APEX CPAS & CONSULTANTS RAISE $24,398 IN FIFTH LUGGAGE OF LOVE CAMPAIGN FOR KANE COUNTY CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE

(St. Charles, IL) December 23, 2019 – In its fifth annual Luggage of Love fundraiser, supported by generous clients, employees, and friends, Apex CPAs & Consultants raised $24,398 for CASA Kane County. The goal of the campaign was to collect cash donations and much needed personal items to provide gift-packed suitcases to children entering the foster care system. CASA Kane County is a Geneva, IL based nonprofit which advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children, ages 0-21, in the juvenile court system.

The need is great, as Kane County has around 600 children in foster care at any given point in time, with about 200 new children entering the system each year. When moved between families, children are often forced to carry their few keepsakes and belongings in plastic trash bags without any personal incidentals.

“My wife Jessie and I are always humbled by the generosity shown during our Luggage of Love campaigns,” said Jim Chakires, Managing Partner of Apex CPAs & Consultants, Inc. “This year we exceeded our goal and are thrilled to be able to help so many foster children, giving them a sense of hope and dignity.”

“There is so much need in the foster care world,” said Gloria Kelley, Executive Director, CASA Kane County. “It is such a big deal for our kids to have something that is new and theirs. After what they have been through, their confidence and trust need to be built back up.”

Kelley added, “We want to thank Apex CPAs, their clients, friends, employees, and families for all of their hard work. The donations will help us to give our kids the new items they need, as they enter the foster care system throughout the year. These seemingly simple items are so meaningful to the children and really make them feel valued and loved. Thank you for helping us show that there are people who care about them.” 

The collected donations will be packed into suitcases or other bags and gifted to foster children in need throughout the year. Each Luggage of Love packed suitcase costs around $250.

“We were thrilled to exceed the $22,000 we raised last year,” said Chakires. “One of Apex’s core values is that People Matter. Giving back is a company responsibility and I’m proud of how our employees help support this worthy initiative that I and my wife Jessie care so much about.”

Chakires also serves on the Board for CASA Kane County.

For any questions about the Luggage of Love campaign, please call Apex at 630- 584-4555.

About Apex
Apex CPAs & Consultants, Inc., is an innovative accounting, advisory and tax services firm focused on the overall well-being of growth-minded organizations. A member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Illinois CPA Society, Apex undergoes a voluntary peer review every three years and has received the highest rating issued under the program since the firm’s inception. For more information, visit https://apexcpas.com/ or call 630-584-4555.

About CASA Kane County

For over 30 years, CASA Kane County has been recruiting, training and supervising community volunteers who serve as Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) and the Guardian ad Litem (GAL) for children in court due to abuse, neglect or private guardianship. CASA Kane County serves more than 600 children annually and is the largest CASA child advocacy program in the state. For more information on how to become a volunteer, visit www.casakanecounty.org or call 630-232-4484.