A Pawfect Act: Northbrook Teen Raises $1K For Animal Shelter

NORTHBROOK, IL — Despite being allergic to cats and dogs, Mia Willentzik loves animals. The 13-year-old Northbrook resident recently showed her affinity for some furry friends when she raised more than $1,000 for Orphans of the Storm, a Riverwoods-based animal shelter.

"Ever since I was very young, I've always had a connection with animals, so I wanted to give back to them," Willentzik, a student at Wood Oaks Junior High School, told Patch. "I had an animal encyclopedia that I would read from religiously every day. I've always just wanted to be around them."

Willentzik's charity work had a dual purpose as she was able to help a cause she cares about and also use the endeavor for her bat mitzvah project. In addition to the money, she also collected blankets for the shelter.

Willentzik said the family used to have two cats, who were adopted from Orphans of the Storm, but they had to give them away because of her allergies.

According to her mother, Sue Zeiler, Willentzik was never into princesses or other things some girls gravitate toward. She was always collecting stuffed animals.

"She could identify every animal when she was 2," Zeiler said. "I remember a family gathering and there was a stuffed animal. She said it was an ocelot. Nobody knew what an ocelot was. She was absolutely right."

Willentzik, who recently visited Orphans of the Storm, located at 2200 Riverwoods Road, said she was moved by how happy the animals were to have people there to see them.

To learn more about Orphans of the Storm, visit the website.