<div dir="ltr"><div id="m_-7812303492102851525gmail-:10e" style="font-size:0.875rem;direction:ltr;margin:8px 0px 0px;padding:0px;font-family:Roboto,RobotoDraft,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif"><div id="m_-7812303492102851525gmail-:10d" style="overflow:hidden;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;font-stretch:normal;font-size:small;line-height:1.5;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif"><div dir="ltr">Hi Mamie and the CCGA Communications Team, <div>It was so great to "see" you this past Wednesday! You were so close to winning!</div><div>We look forward to you joining us next week and doing the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VeggieBingo/videos/251803596113569/" target="_blank">Veggie Bingo line dance</a>!</div><div><br></div><div>Please help us spread the Veggie Bingo love by sharing with your network and including a blurb in your next CCGA newsletter. </div><div>Below is a press release with some images attached. You are also welcomed to use any images in this <a href="https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/13mQVogtld4ukP7VXdV-zyYEVN24m3voS" target="_blank">folder</a>.</div><div>Be sure to like and share the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/VeggieBingo/" target="_blank">Veggie Bingo facebook page</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>We appreciate your help with this and thanks so much, </div><div>Jasmine</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><span id="m_-7812303492102851525gmail-m_-8514995817607489678m_-8307293793067283440gmail-docs-internal-guid-3f8d0c30-7fff-74f2-029c-7853ab06d609"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">For immediate release: </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Veggie Bingo has gone virtual—and is now extended through August!</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Wednesdays, April 22nd to August 26th, 2020 from 7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. </span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.2;text-align:center;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Beloved fundraiser to support Chicago community gardens goes virtual</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Chicago, July 6th, 2020 </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Veggie Bingo, the long-running partnership between the </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/hideoutchicago/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Hideout</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, </span><a href="http://neighbor-space.org/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NeighborSpace</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, and </span><a href="https://soupandbread.net/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Soup & Bread</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">, has raised money for Chicago-area community gardens since 2010. With the advent of COVID-19 and the stay-at-home order, Veggie Bingo transitioned to an online platform and launched (two months earlier than usual!) in mid-April, as a way of fostering community and bringing a little much-needed silliness and lightness into our lives. So far Virtual Veggie Bingo has raised just over $6,000 and drawn as many as 150 players an evening. In response to popular demand, we're extending this unique fund-raising effort through August 26th, 2020. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Virtual Veggie Bingo happens every Wednesday from 7-8 pm via </span><a href="https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pfu2gqDspHd0z9-1R1YewYAGtB2pCeqDd" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Zoom</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Each game features "celebrity" bingo callers from both the Hideout's wide-ranging community and NeighborSpace garden leaders and supporters, with prizes donated from local growers and food producers, including Central Pickling, Co-Op Hot Sauce, Bike-a-Bee, City Grange, Dark Matter Coffee, Irv and Shelly's Fresh Picks, and more. Prizes are delivered by mail or by contactless drop-off. Complete details on how to play, and where to get your cards,  can be found at the </span><a href="http://neighbor-space.org/veggiebingo/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NeighborSpace site</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. Please note: You must sign up to be allowed entry into the room, per Zoom's new requirements. Take a little time familiarizing yourself with the instructions on </span><a href="http://neighbor-space.org/veggiebingo/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NeighborSpace's website</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">This season’s Chicago celebrity callers include Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Transportation Gia Biagi and WBEZ’s Monica Eng who has long supported the social and environmental importance of fostering community gardens.  Eng states “</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">Veggie Bingo is the epitome of old fashioned fun (even on Zoom) that brings people together for a game of chance and wholesome veggies, while, of course raising money for more greenery and local food in the community.”</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> Local musicians, comedians, and talented Chicagoans are also showcased as bingo callers </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">with many more special guests </span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-style:italic;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">unmasking</span><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap"> themselves (from the comfort of home) as we move through the Virtual Veggie Bingo season. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">100% of the Veggie Bingo proceeds  benefit community gardens protected by NeighborSpace, a non-profit land trust that preserves and sustains gardens on behalf of dedicated community groups across our city. Bingo players are also encouraged to donate to the Hideout's Virtual Tip Jar to support Hideout workers, who would normally be behind the bar for this special summer series. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"> </p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:0pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">A complete list of bingo callers and garden recipients can be found at the </span><a href="http://neighbor-space.org/veggiebingo/" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">NeighborSpace Veggie Bingo Page</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.  If you are interested in being a caller, donating prizes, resources, or just plain cash, we’re happy to help!  For more information, contact us at </span><a href="mailto:veggiebingo@neighbor-space.org" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;text-decoration-line:underline;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">veggiebingo@neighbor-space.org</span></a><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;background-color:transparent;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">.</span></p><br><p dir="ltr" style="line-height:1.38;margin-left:216pt;margin-top:0pt;margin-bottom:12pt"><span style="font-size:11pt;font-family:Cambria,serif;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-weight:700;font-variant-numeric:normal;font-variant-east-asian:normal;vertical-align:baseline;white-space:pre-wrap">####</span></p></span></div></div></div></div></div>