Charity delivers holiday gifts to hospitalized children Monday
WHAT:
The holidays arrive early for chronically ill children at Children’s Hospital University of Illinois when Exhibit 4 Smiles volunteers deliver hand-selected gifts to more than 75 kids.
Exhibit 4 Smiles is a charity for children with life-threatening diseases. Caring people from the exhibit industry partner with ill children who each receive a specific gift based on their age, gender and interests. One family has been chosen to receive a surprise holiday gift — a $1,000 donation to help defray transportation expenses for their child to receive treatment at the Children’s Hospital.
Costas Varkarotas founded the program. Varkarotas, whose son Christopher has faced a life-threatening illness, began reaching out to his colleagues in the exhibit industry to hold a toy drive. Since then, the organization has partnered with the Exhibit Designers & Producers Association Foundation to bring hundreds of gifts to children in various cities.
WHEN:
Monday, Dec. 16
Noon to 3 p.m.
WHERE:
Children’s Hospital University of Illinois
University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System
1740 W. Taylor St.