‘It’s great to see all their smiles’
By Michele Du Vair For The Beacon-News December 12, 2011 7:18PM
Robbie Gould, Chicago Bears' Kicker, signs a stuffed bear for Chandler Karabec, 10, a resident of Mooseheart Child City & School. Gould, through his organization The Goulden Touch, donated a $120-each shopping spree for 99 Mooseheart kids at Target in St. Charles on Monday, December 12, 2011. |Michele du Vair~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: January 14, 2012 8:10AM
ST. CHARLES — The day after his career-best field goal, Chicago Bears’ kicker Robbie Gould spread his good fortune with those a little less fortunate. Only in a different way.
Gould Monday helped out the kids at Mooseheart by giving them a shopping spree at Target in St. Charles. He also helped them pick out their gifts and, not surprisingly, autographed more than a few footballs along the way.
“Robbie is like a kid himself, mingling and hanging out with them and making something special for our kids,” said Gary Urwiler, superintendent of Mooseheart. “Because sometimes, in their situations, it’s hard for them to buy gifts for their families.“
Mooseheart Child City & School, on Route 31 between North Aurora and Batavia, is currently home to 230 students, ranging in age from preschoolers through high school, who, for whatever reason, lack a stable home environment.
And that’s just the kind of organization Gould was looking to help out through his non-profit organization, The Goulden Touch.
“We thought it would be a great fit for us and it has been,” said Gould. “Obviously, it’s great to see all their smiles, but it’s also fun to watch them shop for themselves and for other members of their families.”
And shopping they did. From Legos to electronics to nail polish and teddy bears, the 99 Mooseheart students in attendance spent a whopping $120 each on presents, courtesy of Gould.
Khaciff Lawal, 11, spent much of his time in Target’s electronics department, checking out the latest video games. Lawal was more than a little wound up at the prospect of meeting Gould.
“I met the person that I always make field goals with on Madden (football video game),” said Lawal. “Sometimes you think of football players as being really mean, but he was nice. I liked talking to him.”
Kristen Barbano, store team leader at the St. Charles Target, was thrilled as well to have Gould in her store. She said Mooseheart picked their St. Charles location primarily because of the time and money their store donates to the children’s home.
“For him (Gould) to come here and do something like this, especially after a game, it really brings out the Christmas spirit,” said Barbano.
And yet as the two-hour time with Gould wound down and Barbano roamed the aisles helping where she could, she couldn’t help but notice something else a little unusual about the Mooseheart kids.
“What strikes me, is these are kids who don’t have much, and yet they are buying mostly for their friends and families not for themselves,” she said. “It’s really touching to see.”
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