Strangers Team Up To Organize 'Kids Like AJ' Fundraiser

MCHENRY COUNTY, IL — Sometimes, things are just meant to be. That was the case in recent weeks when Kat Politick and two friends, Natalie Nicholas and Jessica Borg, started a Facebook page to help find AJ Freund. The page is now dedicated to keeping AJ's memory alive, and the group is planning a fundraising effort in memory of the slain Crystal Lake boy.

Recently, the three went to the McHenry County fairgrounds to rent space for an upcoming event in June to help raise awareness and offer real solutions for ending neglect and preventing life-threatening child abuse in local communities. They also wanted the event to raise funds for organizations that can help prevent and address child neglect and abuse. But there was a kink in the plan.

"When we went to the fairgrounds to rent space we learned that a man was wanting the space on the same day, same time, for the same cause," Politick told Patch. Chad Carpenter, the owner of Elite Doors in Volo, obviously had the same idea as Politick and her friends.

So they all started meeting every Saturday morning to plan the event.

Kids Like AJ will be held from 12 to 8 p.m. June 22 at the McHenry County Fairgrounds, 2015 Country Club Road in Woodstock. Local child welfare organizations will be on hand to explain how those who are interested can contribute time and resources to prevent future tragedies.

There will also be music, games for kids, a variety of food vendors, and counselors will be onsite, according to the Kids Like AJ event website.

The event this year is held in memory of AJ with a goal of raising $250,000. So far, they've raised about $25,000, with some funds going to Let's Be Us, CASA and Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Politick said. She said the benefit will also bring awareness to the lack of volunteers and funding for "agencies directly involved with children in the system."

"We knew right away that a GoFundMe and the community would build a nest egg for the siblings (of AJ) so we wanted to take a different approach by going beyond the situation," Politick wrote in an email to Patch. "This year is in remembrance of AJ but we are planning on doing this yearly for the same or similar charities."

Fundraising efforts and an increased interest in foster parenting has been a positive note following the tragic death of AJ Freund. The 5-year-old boy was first reported missing April 18 by his father, Andrew Freund, but later found dead in a shallow grave near Woodstock. His parents, Freund and JoAnn Cunningham are charged with his murder.

A separate event, a peaceful protest named "ROAR for AJ," will be held outside the Department of Children and Family Services, 113 Newell Street in Woodstock. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Rest in Peace AJ GoFundMe page has raised over $73,000. The funds will be dispersed to AJ's two siblings, a younger brother and an older brother, as well an unborn sibling. JoAnn Cunningham was seven months pregnant at the time of AJ's death.

"There are a lot of people mourning this little boy that nobody knew. He became a child to countless people," Politick said. She added therapists will be on site at the June Kids Like AJ event and are meant to help "people struggling to make sense of the situation."

But the main point of the June event is to keep the "noise" loud even as the headlines begin to fade.

"If the case goes quiet then we are afraid it will be forgotten just like hundreds before him," Politick said. "We will continue to make noise until we see changes made. The system failed AJ."

More via the Never Forget AJ Facebook page, which has nearly 6,300 followers, and the Kids Like AJ event page

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