Girl's donations were truly a gift

Too often we read all about the misdeeds of our youth and seldom about the majority of kids in our country that are so extraordinary. I am writing in particular about a young lady who is a student at St. Bede's Catholic School in Ingleside.

As director of fiscal and support at the Ann Kiley Center in Waukegan, it is my duty to see that our clients are provided with all of the necessities of life as allotted by the State of Illinois and their needs are well provided for. However, like every other citizen, once in a while it is nice to be able to receive some of life's little pleasures, things that many of us take for granted. State funds do not provide for those niceties, but fortunately, many of our clubs, churches and private citizens do their best to help. To these individuals a little goes a long way towards enriching their lives.

Recently, it was brought to my attention that for the second year in a row, Maria Christina Pintor-Garcia, an eighth-grade student at St. Bede's Catholic School in Ingleside, when asked by her mother, Marie Christina Pintor-Garcia what she would like for Christmas, replied she would like for her parents to donate the presents they would normally give to her to the individuals who live at the Ann Kiley Center.

For over 10 years St. Bede's School, through a project called "The Giving Tree" has donated much of their time, energy and generosity by providing gifts for our Clients at the Ann Kiley Center. Maria Christina took that extra step and donated all of her Christmas presents to our individuals.

Her parents, siblings, fellow classmates and teachers must be very proud to be a part of this young lady's life. I know for certain that I am.

Ed Fojtik

Director of Fiscal and Support, Ann M. Kiley Center,

Waukegan