Lady Di’s, Starved Rock Country Community Foundation partner to provide Christmas gifts for teens

For more than 22 years, the staff of Lady Di’s in Ottawa, has been providing holiday gifts to area youth who may not otherwise receive presents.

Donors contribute to the effort year-round.

During the holiday season, the staff and other supporters of Lady Di’s purchase gifts and gift cards and personally deliver them to the recipients. There has been no age limit and referrals have been made by family members, local schools and several charitable organizations in the Ottawa area who serve children and teens.

In late 2017, the program was formalized in partnership with the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation to create the Green Stock*TEEN Fund.

“We commend the staff of Lady Di’s for formalizing something they have done quietly for many years,” said George Carizey, president of the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation. “They have experienced the joy of giving first-hand, and hope others will make a point to do the same.”

The Green Stock*TEEN Fund is a supplement to the local Red Stocking Fund initiative in Ottawa. That fund serves the community to provide gifts to youth ages 12 and younger. The Green Stock*TEEN fund uses financial contributions to provide gifts for teens in need who have “aged-out” of that program and who still look forward to receiving presents at Christmas. Any money left at the end of the holiday season is invested with the foundation to ensure the selfless acts of kindness by the Lady Di’s team are financially supported well into the future.

Sue Trost, community service supervisor with the Youth Service Bureau in Ottawa agrees teens are the hardest group to get sponsored for Christmas gifts. Through the Green Stock*Teen initiative, donors are helping to make Christmas a special time for them.

Financial contributions or gift cards can be mailed or delivered to Lady Di’s, 715-717 La Salle St., Ottawa, IL 61350. To make an online donation directly to the permanent Green Stock*Teen Fund with the Community Foundation, visit www.srccf.org. For more information, visit Lady Di’s or contact the foundation office at 815-252-2906.