Second Annual Steve Adams Awards Presented May 21

Foundation Chair, Joan Evanich presented the second annual Steve Adams Young Citizens Awards to nine members of Thank Goodness for Kids. The Young Citizens Award is named in memory of Steve Adams, an honored citizen whose influence continues to resonate with the people and organizations he touched. Steve was a founding member of the Winnetka Alliance for Early Childhood and served on the Winnetka School Board for 8 years, 2 of those as President. He also was instrumental in the moving and implementation of the Schmidt-Burnham Log House and WinnetkaHistoricalMuseum knowing that they would culturally enrich the children of Winnetka and the NorthShore. Even though Steve was not a Rotarian he truly embodied the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self".

Thank Goodness for Kids was created almost four years ago when the D'amico children decided to make key chains to sell and then use the money to help others. They enlisted the help of cousins and friends to make their dream a reality. The children worked hard making and selling key chains and in the first year they netted $5000 to donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Other recipients of their good work include $6500 to Smile Train, enough for 26 patients to receive cleft palate surgery and $7000 to Rise International to help build a school in Angola. The children each received individual certificates, they are: Grace Anne D'amico (age 13), C. J. D'amico (12), Matthew Croisant (10), Megan Croisant (12), Alex Bukovac (13), Sarah Connors (13), Timmy Murdoch (12), Livia Abuls (13) and Kylie Johnson (13).