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Ripple of tsunami fund drive gets tidal wave of support

Chicago Tribune
February 27, 2005
By Pat Trebe

Emilie Brazinski was justifiably proud of herself for spearheading a drive that raised $663.58 for tsunami relief from students and staff at Central Elementary School, where she is a 4th grader.

After watching former Presidents Bush and Clinton call on Americans to make donations to victims of the devastating Dec. 26 Asian tsunami, then reading about 9-year-old Emilie's quest in a local newspaper, Adam Dontz, a vice president of Gladstone Builders in Naperville, came up with an idea. Why not, he told his bosses, pitch in and make the school's donation to the Red Cross an even $10,000.

"We made a decision we would," said David Bolger, co-owner of the company, who added that he and his brother and co-owner, Greg, had been trying to figure out a way to help. On Wednesday, company officials handed Emilie and the school a check for $9,366.42. "I said, 'That's a lot of money,"' Emilie said after learning of the company's generosity. Principal Linda DiLeo was flabbergasted when company officials told her of their plan. "Never in a million years did I ever think that anyone would take such an interest in our coin collection or our little coin drive would spur someone on," she said. DiLeo called Emilie's mother, Kim, to tell her the news.

"I started laughing," her mother said. "When she got home from school, I told her and said, 'Way to go, Emilie.' "I told her she had a $10,000 idea."