Search
)
Enlarge this Image
Rather than dolls, toys and stuffed animals, Tess Ryan’s friends will probably give her catnip, dog bones, and squeaky toys for her birthday.
She couldn’t be happier.
Ryan’s friends are following her request to bring donations for an animal shelter rather than presents for her 7th birthday party. And the idea was entirely hers, said her father Mike Ryan.
“She decided she wanted to do something for charity,” he said. “She picked the charity.”
So, after Tess’s birthday party on May 10, she and her parents will drive to Orphans of the Storm, an animal shelter in Riverwoods near Deerfield, to drop off the toys. She turned 7 on May 5.
“I care about dogs and cats,” she said. “I used to have a cat, and when I was a baby I started to like my cat and now I like animals. But I like dogs the best.”
About 20 children will attend the birthday party, so Tess hopes to receive plenty of dog and cat toys. Her parents will buy double of whatever is donated.
Her friend, Samantha Waitley of Vernon Hills, has already given Tess, her good friend, a bag of shoe- shaped chew toys for dogs.
Samantha, 8, and her family will not be able to attend, but she wanted to help Tess give a hand to the shelter.
“I’m happy she’s giving stuff for animals,” Waitley said.
Waitley’s mother, Gretchen, said that Tess Ryan is at an age where children learn how to be aware of the needs of others, and giving to charity rather than receiving gifts herself is a great way to teach that.
“For a child to turn a birthday party into a charitable event is quite astounding,” Gretchen said. “Tess is a very sweet, fun-loving girl.”
Mike Ryan said he and his wife, D’Arcy, have always taught their children that they are lucky to have a nice home, be comfortable financially, and live in a nice neighborhood. D’Arcy works for Takeda Pharmaceuticals and Mike is a freelance advertiser who works from home.
“I certainly didn’t have this while growing up, and my wife bounced around from town to town as an Army brat,” he said.
Tess will still receive regular birthday presents from her relatives. And because of her generosity, her parents are giving her a special present: a kid-sized, motorized vehicle.
“We’ve always stressed giving, and we’ve tried to make it a point with our kids that they have been pretty fortunate and sharing is a good idea,” Mike Ryan said. ”We’re pretty proud of her for doing it and we’re hoping other kids will take it to heart and give it a try.”
