Hello

I'm Caroline Dickinson and I started the Giving Love journey when I was six years old with a simple desire to help people feel seen, loved, and cared for. What began with handing out care packages on the streets of Chicago has grown into a mission I’m honored to lead today. Giving Love Network is built on the belief that even small acts of kindness can create lasting change—and I’m so grateful you’re here to be part of it.

The Heart Behind the Mission

For as long as I can remember, I have seen people living on the streets of Chicago—under bridges, along Lower Wacker Drive, and near the train stations. I remember asking why they didn’t have warm socks, food, or a safe place to sleep. But more than that, I remember feeling like I had to do something. I wanted them to feel seen. I wanted them to feel loved.

I started Giving Love Project on December 26, 2015, Boxing Day—handing out small care packages with food, toiletries, socks, and coloring books to the homeless on the streets of downtown Chicago. It was simple, but it came from the heart. Over time, that small act of kindness grew into something so much bigger.

Today, I’m 16 and honored to serve as the Executive Director of Giving Love Network, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting trusted nonprofits across the Chicago area. We provide grants, organize donation drives, and raise awareness to help fight food insecurity and homelessness—because everyone deserves dignity, support, and a chance to thrive.

Outside of Giving Love, I’m a straight-A student at Bridgeway Academy, a member of the National Beta Club, an artist, and a competitive gymnast with Legacy Elite Gymnastics, where my team, and I, are multi-time Illinois State Champions, but the work I'm doing through this organization is what means the most to me.

No matter how much we grow, my belief stays the same:

Everyone deserves to feel loved and have hope for a brighter future.