2021 Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping Event

Ren 2021

Our Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping event was a great success due to the numerous volunteers who graciously gave from their hearts again in 2021. Our efforts to shop, tag and organize our gifts during October and November were made far easier by many new volunteers, as well as our returning volunteers, all of whom graciously shopped, wrapped and delivered the wonderful gifts for underprivileged children in our communities.

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2020 Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping Event – Covid Style

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We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to our volunteers and donors for their steadfast support throughout our most recent holiday event. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we were unable to hold our Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping Event which is typically scheduled during the first week of December. However, the needs of local children did not disappear with the event, and we were incredibly fortunate to have so many who were involved with our past events, together with many of our social worker contacts, step up to ensure that we were still able to make Christmas a special occasion for the homeless and needy children in Kane County. Due to the amount of assistance we were given, our Christmas gifts for these children were delivered on time. As in past years, all presents were individually chosen, respecting the wishes and/or needs of each child, and then beautifully wrapped by our volunteers. There are no words adequate to express our gratitude to our generous volunteers, without whom our 2020 Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping event could not have been accomplished.

We are so grateful that our volunteers, their families and friends have remained well during these challenging times, and we are hopeful that the coming new year will find us all with the ability to get together once again.

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The Renaissance Foundation’s Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping Event 2019

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Our 10th Spirit Gift Wrapping event was made incredibly successful due to the numerous volunteers who graciously gave of their time this past year. Our efforts to shop and organize our gifts for the children during October and November were made far easier due to the 3,000 sq. ft. storage space donated by Jace Murray and Ellen Gallagher of Murray Commercial in St. Charles, and by the large space donated again this year by the St. Charles Park District for our wrapping event.

Over 250 needy children in our local communities benefitted from the efforts of our volunteers and the generosity of our individual and corporate donors, particularly the St. Charles Meijer store. All gifts were individually chosen and then beautifully wrapped by one of our volunteers. It is impossible to adequately thank each of our volunteers, but we hope they all know how vital they are to helping us with our mission – to serve the less fortunate children in our communities.

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The Renaissance Foundation’s Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping Event 2018

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Our 9th Spirit Gift Wrapping event was made incredibly successful due to the numerous volunteers who graciously gave of their time this past year. Our efforts to shop and organize our gifts for the children during October and November were made far easier due to the 2,800 sq. ft. storage space donated by John and Jim Kunzer of MCC Technology in St. Charles.

Over 250 needy children in our local communities benefitted from the efforts of our volunteers and the generosity of our donors. All gifts were individually chosen and then beautifully wrapped by one of our volunteers. It is impossible to adequately thank each of our volunteers, but we hope they all know how vital they are to helping us with our mission – to serve the less fortunate children in our communities.

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The Renaissance Foundation’s Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping Event 2017

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2017 marked the 8th year for our Annual Spirit Gift Drive. Our volunteers were numerous and creative – all of the Christmas presents for our children were made very special by the efforts of our hard-working volunteers!

We were again able to serve over 250 homeless children this year, due to the generous support of our donors, both individual and corporate.

The thank you notes we receive from the children and their families make all the hard work very worthwhile. Special thanks to the Arcedium Coffee Shop in St. Charles and Panera Bread for their most appreciated donation of coffee and bagels to fuel our volunteers!

Some pictures of this year’s event:

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The Renaissance Foundation’s Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping Event 2015

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Our numerous volunteers made our 2015 Spirit Gift Wrapping event the most successful ever!

Because of their assistance, we were able to wrap over 500 packages for 198 homeless children in our local communities. All gifts were individually chosen, according to the requests of each of the children, and then beautifully wrapped by one of our volunteers.

It is impossible to adequately thank each of our volunteers, but we hope they all know how important they are to helping us with our mission – to serve the less fortunate children in our communities.

All of us at The Renaissance Foundation wish each and every one of you a very healthy and happy Christmas season, and every happiness in the new year!

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Project Backpack 2015

Project Backpack 2015

The Renaissance Foundation’s five volunteers who attended Project Backpack on August 5, 2015, spent their day filling backpacks with school supplies of all kinds – notebooks, folders, crayons, glue, pencils, rulers, etc.

Project Backpack, currently in its sixth year, is a community-based initiative, hosted by Elgin Community College and benefitting students in need. Generous donations of school supplies and time from local retailers and volunteers helped make the 2015 Project Backpack distribution process on August 8, 2015, a huge success again this year!

The Renaissance Foundation’s Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping Event 2014

The Renaissance Foundation's Annual Wrapping Event 2014

The number of volunteers who turned out for our wrapping event this year was overwhelming!

Because of their assistance, we were able to wrap over 400 packages for 168 homeless children in local communities. The packages were individually chosen, respecting the wishes and/or needs of each child, and then beautifully wrapped by our volunteers.

There are no words adequate to express our gratitude to our generous volunteers, without whom our Annual Spirit Gift Wrapping event could not be so successful. Our very best wishes to all for a very happy and healthy holiday season!

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Project Backpack 2014

Project Backpack 2014

SEVEN volunteers represented the Renaissance Foundation at this year’s Project Backpack, hosted at Elgin Community College on August 9th, 2014!

The event was a huge success, and over 2,800 back packs – filled with school supplies – were donated to local families who participated in the event.

For thousands of Kane County parents and guardians, going back to school comes with the additional pressures of purchasing costly back-to-school supplies for their children. Generous donations from the local community and the many volunteers who support this event, help make Project Backpack a success, year after year!

For more information on Project Backpack or to see a video of the 2014 event, please click here.

Our Recipients

Since 1997, The Renaissance Foundation has enriched the lives of numerous underserved children in our local communities.