Julia and Jennifer Hudson (Photo: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock.com)
Jennifer Hudson and her sister Julia have held their 10th annual “Hatch Day” where they give back to kids in need.
The special day was created to honour this beautiful guy:
(Photo courtesy Julia D. King Foundation)
His name is Julian D. King and he is Julia’s son and Jennifer’s nephew.
Julian tragically lost his life in 2008 aged just 7, when he was murdered by William Balfour. The Hudsons’ mother, Darnell Donerson and brother, Jason were also killed.
And yet somehow, Jennifer and Julia keep finding the strength to turn their agony and heartbreak into purpose.
This year, the pair and their team of volunteers delivered 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies as well as masks and hand sanitizer to students in Chicago, where Jennifer and her sister grew up.
(Photo: @iamjhud/Instagram)
(Photo: @iamjhud/Instagram)
“Now more than ever, young people need to know that there are people standing up for them and rooting for them as they learn and grow,” the sisters said in a statement.
“So much has changed this year for the city of Chicago and the entire world, but providing children with the tools they need to succeed will always be our mission. Though Hatch Day may look different this year, we’ve never been more committed to supporting our communities.”
Jennifer and Julia also celebrated what would have been Julian’s 19th birthday:
“On this Hatch day, many kids in Chicago was still blessed! Happy heavenly birthday nephew! We will always honor and uphold your memory,” Jennifer wrote on her socials.
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So why is it called “Hatch Day”?
“He always wanted to hatch things,” Jennifer says on the Julian D King Foundation website.
“He got it from a cartoon. He would say ‘Today is my hatch day.’ This is our way of giving our hatch day and being able to help other kids through his memory.”
In addition to “Hatch Day”, the Foundation also holds regular toy drives and Christmas dinners for underprivileged families.