesses that donated silent auction items, in-kind items, to our volunteers and to our many donors who donated their resources, wine for the raffle, toys for the toys drive and took toy wishlists from our giving tree!
Marshall Oseas Foundation
IOLS received a grant from the Marshall Oseas Foundation for Abused Children. Thank you to Mr. Marshall Oseas for your generous donation!
Project Linus in McHenry county has generously donated 150+ Blankets to the IOLS Toy Drive and have offered to make blankets for IOLS's journey packs. We are in need of 1 & 1/2 yard increments of child themed fleece.
IOLS' first 5K/1-Mile Walk was truely a success. Despite the chilly winds, we had over 100 people in attendance and over 50 children participated in the 50 yard dash and egg hunt. Click on the following link for race results.
National Child Abuse Awareness
IOLS has created a CAP (Child Abuse Pevention) Coalition in McHenry County and in order to celebrate National Child Abuse Awareness Month; which is in April, IOLS sponsored everal community activities.
S.O.S. Sharing Our Secret's Newsletter!
July 2010 Edition
October 2010 Edition
April 2011 Edition
2010 Backpack Drive
This summer IOLS received thousands of school supplies from backpacks to wooden rulers; so that we could help abused children get back 2 school the right way...the IOLS way! With all of the generous donations that we received we were able to fill 26 Youth Backpacks and 60 Teen Backpacks; which were donated to Royal Family Kids Camps (*the nation’s leading network of camps for abused, neglected & abandoned children.) & Shelter, Inc. (*emergency housing and longer term care for children and adolescents.)
Our success this year was accomplished because of dozens of families, friends, organizations and companies!
Board of Trustees
Kristie Sams-Faulkner serves as President and CEO of IOLS, Mrs. Sams-Faulkner serves as the organization’s key spokesperson and has primary responsibility for fund development and overall oversight of the organization’s business.
Maebelle Obispo-Emery serves as Vice President of Corporate Relations for IOLS. Mrs. Obispo-Emery’s primary function is to supervise corporate stragetic partnerships for the organization. Mrs. Obispo-Emery also is the corporate officer who directly interfaces with major corporations to form joint alliances and cause marketing to benefit IOLS.
Robin Jacobs serves as Child Abuse Awareness Liason for IOLS. Mrs. Jacob's primary function is to supervise all of the child abuse awareness activities for the organization.
