There are so many ways — big and small — to give this holiday season.

I like presents that give twice, or even more, like the Calendar Raffle for Kids, a fundraising effort from the sale of a 2012 calendar highlighting stories of kids whose lives have been forever changed by the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and Children’s Memorial Hospital.

“It’s the gift that keeps giving,” said Doug Porter, CEO of Ronald McDonald House of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana.

That’s because besides proceeds directly benefitting those two organizations, anyone buying a calendar through Feb. 15 is automatically entered for the chance to win cash prizes — some pretty hefty — every day of 2012. The calendars are $25 each (with special bundle discounts available). Buy by end of day on Dec. 16, and you’re entered to win $100,000 too!

“It’s a nice incentive,” said Porter, who hopes to raise a half-million dollars. “We think it’s fun and a nice twist.”

Located near children’s hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses work holistically to take care of a sick child’s entire family — parents, siblings, and grandparents — by offering volunteer-cooked meals, beds, showers, etc.

There currently are 300 McDonald Houses worldwide, with four in Chicago. In 2010, 634 families stayed at the Lincoln Park house for a $10 nightly suggested donation. No one is turned away if they can’t pay.

However, last year, 638 families were rejected when Lincoln Park accommodations were full. Yet that shouldn’t happen again because that location is moving and becoming the world’s largest McDonald House, opening in July at 211 E. Grand Ave.

“Our hope is that we are not gonna have to turn families away,” said Jamie Haberkorn, senior director of the new McDonald House, near the upcoming Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

Haberkorn said the “whole community,” can help stock the new place as much is needed, from spatulas to comforters and pots and pans.

Call 855-795-KIDS for information on the calendar raffle.

Sweet Hershey… I love Hershey — Felder, that is. And I hear the award-winning actor and musician is “fabulous” in Maestro: The Art of Leonard Bernstein, running through Dec. 31 at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St.

If you’ve never seen Felder in action, do so, please. As both a Leonard Bernstein and Hershey Felder fan, I can’t wait to see his latest performance.

“It’s a complicated story of a complicated man,” said Felder, a Paris resident married to the former Prime Minister of Canada, Kim Campbell. “We’re looking at a life and how it became that way … The things that happened to him and why, along with music and what inspired him along the way.”

Bernstein is probably most renowned for composing the music for West Side Story, one of my all-time faves, but he was also much more. Felder said anybody and everybody should come see his show.

“It’s wonderful, it’s fun,” said Felder, who’s staying on the Mag Mile and loves munching at Trattoria Gianni in Lincoln Park after performances. “And you learn a thing or two about history in this country.”

Boyz 2 Men… Skyliner Susan Matyus-Ehrlich, an assistant public defender, reports she saw a “wonderful” production, Momma’s Boyz, at Chicago Dramatists Theatre, 1105 W. Chicago Ave.

“It is so powerful, strong…” she e-mailed. “It is about CHOICES. Three kids from the Chicago ’hood choose between living a legitimate life or to sell drugs … it is an amazing story and performance.”

Matyus-Ehrlich is working to get young offenders there as part of a court order and the theater is even willing to reduce the ticket price. She’s also trying to get a few performances at Cook County Jail. Tickets are $15.