We want to thank you all for generously giving over the past 3 ½ years so

that children can have the opportunity to experience what it means to think of others’ needs and help, serve and uplift in their own unique ways. They are finding joy, purpose,

self-worth and a passion for giving in the process. They are also developing the necessary

educational, social-emotional and leadership skills to become our next volunteers and

community leaders.We hope that our work makes you proud and

adds beauty, joy and hope to the already amazing legacy of Elizabeth Atkins.

How has TheElizabeth Atkins

Presents Fund changed kids’ lives and helped

them help their communities in 2018?

Here are some of the experiences YOU helped make possible in 2018. This year, you

also helped us expand our Agents of Change program for Alumni, which is keeping them connected to Aaron’s Presents and further supporting their development into our future

changemakers!

(2016-2017 slides are also includedat the end)

SAT Prep Classes in LowellEach week since Fall 2017, 8-12 sophomore andjunior Alumni from Lowell High School havecome to do practice sessions and go over themwith our tutors. We are expecting a number of

them to do quite well and increase their chancesfor scholarships and college options!

10 of our high school Alumni were able to experience a life-changing 15-day Hurricane Island Outward Bound backpacking and canoeing expedition in Maine. It was grueling and new to all of them, who come from the cities of Lowell and Lawrence, but they did it and lived to tell about it and complain about the food!

8th grader Lokshree wanted to help children in Nepal, where her family comes from. She chose some toys and school supplies to send with her grandfather over the summer, and he gave them out to children in the village he grew up in. He even made this banner. How amazing to see our kids’ gifts and Aaron’s name touch people across the world!

Animal lovers and 6th graders Yessenia and Aaliyah volunteered at the MSPCA—Nevins Farm animal shelter for the first time, doing various chores and helping socialize small animals.

BLESSING BAGS:6th grader Holly and 8th grader Ernestine got friends together to make “blessing bags” of toiletries and snacks and gave them out to homeless adults at the Lowell Transitional Living Center.

CAMP MERROWVISTA:6th grader Samuelson had the opportunity to attend this amazing camp in NH for one week and tried so many new things, like archery. This year he wants to go back for as long as possible!

RISE AGAINST HUNGER:10th grade Alumna and Intern, Mangai, raised >$7K and organized a meal-packing event for 150 volunteers (including 90 Aaron’s Presents youth and families!) to pack 25,000 meals in 1 hour for people in West Africa!

ART SCHOOL!We connected withan artist/graduatestudent at MassArtin Boston, and she gave a group of ourvery talented artistAlumni a personaltour of the campus.

HOOP DREAMS:5th graders Jason, Dashawn and Cameron led their own skills and drills workshop for other kids at the Lynn City Summer League this summer.

The following pages are projects from previous years that you made possible.

Thank you again for empowering so many young people. There is no greater gift than knowing we made an impact on the world, and to partner with you

in bringing that belief through firsthand experiences to children has been an amazing, inspiring journey!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Emma’s project sought to encourage Ella O’Donnell asshe battled brain cancer. Ella, 10, passed away onNovember 4, 2016.

Thank you again for helping kids empower

themselves to take positive actions that impact others, and

find joy and purpose in the process.