Many (almost) ten year old boys have video games or drones on their birthday wish lists, but Lleyton A., had something else in mind.
When it came time to plan for his 10th birthday festivities, Year 5 student Lleyton A. new exactly what he wanted to do. Each year, in lieu of traditional gifts, Lleyton and his mom pick a charity to link with his birthday festivities. Lleyton explained, "This year, I knew I wanted to choose Lakeview Pantry. I chose the Pantry because our school was working with them on the Year 5 Food Drive". He set an initial goal of $300, but through the generosity and kindess of family and friends, he was able to raise over $800 -- surpassing his goal more than twofold. When asked about this amazing accomplishment, Lleyton responded, "I was proud of myself because I didn't think we would raise that much, and we're still accepting more donations!".
With the winter season just around the corner and holiday celebrations centered around hearty meals, his efforts come at a particularly auspicious time. Lakeview Pantry is one of Chicago's largest and longest-standing pantries with the aim of elminating hunger in the chicagoland area. Lleyton's fundraising efforts will certainly help the organization get closer to reaching that goal. The BISC-LP community celebrates Lleyton's milestone birthday and the impact he is making during his first decade on this planet.
To learn more about Lakeview Pantry:
The Performing Arts Team shares more about the BISC-LP collaboration with Juilliard and how the Juilliard Creative Classroom benefits our students.
