Turning 16 is a big deal, and Julie Denison—daughter of CYC board member Charlie Denison—wanted to celebrate her birthday with lots of family and close friends. But she decided it would be an even more meaningful milestone if she shared her good fortune with others in a substantive way.

When Toby Gardner, front row, second from left, was about to turn nine, he gave his upcoming celebration a lot of thought. His mother, Terri, liked the idea of using the nearby Northbrook Park District Leisure Center to entertain the large group of boys he planned to invite. Keep it simple, she thought. Then he told her he wanted to tell everyone what kind of gifts to bring—sports items—and that he wanted to share them with other kids who hadn’t been as lucky as he and his friends. Not quite as simple.