Annual Holiday Giving Program
Walter & Connie Payton Foundation
~Host a 2009 Toy Drive to join in the fun~
for Toy Drive information and/or registration forms.
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 20,000 children......
Each year we strive to reach even more!
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:
~The Custom Companies, Inc has been a long time 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:
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2008 WCPF Volunteers of the Year:
Rudy Lopez - Leader Express Warehouse Manager
Tom Feddor - Annual Printers Row Toy Drive
2008 WCPF Volunteer Business of the Year:
MVP Plumbing - Montgomery, IL
2008 In The Spirit Of "Sweetness" Award:
Mr. Chris Wegner
"Helping A Child Is A Gift You Give Yourself"
~Walter Payton #34
"Thank-you for all that you do for WCPF!"
-The Payton Family & WCPF Staff
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Attention Illinois Schools!
WCPF created a special Toy Drive for schools called the "Legacy of Sweetness".
This is a friendly competition between schools of any grade level. The top 3
schools that collect the most toys will receive the "Legacy of Sweetness" Toy
Drive trophy to display at there school, and it is presented to the 3 schools by a
Payton family member. This can be during a full school assembly or small group
of students that took charge of the event. To make this toy drive fair all
schools must begin and end on the same dates which will be determined by WCPF.
This event begins the first week of November.
Get Your School Involved!
This event was especially designed to benefit children to:
*Teaches the importance of 'giving back'
*Promotes teamwork as they work together to accomplish a goal
*Encourages children to reach out to there community to show
support for the less fortunate
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2008 Legacy WINNERS:
1st Place: Saint Viator High School - Arlington Heights
(collected 20 boxes of new toys)
2nd Place: Saint Patrick High School - Chicago
(collected 12 boxes of new toys)
3rd Place: Fox Chase Elementary School - Oswego
(collected 6 boxes of new toys)
2008 "Legacy of Sweetness" School Toy Drives
Plainfield Central High School - Plainfield, IL
Saint Patrick High School - Chicago, IL
Sandwich Middle School - Sandwich, IL
Fox Chase Elementary School - Oswego, IL
Southbury Elementary - Oswego, IL
Stone Elementary School - Addison, IL
Saint Viator High School - Arlington Heights, IL
Walter Payton College Prep High School - Chicago, IL
Saint Mary’s College - Notre Dame, IN
Tutor Time - Aurora, IL
McHenry High School West Campus- McHenry, IL
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Walter Payton always believed it was important to
giving 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 something
and 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 alot, 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.
(Sites are listed at the bottom of the page)
*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 during September thru early December.
*Help WCPF 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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Messages from just a couple Foster Care Organizations:
"Nothing can match the sparkle in their eyes as they opened their
presents. Many of these children are abandoned by their families,
abused or neglected, and unfortunately, not often enough are their lives touched by human kindness. What youhave given to these children
can not be measured in terms of dollars and cents.
You have given them so much more. You have given them hope where
there was none - and that in itself is truly priceless." - Lifelink
"The Walter and Connie Payton Foundation has been a blessing and a
beacon of light in the lives of thousands of children in care over the years. Despite the economic woes of this state and country Connie Payton and
her staff exhibited a sincere passion and spirit of benevolence that is unmatched. Each year DCFS staff and volunteers look forward to
partnering with the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation to bring joy
to the hearts of thousands of children and youth during the holiday season."
- Arthur Bishop, Assistant to the Chief of Staff, Illinois DCFS
Make a child smile this Holiday Season!..........
Donate new toys to WCPF!
Contact Nancy Wilson, WCPF Event Coordinator at
and/or registration forms, or call WCPF at 847.605.0034
Its never too early to host a Toy Drive.....Contact us today!
