MOOSEHEART, IL - When the staff of the Global Travel Services Department at BP America, headquartered at nearby Naperville, IL, came through the doors of Mooseheart's Student Center on Thursday, Dec. 4, they were met with the usual firm handshakes and polite greetings for which Mooseheart's children are known.

But there was something more as the BP America employees arrived to celebrate a pre-Christmas party with a number of the school's elementary schoolchildren.

There were knowing looks, smiles of remembrance and comments like "welcome back" and "I remember you."

And indeed some did, for this year's event marked the second annual party hosted at Mooseheart by the BP America department, which is located in Naperville.

"What was really interesting was that some of the kids recognized us and we recognized some of them," Jeffrey S. Peters, Director of BP America Global Travel Services Department said. "It's great to see them and to seem them happy and smiling."

Mooseheart Executive Director Scott Hart said that recognition was remarkable considering that the last time the Mooseheart children saw the BP America employees was at last year's Christmas party.

"It's almost like 'we just met yesterday'" Hart said. "Our kids are so thankful for the gifts that the BP America employees have provided - but also the crafts and the interaction of the day. It's certainly made a mark in their minds and a lasting memory."

The memories from the 2007 event carried with BP America's employees long after that December event.

"What we wanted to do was form a nice relationship, a partnership, with the organization," Peters said. "After last year and its huge success, everyone said, 'let's consider doing this next year and see it continue.' So that's what we did."

Peters spoke with Executive Director Hart and got an idea of some of the campus' needs. Then he got a Christmas wish list for the children who attended the party.

"We started planning a couple of months ago to get some unique kinds of gifts for the kids," Peters said. "We really wanted to personalize it. We got a list and chose some things that they were looking for."

Some of the crafts made prior to the gift presentations had a useful purpose too. As part of their craft time, the children made bookmarks. When Peters stood to make his presentation to Hart, the first was for a substantial book donation to the Mooseheart school library. Peters had previously asked Hart what needs the campus had, and Hart called Superintendent of Education Gary Urwiler to discuss things from which the school could benefit.

"I said 'what could you use, above and beyond, at the school?'" Hart said. "We emphasize reading so much here at Mooseheart. We know that this opens many doors for them, when they can read at grade level and beyond. (Urwiler) said we could use books for our English Department. He picked out the best and we sent the list to BP. They understand the importance of reading comprehension and they jumped onboard."

There will be plenty of jumping associated with the second campus gift presented by Peters to Hart, a "bounce house" along with a dolly on which to move the house around. Peters also presented the campus with a Wii gaming system and some games for the Mooseheart students to play.

Peters made those presentations to Hart following some craft time in which BP America employees got to mingle with Mooseheart students and staff. Then it was time to open the presents, and through the ripping of wrapping paper and the ensuing smiles on receiving the gifts, the feeling of Christmas ran through Mooseheart's Student Center building. Peters said he left the second annual Christmas party at Mooseheart with the same good feeling as he left the first.

"We had a great time again this year, with the crafts and the toys and the gifts," Peters said. "My intention is to sustain it."

Mooseheart Child City & School is a 1,000-acre community and school for children and teens in need of a secure home, located just south of Batavia, IL, between Illinois Route 31 and Randall Road.

Founded in 1913, Mooseheart is supported completely through private donations - the great majority of which come from the 1.1 million men and women of the Moose fraternal organization, in more than 1,900 Lodges and 1,600 Chapters located throughout the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Bermuda. Moose International headquarters is located on the Mooseheart campus.

Since its founding, Mooseheart has operated a complete, accredited kindergarten-through-high-school academic program, plus art, music, vocational training and interscholastic sports. It is an extremely nurturing and student-tailored program, with an average student-teacher ratio of 12-1.

Mooseheart students who complete their studies with a 3.0 GPA or better (4.0=A) are eligible for up to five years of annually renewable scholarship funding, covering tuition, room and board in an amount comparable to that required for an in-state student at an Illinois public university.

Mooseheart is currently home to roughly 230 students, ranging in age from preschoolers to high school seniors. Applications for admission to Mooseheart are considered from any family whose children are, for whatever reason, lacking a stable home environment. Mooseheart boasts its own U.S. Post Office and a fully functioning branch of Fifth Third Bank.

In addition to Mooseheart, Moose International also supports Moosehaven, a 70-acre retirement community near Jacksonville, FL founded in 1922; and conducts more than $90 million worth of community service programs annually.

Founded in 1888, the Moose organization has long offered its members an opportunity to do good for others while celebrating life, with family, social, and sporting activities. For more information on the Moose organization, visit the websites at www.Mooseintl.org, www.Mooseheart.org, www.Moosehaven.org or www.MooseCharities.org, or call 630-966-2229.