Mile High (Windy City, #1)

The dog rescue, Senior Dogs of Chicago (SDOC), represents the power of deeply held passions and the value of helping others. Stevie invests her time and energy in the dog shelter because she enjoys helping the animals. Her volunteer work there has “become sort of a passion project” (58) for her, and she dedicates her time to caring for dogs that are often rejected or overlooked because of their age and appearance. Stevie is empathetic toward these dogs because she knows what it’s like to be an outsider. Furthermore, her volunteer work for SDOC captures her selfless nature. She isn’t interested in the organization because it provides for her financially; instead, she loves SDOC because she finds rescue work rewarding in its own right.

Zanders and Maddison’s charity, Active Minds of Chicago symbolizes the power of empathy and highlights Zanders’s need to turn his own negative childhood experiences into something positive. The charity foundation supports “underprivileged young athletes that don’t have the mental health resources they need” (35). Zanders and Maddison’s own mental health journeys inspired them to found this organization and to invest in the lives of Chicago’s youths. Through Active Minds, the friends “raise money […] to cover the costs of therapy sessions for kids who might not be able to afford it but need the help” (35). The charity’s stated mission also illustrates Zanders and Maddison’s empathic natures. Zanders’s involvement in the charity helps Stevie to see Zanders’s true self and to understand his heart.