Apex CPAs & Consultants Raise Over $50,679 in Ninth Annual Luggage of Love Campaign Benefitting CASA Kane County
(St. Charles, Illinois) January 15, 2024—In its ninth annual Luggage of Love fundraiser, supported by dozens of generous clients and friends, Apex CPAs & Consultants raised over $50,679 in cash and gift-packed suitcases for Kane County children entering foster care. Apex managing partner James Chakires, who founded the Luggage of Love campaign with his wife Jessie in 2015, presented the donations to Jim Di Ciaula, CASA Kane County executive director, at a recent event. 2023 was another amazing year for Luggage of Love, outperforming the previous years and bringing the nine-year total donation to over $283,000. And 100% of proceeds go directly to benefit children in the Kane County foster care system.
The donations included a collection of new suitcases already packed with items such as blankets, toiletries, clothing and books, along with cash to purchase more. The need is great, CASA Kane County serves over 663 children each year in abuse, neglect and private guardianship court.
Foster children frequently have few belongings; just a couple of outfits, photographs, and a stuffed animal or toy. When they are moved between families, these children are often forced to carry their few keepsakes and belongings in plastic trash bags. Carrying their items in bags can be embarrassing and yet another reminder of how little they own.
“Can you imagine being in that situation? These children are removed from their homes through no fault of their own, sometimes due to abuse or neglect and other times due to a parent’s death or illness. These children are already traumatized, and now they have to leave behind everything and everyone they know. That is why I feel Luggage of Love is such a worthy cause,” remarked Jim Chakires, who serves as Vice Chair of the Executive Committee for CASA. “By giving a child a new piece of luggage to protect their precious belongings, we give them a booster shot of dignity and hope.”
“We are so grateful for the support of our community,” said Jim Di Ciaula, Executive Director of CASA Kane County. “The Luggage of Love campaign makes a real difference in the lives of these children, and we are deeply touched by the generosity of everyone who participated.”
CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocates. CASAs are all volunteers from the community who, as the name suggests, advocate for the best interests of children who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect. Whereas DCFS social workers must often handle 20 or more cases at a time, a CASA volunteer is responsible for just one case at a time. A CASA ensures that each individual child’s needs are heard and addressed throughout various court hearings and moves from one residence to another. Being able to give a child a suitcase full of gifts is one small way a CASA can help ease a child’s transition into foster care.
About Apex CPAs & Consultants, Inc.
Apex CPAs & Consultants, Inc., is an innovative accounting, tax and advisory services firm focused on the overall well-being of growth-minded business owners. Apex is a licensed CPA firm headquartered in St. Charles, IL with offices in Phoenix, AZ. For more information, visit https://apexcpas.com/.
About CASA Kane County
CASA Kane County is a Guardian ad Litem, nonprofit volunteer organization that advocates for the best interests of children in abuse, neglect and private guardianship cases within the Juvenile Court system. For more information, visit http://www.casakanecounty.org/.