Published: December 23, 2008 10:51 pm      

Teen wants birthday gifts for kids, not herself

Julie Kittka’s “Sweet 16” party created lasting memories for the birthday girl, her friends – and some sick children at Memorial Medical Center.

Instead of gifts for herself, Julie asked her 60 guests to bring a wrapped toy for the hospital’s pediatrics unit patients.

“I don’t need any more,” Julie said. “I thought it would be a nice way to show the kids we care.”

Julie is a sophomore at Westmont Hilltop High School and a daughter of Lynne and Steven Kittka of Westmont.

Although her parents encouraged her to think of others, the toy donation plan was all Julie’s, her mother said.

“She’s a good kid and a good student, so we wanted to give her a party,” Lynne Kittka said. “I told her you need to think about this party and think about what you want to do. It can’t be about you all the time.”

After enjoying the food, cake and disc jockey’s music with her friends, Julie packed up about 70 gifts and delivered them to children in the hospital.

“It was an incredible feeling,” Julie said. “It made me realize I am so fortunate.”

The emotions were contagious, she said, noticing several kids’ parents on the verge of crying.

“I got tears in my eyes,” Julie said. “There was a 4-year-old boy. When I gave him a couple toys, he sat up and started playing with them. It was the first time in a couple days.”

While obviously proud of her daughter, Lynne Kittka downplayed the generosity. Julie’s friends and other teens have come up with ideas to support the community, she noted. Another recent birthday party collected canned goods for a food bank.

The toy delivery also illustrated Julie’s leadership, Lynne Kittka said.

“All I did was drive her down there,” her mother said. “She really handled it herself. I was proud of her.”

Her unselfish act was its own reward, Julie said.

“Giving the toys to them was almost like a Christmas present,” she said.