Shortly after launching its annual Holiday Caring Appeal fund drive, the Naperville Humane Society has received one of its most unusual donations ever: a $50 bill from a 10-year-old boy.
Joey Cutaia, a 5th-grader at Meadow Glens Elementary School in Naperville, was walking near the school grounds with friends when he spotted something green lying by the curb. His find turned out to be two folded $50 bills, which he turned in to the school office.
“It was market day at school that day, and I thought somebody might have dropped the money then,” Joey said.
After a month passed and nobody claimed the cash, the school returned the money to Joey. He decided to spend half of his windfall on a new boombox and give the rest to the Naperville Humane Society.
“My parents said that it was my choice whether I wanted to use part of the money to help someone, and I decided I wanted to help the shelter,” Joey said. “Our family had looked at some pups there, and I saw that there were a lot of animals that needed help.
“I think they were surprised at the shelter when my dad took me over there and I gave them the money,” Joey said. “They said, `Oh, thank you,’ and they let me hold a puppy.”
Dawn Michael, director of development for the Naperville Humane Society, said that Joey’s donation had brightened the holidays for everyone at the shelter.
“We see so many sad stories here; we handle 5 to 10 calls a day from people who are giving up their pets,” Michael said. “When a child like Joey comes in, it helps you start fresh.”
Joey’s parents, Michele and Dan Cutaia, said that they weren’t surprised by their son’s donation.
“When he was 8, he and some friends started a lawn service and earned money pulling weeds,” Michele said. “We thought they would spend the money on candy, but they gave it all to Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities.”
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According to Michael, the Naperville Humane Society hopes to raise $30,000 in its 1997 Holiday Caring Appeal. The animal shelter, which relies on individual donations and volunteer labor, expects to place more than 700 animals this year, Michael said. The facility currently is at capacity, with 18 dogs and 40 cats.