Children Become "Holiday Heroes" By Spreading Cheer to Kids in Need

Youngsters Learn the Gift of Giving Through Community Outreach Initiative

CHICAGO (Dec. 10, 2013) – It’s the most wonderful time of the year, especially for some thoughtful Chicagoland children who get the opportunity to act like Santa. They experience the joy of giving by bringing smiles, cheer and gifts to other children in need through “Holiday Heroes.”

This GreenChoice Bank community initiative asks children to help other children by inviting them to donate new or gently-used toys, which are then delivered to agencies in Lockport, Cicero and Chicago for distribution to less fortunate youngsters.  In fact, this fun and easy outreach effort has its own holiday reward.  Two participating “Heroes” not only “give,” they “receive” by winning a prize and special acknowledgement on GreenChoice Bank’s website, in their e-newsletter, and in social media! The children and their proud parents or guardians also get invited to a GreenChoice Bank branch where they are honored for their work.

“This initiative allows parents to instruct and inspire their children in the joy of doing good, helping others, and learning the true meaning behind the holiday season,” says Steve Sherman, GreenChoice Bank executive vice president, director and chief operating officer.

Each participating child – a “Holiday Hero” – may bring one or more new or gently used unwrapped toy(s) to a collection site at any of the GreenChoice Bank locations (addresses below), where they fill out a “Holiday Heroes Deposit Slip” (entry form). The “Hero” then hands the slip and “deposits” the toy with a teller, who notes the number of toys given. Each “Hero” can donate as many toys as he or she wishes, as often as he or she wishes.

As an alternative, a “Hero” can write a 100-word essay on why it’s important to give to the less fortunate.  GreenChoice Bank will post each essay near the collection box for others to read.  The “Hero” who donates the most toys, and the “Hero” whose essay is chosen by the staff, are the two lucky “winners” and receive gift certificates redeemable for up to four movie passes.

Toys will be sent for distribution to Boys & Girls Club of Chicago, Logan Square Club, Lockport’s Toys for Tots and/or Cicero’s Corazon Community Services.

The “Holiday Heroes” program runs through Dec. 17, 2013. Children up to age 16 are eligible. GreenChoice Bank locations are:

·         Green Exchange: 2545 W. Diversey Ave., Chicago, IL 60647

·         5225 W. 25th St., Cicero, IL 60804-3308

·         838 S. State St., Lockport, IL 60441-3434

For information about GreenChoice Bank and its work in our communities, as well as Holiday Heroes’ Official Rules, please visit www.greenchoicebank.com.  You also can find GreenChoice Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/greenchoicebank.

GreenChoice Bank’s 2013 Holiday Heroes Toy and Essay Drive is sponsored by GreenChoice Bank, 2545 W. Diversey Ave., #106, Chicago, Illinois, 60657.  No purchase is necessary to enter. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. One prize of a gift certificate redeemable for up to four movie tickets (retail value $35) will be awarded to the entrant who donates the greatest number of toys.  One prize of a gift certificate redeemable for up to four movie tickets (retail value $35) will be awarded to the entrant whose essay is chosen by the Bank’s staff as this year’s special essay.  Odds of receiving each prize depends upon the number of eligible entries received.  See the Official Rules posted at www.greenchoicebank.com or available upon request from a GreenChoice Bank employee for important restrictions on receipt of prizes and limitations on eligibility.