AJ's Extended, Foster Families Thank Community, Volunteers

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — Dozens of local organizations, businesses and volunteers stepped up to help and provide donations to the extended family and prior foster family of AJ Freund following his death last month. On Thursday, those families issued a statement thanking everyone for their continued prayers and support. The statement, which did not include AJ's biological parents but did not name the specific family members making the statement, also thanked " those of you who worked, and continue to work, tirelessly to find answers and bring peace, resolve and justice on AJ’s behalf."

• Officers Recognized For 'Outstanding' Work on AJ Investigation

AJ's parents, Joann Cunningham and Andrew Freund, are being held at the McHenry County Jail on a $5 million bond and are accused of beating AJ and forcing him to stay in a cold shower on April 15. AJ later died of severe head trauma. Cunningham and Freund are charged with first-degree murder, aggravated battery and failure to report a death while Freund faces a charge of concealment of a death for allegedly burying AJ’s body in a shallow grave near Woodstock.

• AJ Freund Died Three Days Before He Was Reported Missing

"We, the family of our much-beloved Andrew (AJ) Freund, wish to acknowledge the many kindnesses, prayers and overwhelming support provided to us by the good people of Crystal Lake and surrounding communities, on the loss of our precious little one," the statement read. "We would like to extend our gratitude to the many people of our state and across the world."

Any additional donations to AJ's brothers' care can be made to The State Bank of Geneva in Geneva, attention Kathleen Krochock. AJ had a younger brother, who is now being cared for by family, and AJ's mother, Joann Cunningham, is pregnant and nearing her due date.

The family noted the following specific businesses, organizations and volunteers who provided their services, goods and time in the weeks since AJ's death on April 15:

Food Donations

• Noodles and Company of Crystal Lake
• Jewel, Crystal Lake
• Subway, Crystal Lake
• Rosatis, Crystal Lake
• Casey’s, Crystal Lake
• Texas Roadhouse, Crystal Lake
• Cookies by Victoria, Cary

Contributions for Visitation/Funeral

• Davenport Family Funeral Homes & Crematory, Crystal Lake
• Crown Restrooms, Woodstock
• Crystal Lake Police Department, Crystal Lake
• Wilbert Vault, Des Plaines
• Trappist Casket, Peosta, Iowa
• Madelyn Wild, Wales, Wis.
• Meyers & Flowers, St. Charles
• Lions Club, Crystal Lake
• Chicago Prime Restaurant, Schaumburg
• Office Max, Crystal Lake
• Father Jerome Koutnik at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Crystal Lake
• Pastor Warren Schilf and Deaconess Suzanne Fingerle at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Palatine
• K-9 Lutheran Ministries, Northbrook
• Countryside Flowers, Crystal Lake
• Colonial Funeral Home, McHenry
• DeFiore Funeral Home, Huntley
• Geske and Sons Asphalt, Crystal Lake
• Huntley School District Transportation, Algonquin
• Willow Creek Church, Crystal Lake
• McHenry County Crisis Center, Woodstock
• Twisted Stem, Crystal Lake
• St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery, Palatine
• Chicago Tribune for waiving the obituary fee
• Northwest Herald for waiving the obituary fee

General Volunteers

• Sue Bleischmidt, Lake In the Hills Police
• Mark Wood, Lake In the Hills Police
• Ralph Wehnes, DeFiore Funeral Home, Huntley
• Julie Arza and daughter Olivia, DeFiore Funeral Home, Huntley
• Carol DeFiore, DeFiore Funeral Home, Huntley
• Jackie Speciale, Woodstock

Remembrance Items

• Jessica Milliman and Aimee Wood
• Eby Graphics, Crystal Lake, Il.
• Escort to Cemetery
• Crystal Lake Police Department
• Cary Police, Fire and Rescue Departments
• Fox River Grove Police, Fire and Rescue Departments
• Barrington Countryside Police and Fire Departments
• Palatine Police Department

MORE ON PATCH

• 'AJ Belonged To All Of Us': Answers Sought After Boy's Death
• Thousands Say Goodbye to AJ at Public Visitation
• Psychological Evaluation Sought for Andrew Freund Sr.
• AJ's DCFS Investigators Were Overloaded With Other Cases
• Read Indictment for Joann Cunningham, Andrew Freund
• AJ Freund Died Three Days Before He Was Reported Missing: Report
• 'Maybe Mommy Didn't Mean to Hurt Me': DCFS Reports Released
• Prosecutor Wrote Letter To DCFS A Year Before AJ Freund's Death