Kindness Day Bolingbrook Brings Outdoor Mural Unveiling, Events

BOLINGBROOK, IL —The unveiling of a one-of-a-kind outdoor mural will be among the highlights of Bolingbrook’s annual Kindness Day, which will take place on Saturday with events being held throughout the day, organizers said.

The mural will be unveiled at a 2 p.m. ceremony at the Central Park Pavilion, located at 201 Recreation Dr. The mural is being completed by local artist Stacy Lazzara, who is the mother of a Make-A-Wish child and who created the first Kindness Day mural last year at Pioneer Elementary School.

“We are excited about the unveiling of our first-ever outdoor interactive Kindness Mural,” Marissa Yelenosky, the founder of Kindness Day Bolingbrook, said in a news release. “We are forever grateful for the kindness our daughter, Samantha Yelenosky received from our community, friends, and family that helped her to recover after suffering from a tragic illness that changed her life forever.

“My hope is that this will be a reminder of the major impact that kindness can have on someone’s life.”

Samantha was a fourth-grader at Pioneer when she was diagnosed with a rare virus that attacked her heart and created a number of serious medical complications. Organizers of Kindness Day Bolingbrook said that Samantha returned to Pioneer in the fifth grade when the kindness and support she received made a difference in her recovery from the virus.

In addition to the unveiling of the outdoor mural, other Kindness Day activities will be held at the Fountaindale Public Library, where events will be taking place throughout the day.

Kindness Bags will be given out for free while supplies last at the library, via their drive-thru, or at the bookmobile. Local residents who take a Kindness Bag to Taco Dale in Bolingbrook on Saturday will receive a free Mexican specialty popsicle or scoop of ice cream.

For those that don’t have a Kindness Bag, a free popsicle or scoop of ice cream is available with each entrée purchase.

A Make-A-Wish Illinois child that will be the recipient of kindness on Kindness Day Bolingbrook is 10-year-old Bolingbrook resident Eli Valadez. Eli is battling a cardiac condition and will soon be having his Make-A-Wish trip to Hawaii come true.

To celebrate, Eli and his family will be guests for special activities that day organized by Kindness Day Bolingbrook.

The Kindness Day schedule is as follows:

• 9 am-6 pm (or while supplies last) Fountaindale Public Library (300 W. Briarcliff) has dedicated an entire day to Kindness Day activities including giving away free Kindness Bags while supplies last. Residents may bring in pop tabs to help Ronald McDonald House Charities in honor of our Kindness Ambassador Logan Bergacker who recently passed away and there will be Kindness Storytime, Paws to Read and more to do. To learn more visit fountaindale.org/kindness.
• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. If residents take a Kindness Bag to Taco Dale Bolingbrook (1196 W. Boughton Rd.) on Kindness Day they will receive a free Mexican specialty popsicle or scoop of ice cream. For those that don’t have a Kindness Bag, residents can get a free popsicle or scoop of ice cream with each entrée purchase.*While supplies last. Restrictions apply.
• pm-3 pm The unveiling of the first outdoor interactive Kindness mural designed by well-known artist and Make-A-Wish mom Stacy Lazzara in honor of Kindness Day will take place at the Central Park Pavilion/behind the Annerino Community Center (201 Recreation Dr). Everyone is welcome to attend. In case of severe weather, the rain date will be Sunday.
• 9 .m. – 5 p.m. A special Make-A-Wish Illinois pre-celebration for Eli Valadez and his family will be taking place at different venues around Bolingbrook including Prince Arcades, Fountaindale Public Library, and Ashbury’s at Boughton Ridge, Central Park Mural Unveiling, S& T Too Bolingbrook, Escape Hour Room, and Barnes & Noble Bolingbrook.
• 10 am-5 pm Residents who stop in at Dog Dayze Doggie Daycare & Boarding (570 W. Boughton Rd), will receive a free freshly popped popcorn and a treat for their dog.
• 5 p.m.- 6 p.m. Kindness Storytime at Barnes & Noble Bolingbrook. Spanish Ladder Ambassadors will be reading Kindness Stories in both English & Spanish. Spanish Ladder will also have Kindness Mugs for the first 20 children attending. *While supplies last.

On Kindness Day Bolingbrook, the Bolingbrook Tee-Ball Association (bbtball.com) will be collecting food for the community micro-pantries. Bring unopened perishable foods to the collection box at the Tee-Ball fields during games.