Polish National Alliance hosted its third annual Kids-4-Kids Walk-N-Stroll on Sunday, June 2nd. The front lawn of the PNA building turned into an exciting picnic area with games and contests, pizza, free ice cream, drinks, and bounce houses. All registered children were given a t-shirt and pizza coupon. A total of 148 children were registered to walk with their parents, grandparents or other family members. The event is growing in popularity with every passing year. Many employees from both PNA and Dziennik Związkowy hosted booths where they gave away memorabilia linked to the company.
The PNA employees that attended Kids4Kids were: Alicja Kuklinska, Steve Biesiada, Adam Maj, Shweta Gupta, Beatrice Jędrycha, Monica Korczynski, Sophie Pudlo, Greg Pudlo, Mary Srodon, Jola Walaszek, Ania Wojciechowski, Mary Wieczorkiewicz, Kasia Maciejewski, Ania Szczypta, and Halina Kuczynski.
The other volunteers included Jeff Kalinsky, Tim Campbell, Agata and Krzysztof Mscisz, Łukasz Dudka, Wanda Juda, Czesia Subkowski, John Srodon, along with members of the Gift from the Heart Foundation.
Today’s and yesterday’s hits beamed all throughout the area thanks to WPNA.fm DJ Adam Serafin. Other members of the “Polish-American Mix” included Magda Marczewska, Mateusz Pankiewicz, Grzegorz Bartusiak, and David Pierczynski. The crew greeted fans and energized the crowd before the walkers headed for their 2-mile trip around the Sauganash neighborhood.
This year’s sponsors were: Smith-Cororan Funeral Home, Griffith, Ballard & Co., Sling TV, Lowell Foods, Frank J. Baker & Company, LTD., Coldwell Bankers, Pasta D’Arte Trattoria Italiana, Tarpey Pharmacy, Independent Litho & Design, Legion of Young Polish Women, PNA Business Director Anthony Nowak-Przygodzki and Royal Savings Bank.
Elmo, three princesses, Darth Vader, Peppa Pig, Spider-Man, Minnie and Mickey Mouse were the characters that greeted finishers with medals and goodie bags from Lowell Foods. The Chicago Fire Department Engine 89 sent a firetruck while Highlander Riders, the sponsors of the kids Mercedes that was the main prize, showed off their equipment. Games, face-paintings, Moonwalkers, and various crafts such as balloon animals took place, so there were many fun options for youngsters
A special thank you goes out to Lowell Foods for sponsoring Kids-4-Kids and other past PNA events.
All proceeds will be donated to non-profit Gift from the Heart Foundation (Dar Serca Foundation). The foundation’s purpose is to provide care for social, emotional, and intellectual growth of disabled children both abroad and in Poland. All room, board, translation and transportation services for children going through medical treatments in the US are covered.
Story By Beatrice Jedrycha
