Skokie Couple Honored for Charity Halloween Display

Chris Gattorna and Amanda Bird received a community award for their long-running Halloween charity effort.

Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Philanthropy

Skokie Couple Honored for Charity Halloween Display

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Skokie residents Chris Gattorna and Amanda Bird were honored with the Common Good Recognition Program award for their seasonal charity work. The couple collects donations for the Community Animal Rescue Effort through a holiday display at their Madison Street home.

Why it matters

The award highlights community members who pair local tradition with social impact. The couple launched the initiative to support the animal rescue organization where they adopted their own pet.

The couple initiated their neighborhood Halloween display in 2015, which is now featured on the Chicago Haunt Builders interactive map. The project is situated at a residence on the 4300 block of Madison Street.

The players

Chris Gattorna

A Skokie resident who manages a charitable Halloween display on Madison Street.

Amanda Bird

A Skokie resident who co-operates the seasonal charity initiative with Chris Gattorna.

Community Animal Rescue Effort

An animal welfare organization that receives donations collected through the couple's annual display.

Safe Passage Group

A community volunteer organization in School District 73.5 that provides support to local students.

The details

Beginning around Labor Day, the pair spends weeks constructing the display, which serves as a collection point for local donations. Beyond this, the duo contributes to the Skokie Farmers' Market and the Safe Passage Group in School District 73.5, a volunteer effort established after children witnessed an immigration raid.

The Halloween attraction began in 2015.
Amanda Bird moved into the Skokie home in 2021.
Construction of the display begins annually around Labor Day.
The display is active every year on October 31.
The couple received their community award in 2026.

Market Landscape

The Common Good Recognition Program marks a growing trend among local governments to formalize the acknowledgement of neighborhood-level philanthropic efforts. This recognition strategy incentivizes citizens to integrate community service into personal traditions, effectively positioning individual initiatives as vital components of municipal social health.

Residents looking to support the Community Animal Rescue Effort can contribute via the collection basket at the Madison Street display each October. The couple's work underscores how local holiday traditions can be leveraged to address specific community needs for animal welfare and youth safety.

The takeaway

Local traditions can serve as powerful tools for driving sustained support to neighborhood organizations. Residents can replicate this model by identifying a specific community need and integrating donation collection into existing seasonal home displays.