“Thank you Samantha and Sydney for the Balance Box you gave us! Thank you for the jewelry making beads and wires and the books and snacks. I am a 3rd grade student at Galileo Scholastic Academy and my friend and I really enjoy making jewelry and we liked reading the books. We are grateful that you gave this box to me, it will help us stay busy in summer break”
— Third Grader
“There have been very few moments of pure joy witnessed this school year due to the constraints of the pandemic; but when our scholars received and opened their Balance Boxes the year immediately seemed so much brighter! Everyone- parents, teachers and our scholars- cannot thank you and your team enough for such generous gifts! Our older scholars opened their boxes at school and our younger scholars received their boxes at home. I wanted to share just a few sentences from the texts and emails I received from families and teachers along with photos: Our scholars were full of smiles! They loved them!! Child me would be very jealous! The kids are so excited about these! The Balance Boxes are a big hit! Belle is Janicel’s favorite Disney princess! Chantal was very excited to see what was in her box!! She was very excited it was her favorite, thank you!! Thank you also for offering free tutoring! That is simply amazing. Our families are in great need of resources such as this, especially during this difficult year. Many of the parents of our students are essential workers and thus have been stretched thin-both financially and emotionally-while being of service to others through their work. So your gift to their children was very meaningful and timely. ”
— Principal
“This organization that we donated to is amazing, the girls [Samantha and Sydney] are remarkable leaders and embody the true spirit of Optimism”
— Deerfield Optimist club
“Thank you so much for the boxes, you made my kids day with everything that is going on. We really appreciate it”
— parent
“Thank you guys so much for your generosity. Our students will be so excited to receive your boxes. Please keep up the great work ”
— Assistant Principal
“I cannot express just how appreciative our school and families were for the amazing Balance Boxes you created and provided Wednesday! The time and effort you put into the Boxes was apparent. Families happily took as many as they had children, even carrying several boxes away on foot as they headed back home. These were a HUGE success, so thank you for the inspiration and idea you worked to make happen, as well as the delivery for our students Wednesday”
— Principal
“Thank you so much for your generous donation of bags and bags of toys to Moraine Township for our Holiday Gift Drive. We had some last minute children come in and were able to use your gifts. We’re giving extra food over winter break to families whose children are in the free and reduced program and will give more of your toys to those families. With almost 20% of Highland Park/Highwood elementary students eligible for the federal free/reduced lunch program based on family income, and over 150 units of affordable housing in our community, food inflation, and reduction in SNAP benefits, our neighbors are truly appreciative of holiday gifts.”
— Moraine Township
“The boxes came today! The kids are so excited!!”
— Parent
“We researched your organization and think it’s great that at such a young age you have already began impacting many kids in such a positive matter!”
— Toys for tots sgt
“Thanks again for the STEM box along with the other gifts. My brother can’t stop tinkering with the microscope already! And not to mention the other things were really cute and thoughtful. Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to give us these things.”
— Sibling
“Thank you very much, my siblings were really happy about what they got in their boxes, so am I and my mom. We appreciate it a lot”
