My name is David Kujawa. I am a local resident and business owner. Throughout my life, I have been blessed and impacted by many other people. Now that I am an adult, I desire to give back to others as I was impacted growing up in Elgin. I truly believe that we have the greatest community because of our sense of compassion, forward thinking and continual growth. However, if we don’t give back or pay it forward, then how will our community continue to thrive?
I have been involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Elgin for over 4 years and I have also been a court-appointed advocate with a child advocacy agency for over 5 years. I believe that assisting kids in the community to learn what positive impact and chance everyone has is the greatest way of improving their futures. With the Boys & Girls Club, I have assisted in the growth and development of the club through many avenues. Through the child advocacy position, I make sure every child has a voice in their future.
Both organizations share a mission: to assist children in different circumstances to learn that they have a future and can make a difference by learning good choices and developing better self-worth. We hope to bring a voice and change to everyone regardless of background or economic status.
I have been blessed in many different ways in my life, but most importantly, I was blessed with a solid family system and support network. This, I believe, is important for everyone to have—and this is why I focus on the challenges of our kids. Making the small changes will eventually lead to the biggest impact. Our community needs to realize that we all are accountable, but one person doesn’t have to take care of everything. Just making one small step to help someone else is our responsibility.
And with the small steps I’ve taken, I’ve seen big effects. With the Boys & Girls Club, I have grown up in the community, and I see the growth of the club in terms of membership. This means that there are less kids tempted by negativity in the community, and more kids focusing on themselves, their education and ways that they can give back themselves. As a child advocate, I am giving a child a voice in hard situations and providing them with one constant cheerleader. This will help reverse the cycle of abuse or neglect. Again, one change is the key.
There are many different not-for-profits, many different missions. Realizing that we all are in life together, and making my mark by helping children make theirs—that’s how I Live United.
Tags: Elgin, Live United, United Way, United Way of Elgin
