A. Montgomery grant helps celebrate local children
The Humanitarian Service Project recently received a $3,000 grant from A. Montgomery Ward Foundation, John A. Hutchings, Richard W. Oloffson and Bank of America, N.A., Trustee., for the Children's Birthday Project.
The Montgomery Ward Foundation was founded by A. Montgomery Ward's daughter, Marjorie Montgomery Ward Baker, in 1959. The foundation seeks to support charitable institutions that offer educational and cultural programming in the Chicago land area. This is the first time HSP has received the charitable grant which will be used for CBP.
The grant will help HSP provide impoverished local children living in DuPage and Kane counties with a 20-25 lb. birthday box on their birthday. Every year each of the 925 needy kids enrolled in CBP receive a box containing 6-10 new toys, 5-7 new books, a game or activity, plush animals, school supplies, smaller items such as bubbles, yo-yo's or card games. These toys are selected and wrapped for each child and the birthday box also includes a "Party-in-a-Bag" which contains various party essentials such as cake mix, frosting, party favors and more to celebrate their special day.
The goal of the Children's Birthday Project is to provide needy children with the birthday experience every child should have. Giving children a birthday box is meant to build their self-esteem and allow them to see that they are cared about. It is through these partnerships that families are able to celebrate together and make lasting birthday memories for their children.
About The Humanitarian Service Project
HSP's mission is to alleviate the pain and suffering that poverty creates in seniors and children living in DuPage and Kane Counties, Illinois. Last year during the Christmas Offering, 1,600 children received gifts and 150 impoverished families received three weeks of groceries, frozen meats, and fresh produce. With the Senior Citizen Project, HSP provides monthly food deliveries of 100 pounds including fresh produce, frozen meats, non-perishables, paper products and secret pal gifts to 123 low-income seniors. The Children's Birthday Project reaches the youngest underprivileged, making birthdays and Christmas truly memorable occasions for 925 children. Feed the Kids program provides 100 low-income families with groceries and fresh produce worth $1,500 retail in total for the summer. HSP conducts an annual school supplies drive, which sends supplies to the DuPage Back to School Fair in addition to furnishing schools and individual children with necessary supplies.