OCI NEWS
What a great year 2007 was for Our Community of Illinois, Inc. The support from our community was overwhelming, especially with our two bike drives where people came from all over the area to donate bicycles, toys, furniture, and the like. We were truly overjoyed, and you have our heart-felt thanks. Thank you also to the Chicago Tribune for featuring our story in their newspaper.
Among the donors from the community was Joico, who donated cases of hair-care products that were given to teens in foster care. Ronald McDonald House Charities provided a monetary donation to purchase car seats for infants and toddlers. This last year, we purchased and gave out 25 car seats to foster parents caring for young children, as well as some of our parenting teens. The National Cristina Foundation partnered with us and we have picked up and donated 4 desktop computers to our children. This partnership has allowed Our Community of Illinois to show our support of continuing academic efforts to the kids in school. We have also been fortunate to have an anonymous donor who has committed to donating two laptop computers per month, earmarked for teens attending or heading to college.
With the assistance of Alan Kooperman, we collected, repaired and donated 95 bicycles to children in Illinois foster care in Cook County. Some of our other accomplishments include paying tuition for 4 children in care, sponsoring driver’s education for a couple of older teens, and providing clothing, furniture and toys to a number of children.
Of course, none of this could have been accomplished without the help of people from all walks of life who saw a child in need and wanted to do something to help. This belief in helping children who are less fortunate is the essence of what Our Community of Illinois is about, and we are proud of the outpouring of assistance from the Chicago area.
We are gearing up an even better year in 2008. We hope to expand our assistance to children furthering their education, in providing computers and other educational opportunities. We are looking to have a camp for children to practice football or soccer. And we are hoping to receive more bikes to give out.
Please keep watch for our fundraiser, which we hope to have toward the last quarter of 2008.
From all of us at Our Community of Illinois, thank you for your help and support, and we wish you a great 2008!
Sincerely,
James Burton, President
Our Community of Illinois, Inc.