Nine-year-old Bartlett boy leads local charity to fundraising success
When it comes to raising funds for his favorite charity, 9-year-old Aidan Hennessy is already an expert. During the past four years, along with family and friends, Hennessy has helped raise more than $60,000 for Chicago-based nonprofit Play for Peace, which works in Chicago neighborhoods and 20 countries around the world.
Every year, the World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk at the Bartlett Nature Center becomes his opportunity to recruit people to participate in the event and to help him bring more laughter, compassion and peace to communities in conflict.
Hennessy and his friends and family have raised nearly $22,000 toward their $25,000 goal, with Aidan personally raising $15,000.
The Bartlett-based event took place on Saturday, Sept. 24, and was Play for Peace's most successful event, with 250 people of all ages coming together to join their celebration of World Peace Day, with an international food festival, music, activities, display booths and a silent auction.
With $42,500 raised so far, they would like to reach their goal of $50,000.
Hennessy's involvement began when he was in kindergarten, when his mother, Lisa Gelsomino, hosted a World Peace Day party for Play for Peace at her company, Avalon Risk Management in Elk Grove Village. Aidan was moved when he saw via Skype Play for Peace youth leaders from Guatemala, and he wrote an essay at school, saying that if he had $100, he would give it to his mom to help Play for Peace. Given her son's genuine interest in helping the nonprofit, Gelsomino joined the board of directors and began what is now known as the World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk, an annual event that draws support from 20 local communities.
"Aidan's commitment to Play for Peace has been building since he was in kindergarten," said Executive Director Sarah Gough. "He has been involved every step of the way in building this event, from hosting lemonade stands and garage sales to raise money, to putting up fliers in local businesses. Aidan promotes the event in his school and has been interviewed on television. Every year, Aidan has suggestions for new elements to make our event better, and he is our most energetic spokesperson."
Play for Peace will keep its online fundraising page open until early November, and donations are still welcome. To help Aidan Hennessy's Imagine team reach their goal or to make a general donation, visit www.crowdrise.com/PeaceDayRunWalk2016.
Play for Peace brings together children, youth and organizations from communities in conflict, using cooperative play to create laughter, compassion and peace. In divided neighborhoods in the U.S., and communities of conflict and tragedy around the world, teen facilitators create safe spaces where children from different cultures and backgrounds can discover what connects them, rather than what divides them. Play for Peace is a Chicago-based 501 (c) 3 global nonprofit organization with 2,700 members and 59 clubs in 20 countries.