Excellence is an art won by training and habituation. We do not act rightly because we have virtue or excellence, but we rather have those because we have acted rightly. We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit.

-Aristotle

Labor Day is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economical achievements of American workers.  It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our country.

-US Department of Labor

This coming Monday, September 6, 2010 will mark the 128th Labor Day celebration in the United States.  As children, we always enjoyed the day off of school and never really gave a second thought about what the day actually means.  When we were younger, it meant we didn't have to go to school, we could put off our homework for another day and we could sleep in however long we wanted.  It also meant the end of summer was finally here and football season was about to kick off.  As you start to learn more about what the national holiday means, you realize it's really a day to celebrate the accomplishments of laborers that came before us and those that have continued to help our country grow.  However, as August closes out and Labor Day draws nearer, we're given a harsh reminder about the volatility that our country and economy are still enduring - the unemployment rate rose in August for the first time in four months.  Though companies added thousands of jobs in August, the total was still not that of the amount that had been added in July. 

How do we overcome this?  How do we dig ourselves out and find positions to fill?  How do we get closer to achieving our dreams of working to live and not living to work?  I don't think anyone knows for sure but we all know we have to keep persevering because, as Sophocles so eloquently put it, "without labor nothing prospers."

It is the greatest of all mistakes to do nothing because you can only do little - do what you can.  ~Sydney Smith

In times of need, families, communities and organizations often find it in themselves to come together and offer whatever help they can.  People donate to charities that help out animals, education programs, the environment, the homeless, those displaced due to natural disasters, and many other causes.  When you donate to a charity, you're not just giving monetary or tangible contributions, you're helping to spread hope and awareness.  Even in times of economic downturn, people have still managed to find a way to contribute what they can and help out in any way they can.  Even you can only contribute a small amount, that little bit helps and goes towards the ultimate goal of aiding those in need.

Every year, Lou Malnati's hosts an Annual Cancer Benefit to raise funds for cancer research and education programs.  Over the past 10 years we have raised money to benefit organizations such as Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Gilda's Club of Chicago and Children's Memorial Hospital, all of whose staffs are dedicated in working towards finding a cure for cancer.  This year will mark the 40th anniversary and we're looking forward to another successful year of raising funds for a good cause.  The night will include a raffle, silent and live auctions and a performance by Chicago's The Second City featuring a selected player of the Chicago Blackhawks.  To purchase tickets, make a donation or find out more information, please visit our website.