What is the Holiday Giving Program?
The Walter & Connie Payton Foundation's largest program is our Holiday Giving Program. This program helps provide holiday gifts for thousands of in-need who have found themselves apart of the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS). Each year, WCPF provided for approximately 10,000 children...... Each year we strive to reach even more!
Contact Nancy Hewlett, WCPF Event Coordinator, at Nancy@Payton34.com for Toy Drive information and/or registration forms.
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"LEGACY OF SWEETNESS" TOY DRIVE
HOSTED: NOVEMBER 1, 2013 - DECEMBER 1, 2013
WCPF Legacy of “Sweetness” School Toy Drive:
Legacy of “Sweetness” is a friendly competition between schools to see which schools can collect the most toys. This toy drive will be hosted November 1, 2013 through December 1, 2013. All schools must begin and end the toy drive on the same dates to make this event fair. A form will be given to the person over-seeing the toy drive for each location to keep track of how many toy drop boxes are filled. Over-sized items, such as bikes, are asked to be counted separate. WCPF is committed to giving new gifts to as many in-need children as we can each December for the Holiday Season. Each year WCPF provides for approximately 10,000 children. These children are in great need and would possibly not receive any holiday gifts without our help and the donations of the generous community around them. This is our largest program we have at present.
Awards and Recognition:
The top 3 High Schools and top 3 Kindergarten – 8th Grade Schools who collect the most toys will receive an award, presented to the school by the Payton Family.
This event was especially designed to benefit children to:
*Teach the importance of 'giving back'.
*Promote teamwork as they work together to accomplish a goal.
*Encourage children to reach out to their community to show support for the less fortunate.
2012 Legacy WINNERS:
HIGH SCHOOL category:
1st: Saint Viator High School 2nd: Saint Patrick High School
K-8TH GRADE category:
1st: Springman Middle 2nd: Sandwich Middle 3rd: Maplebrook Elementary
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Walter Payton always believed it was important to
give back.......And so do we!
"There are a lot of studies that show that one act of kindness to these children has a 40% chance of making that child have a completely different outcome in their life. What we hope, is that we can get a kid to believe in somethingand to believe in themselves. Children have always brought a tremendous amount of joy to me and I feel that if you can catch them at a young age you can really change a life." ~Walter Payton #34
"Gifts during the Holidays for abused and neglected children may not seem like a lot, but in terms of establishing self-worth, confidence, and a feeling of pride, I believe it may mean everything. I want them to feel good about themselves and to have self-esteem and self-respect and they deserve - just as much as the kid down the street. Can you imagine the impact this has on these kids?..... Can you imagine?" - Walter Payton
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How Can YOU Get Involved?
*Volunteer your time to help us sort toys at our warehouse located in Wood Dale, Illinois during November & December.
*Donate new toys by dropping them at a Community Drop Site.
*Host A Toy Drive at your place of work, school, place of worship, health club, home or any other location that you are involved with.
*Help with Toy Drive pick-ups and deliver the toys to our warehouse.
*Get your community, local school, library, etc. involved in collecting toys!
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A Special Acknowledgement to:
~Leader Express, Inc has been donating warehouse space to WCPF which allows us room to sort toys and pack them up to be distributed. Leader's warehouse manager, Rudy Lopez, holds a special place in our hearts for all the assistance he provides to WCPF, our volunteers and individuals who drop off new toys from toy drives. For more information about Leader Express visit: www.leaderexpress.net
~The Custom Companies, Inc has been a longtime supporter of WCPF. Custom Companies, Inc is a full service transportation company located in Northlake, IL. Each year Custom Co. generously donates semi-trucks to WCPF that enables us to deliver thousands of toys to DCFS locations. For more information about Custom Companies, Inc visit: www.CustomCo.com
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2012 WCPF Volunteer Awards
Volunteer of the Year Awards:
Volunteer of the Year: John Sara
Volunteer of the Year: Ron Sarver
Volunteer Business of the Year: Clarke (Mary Rob Clarke)
2011 WCPF Volunteer Awards
Volunteer of the Year Awards:
In the Spirit of Sweetness Award: Coach Dan Galante
Volunteer of the Year: Victor Vela
Volunteer Business of the Year: Dominick's
2010 WCPF Volunteer Awards
Volunteer of the Year Awards:
Marilyn Sara, Jeremy Jordan, Diane Olson
Friend of the Foundation Award: Brian Szymanski
In the Spirit of Sweetness Award: Cheryl Gerstung
2009 WCPF Volunteer Awards
Scott Sleezer and Bryan Feldman
Volunteer Business of the Year:
Keystrokes Transcription Service
2008 WCPF Volunteer Awards
Rudy Lopez - Leader Express Warehouse Manager
Tom Feddor - Annual Printers Row Toy Drive in Chicago
Volunteer Business of the Year: MVP Plumbing
In The Spirit Of "Sweetness" Award: Mr. Chris Wegner
"Helping A Child Is A Gift You Give Yourself"
~Walter Payton #34
