Former Big Brother
Dave Hooperhas volunteered for Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties for the agency's entire
32-year history. He previously
served a dual role as site
coordinator of the after-school
mentoring program held at Joliet
Catholic and Joliet West, and as a
member of the Board of Directors.
Dave Hooper's former Little Brother,
Anthony Rapp, is a well-known
for starring in the Broadway play
and movie "Rent."
Other
notable work includes the film "A
Beautiful Mind," and the stage and
film versions of "Six Degrees of
Separation." He's also appeared as a
guest actor in numerous TV shows.
Lynn Keane, customer
relations specialist with Big Brothers and
Big Sisters of Will and
GrundyCounties, attempts to
replace the duct tape that hides the termite
damage in the front room of the building.
(Terence
Guider-Shaw/Staff Photographer)
Lynn Keane
(above) walks past the guest bathrooms which
are in a hallway that is not up to code with
the Americans with Disabilities Act, as is
much of the rest of the building in Crest
Hill that houses the office for the Big
Brothers and Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties. (photos by
Terence Guider-Shaw/staff photographer)
A sign taped to
the mirror asks occupants to keep the water
in the sink running during cold weather.
Those are the sort of
things that Nick Sayers, 9, of Morris, does with his
big brother from the Big Brothers Big Sisters
program.
As to why his grades
have improved dramatically since he's had a big
brother, Nick doesn't really know. Neither does his
big brother or his real mother. But they all agree
the "Big Brothers" experience seems to help.
"It's someone to look
up to," said Nick, who doesn't have a father at
home. "I've never had that experience. I have two
sisters. They're both older than me. They're
starting their own families."
Nick is one of 500
youngsters served by Big Brothers and Big Sisters of
Will and Grundy Counties throughout the year. The
program provides men and women to serve as mentors
and role models for young people, most of whom are
in single-parent families. And, the local Big
Brothers Big Sisters has been growing along with the
counties it serves.
The not-for-profit
group last week launched a campaign to raise $1
million to move out of the cramped headquarters,
where it operates now, and into a new building.
For about 15 years, Big
Brothers and Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties
has operated out of a converted house on Plainfield
Road in Crest Hill. As the agency has grown, the
space has become more crowded, said Chief Executive
Officer Lisa Morel Las.
"Right now, we're on
top of each other, and there's no room to add
people," Las said.
Not only that, but Las
recently had the building treated for termites. The
property has been sold, and the building will be
torn down as Big Brothers Big Sisters raises money
for a new home.
The agency has its eyes
on a Joliet site but has not closed on the property,
Las said, since buying the building depends on how
much money can be raised.
But Big Brothers Big
Sisters is looking for a building big enough to
house its staff as well as hold events that could
attract more big brothers and sisters to the
program, said Las.
Occasionally, the
organization holds events to give prospective
mentors a sense of what the program is like. A
recent event brought in about 35 employees from
Chicago Bridge and Iron to meet 35 youngsters to the
Crest Hill location. Because of the size of the
facility, everyone was spread out into different
rooms.
Las said such one-day
events are an important way to attract people who
may be interested in Big Brothers Big Sisters but
don't know enough about the program to make a
commitment.
"We have many more kids
than we have mentors," Las said.
It really doesn't take
much to be a mentor in the program, said Jay
Johnson, who is Nick's big brother.
Johnson, who lives in
Minooka and is a coach at Lincoln-Way East High
School in Frankfort, said he basically spends time
with Nick doing things that they both like to do,
such as bicycling and bowling.
"That's the good thing
about the program," Johnson said. "They match you
with someone who has the same interests."
Johnson brings his own
son and two daughters along with some outings with
Nick. Later this month, they may go to a Chicago
Blackhawks hockey game.
"I don't feel like I do
a lot," Johnson said.
But Nick's mother, Dana
Agnich, vouches for the difference that Johnson has
made in her son's life.
He's more focused at
school, she said.
"This program has done
a lot of good for my son," Agnich said at an event
last week to launch the capital campaign. "He got
his grades up. He went from Ds and Fs to As and one
C."
As to why the program
has made a difference, Agnich isn't sure. But Nick
seems more confident.
"He just feels better
about himself," she said.
Will County State's
Attorney James Glasgow talked about the importance
of role models at the Big Brothers Big Sisters event
last week.
"Young kids today are
bombarded with things that give them knowledge that
they really can't comprehend," he said. "It's so
critical that children have role models."
Will County
Executive Larry Walsh and United Way
Director Colleen Davis share a laugh with
Demetri
Morris of Naperville, left, and Nick Sayers
of Morris during the Big Brothers Big
Sisters Capital
Campaign kick off Monday.
CREST HILL -- The family of mentors and children in
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties
is growing. And, the agency says the old house it
uses for its operations is just too small.
Big Brothers Big
Sisters announced a campaign Monday to raise $1
million for a new base of operations.
Campaign leaders, staff
members and supporters crowded into one of the rooms
at the agency's current offices to talk about the
growth of Big Brothers Big Sisters and its need for
bigger quarters.
Campaign Co-Chairman
James Roolf noted that the agency started small
35 years ago. But it now serves about 500 children a
year.
"Will and Grundy
counties are experiencing growth like they have
never experienced before," Roolf said, adding that
if everyone in the two counties donated just $1, the
campaign would be close to its $1 million target.
Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties operates out of
a converted house at 2323 Plainfield Road, Crest
Hill. The agency, which started in shared space in
an insurance office in 1972, has been at the
existing offices for about 15 years.
Roolf was joined by
fellow Co-Chairman Paul Gantzert in
describing the good the agency does.
Big Brothers Big
Sisters links up adult mentors with children who may
need role models.
Gantzert also made a
pitch for volunteers, pointing to his own experience
as a mentor for two boys who have since grown to
become working adults. The experience is good for
the mentors as well as the kids, he said.
"I really couldn't be
more proud of both Little Brothers," Gantzert said.
"I've done a lot of things with them that I wouldn't
have done otherwise."
The campaign received
some early donations of $70,000 in state dollars
secured by State Rep. Jack McGuire and State
Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi.
Will County Executive
Larry Walsh, a longtime supporter of Big
Brothers Big Sisters, and Will County State's
Attorney Jim Glasgow also joined in the
campaign announcement.
"Children in this
program truly believe in themselves because a Big
Brother or Big Sister believes in them," Walsh said.
He said children in the
program tend to do better in school, are less likely
to use drugs and alcohol, and even get along better
with their families at home because of time spent
with mentors.
Those interested in
contacting Big Brothers Big Sisters should call
Chief Advancement Officer Bridget Domberg at
(815) 725-4324 or visit the Web site
www.bbbswillgrundy.org.
# # #
Nick Sayers of
Morris and Demetri Morris of Naperville
discuss where they'd like to go to college
with Big Brothers Big Sisters
CapitalCampaign Co-Chairs James Roolf and
Paul Gantzert. (Herald Photo/Heidi
Terry-Litchfield)
By
Heidi Terry-Litchfield
Morris Daily Herald Writer
TUESDAY DECEMBER 11, 2007
JOLIET - Duct tape can
be found holding the walls together at the current
Big Brothers Big Sisters office in Joliet.
According to a recent appraisal, the building “is
not functional, nor is it physically reasonable to
rehab or add onto.”
The building sits in a
small converted home on Plainfield Road, where water
retention on the property after rain has resulted in
a breeding ground for termites and rodents that have
also infested the building, according to published
reports.
It's due to the conditions of the existing building,
which BBBS has inhabited since the early 1990s, that
the organization is announcing the first-ever
capital campaign for a new building.
BBBS currently serves Will and Grundy counties, and
has done so 1972. The goal of the organization is to
match at-risk children primarily from single-parent
homes with dedicated mentors.
Co-chairs for the campaign are James Roolf,
president of First Midwest Bank's Joliet Banking
Center and a member of the Illinois Tollway board of
directors, and Paul Gantzert with Gantzert
Investment Co. and former Big Brother to two boys
who are now successful adults.
“The future of these children starts today,” said
Roolf. “We are asking for $1 million in this
campaign. If every person in Will and Grundy
counties gave just one dollar, we'd almost
accomplish our goal.”
The $1 million will be used to purchase a new site
and complete any renovations. It also includes a 10
percent endowment component.
State Senator A.J. Wilhelmi and Representative
Jack McGuire were on hand to announce $20,000
and $50,000 grants, respectively, to start the
campaign in the right direction.
Duct tape is
holding some of the walls together
at the current Big Brothers Big Sisters
building,
which has been infested with termites.
(Herald Photo/Heidi Terry-Litchfield)
The capital campaign
committee members include Laird Ozman,
Larry Walsh, Carroll Klotz, and Dr.
Ernesto Tan.
Walsh, Will County executive, said the importance of
the organization could not be denied.
“Research has shown that children matched with a Big
Brother or Big Sister are 46 percent less likely to
begin using illegal drugs, 27 percent less likely to
begin using alcohol, and 52 percent less likely to
skip school,” Walsh noted.
Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow
said giving money to BBBS helps save money for
taxpayers by providing role models to children who
may otherwise turn to the street for examples and be
lead to a life of crime.
“We are spending $67 million on a jail expansion,”
said Glasgow. “If the money was spent here earlier,
it may not be needed there.”
“They have an unbelievable record of success,” he
added.
On hand at the campaign kickoff was Nick Sayers
of Morris and his mother, Dana Agnich, who
spoke about the benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters
has brought to their family.
“It's nice to see him enjoy himself and come home
happy after an outing,” said Agnich. “It's also
benefited his education, since there is an agreement
he had to get his grades up and keep them up in
order to go on the outings.”
She said his grades have gone from D's and F's to
mostly A's, with one C, at Saratoga School, where he
is in fourth grade.
“He hasn't had a male role model other then his
older sisters' husbands,” said Agnich. “They are now
starting families of their own and have less time
for him, so this has been great, giving him someone
to look up to.”
Sayers said he has gone shopping and to the park
with his Big Brother, Jay Johnson of Minooka,
who was also on hand at the kickoff.
“He took me bowling once, too,” said Sayers. “I
think it's pretty cool to have someone to look up
to.”
Johnson, who is serving as a Big Brother and mentor
for the first time, said it has been a great
experience for him, as well as Sayers.
“It's awesome,” said Johnson. “I think I may be
getting more out of it then he does.”
AT&T External Affairs Director John Quinn, BBBS CEO
Lisa Morel Las, Crest Hill Mayor Nick Churnovic &
BBBS Board Member Will County Recorder Laurie McPhillips
The AT&T Foundation
-- the corporate philanthropy organization of
AT&T Inc. -- announced that it has awarded more
than $42,000 to support three organizations in
Will County through the AT&T Excelerator
competitive technology grant program.
Since 2002, Excelerator
has provided more than 2,500 technology grants --
totaling more than $47.8 million -- to organizations
across the country.
"Being selected as a
recipient of an AT&T Excelerator grant to upgrade
our technology infrastructure means so much to us,"
said Lisa Morel Las, CEO of Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. "The AT&T
Excelerator grant will help us provide better
support and services to our current mentors and the
at-risk youth who participate in our programs."
A $20,000 grant to
Big Brothers Big Sisters will support a
technology infrastructure upgrade to replace aging
computers, to enable access to software used by the
national organization for donor support and to
manage the critical process of matching volunteers
with their little brothers and sisters.
"Lewis is honored to be
one of this year's Excelerator grantees because
technology plays an increasingly important role in
mediating access to higher education," said James
Gaffney, Lewis University president.
"AT&T's support for
Project ATLAAS will enable the university to use
Web-based technology to provide many of the same
high-quality academic support services that are
currently available at our main campus to adult
students who are enrolled at our five regional
centers."
A $14,000 grant to
Lewis will support adult students by offering
expanded access to academic support services and
tutorial services.
"For the past two
years, the Rialto has been planning for a
significant technological upgrade regarding
ticketing services for our patrons," said Randall
Green, general manager of the Rialto Square Theatre
Corp.
"The AT&T Excelerator
grant provides us with the ability to put the last
piece of our technology hardware puzzle in place.
Our staff will now be able to fully use a system
designed to provide a greater level of service to
our patrons and to fully use an e-commerce marketing
tool for selling and promoting events at the
Rialto."
The $8,500 grant to the
Rialto will support the purchase of new computers
that will allow the use of Archtics, an in-house
ticketing system.
Volunteers and supporters of Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties were recognized
at the agency's annual volunteer celebration on Oct.
16 at Dollinger's Farm in Minooka.
Nearly 100 friends and
volunteers were in attendance, including a large
representation of adult volunteers who serve as Big
Brothers or Big Sisters. The children matched as
Little Brothers and Little Sisters presented a
handwritten certificate of appreciation to their Big
Brother or Big Sister while telling the audience how
much he or she means to them.
Special recognition
awards were given by Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO
Lisa Morel Las and program director Megan
Johnson to individuals and businesses that
provided exceptional support throughout the year .
Jay Johnson Jr.
receives the Big Promising
Mentor of the Year award from
Big Brothers Big Sisters program
director Megan Johnson (left)
and enrollment specialist
Shalaina Morris. Nick, a 9-year
old Morris boy who is matched as
his little brother, joined
Johnson when he accepted the
award.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
Awards include:
Big Advocate of the
Year: Timothy C. Klotz Memorial Fund, Carroll
Klotz.
Big Friend of the
Year:Bill and Joan Caton, Realty World
Caton & Associates.
Big Business of the
Year: Just Kidding Around, of Morris, owner
Maureen Headrick.
Big Corporate Sponsor
of the Year:Packard Transport, owners Rex and Melody
Easton.
Big Sister of the
Year:Paulette Mangione-Korallus, of
Plainfield.
Big Brother of the
Year:Dr. Ernie Tan, of Frankfort.
Big Promising Mentor
of Year: Jay Johnson Jr., of Minooka.
Big Committed Mentor of
the Year:Kristin Hulva, of Wilmington
Big School-Mentoring
Coordinator of the Year:Martha Miranda Villegas, Lewis University
Timothy Klotz's family
and friends host the Timothy C. Klotz
Memorial Golf Outing and Big Brothers Big Sisters
has been one of the recipients of those funds for
the last three years.
Bill and Joan Caton
support the agency's annual Bowl for Kids' Sake
fundraiser. Employees of the Catons formed nine
teams and raised more than $5,000 for Big Brothers
Big Sisters.
Just Kidding Around
store owners Maureen Headrick and Monica
Brehm donate proceeds of their Kids Club sales
to Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Packard Transport
Inc.'s Rex and Melody Easton have supported
many of the agency's fundraising events and appeals,
and donate tickets for matched "Bigs" and "Littles"
to attend sporting and other activities.
Dr. Ernesto Tan,
a urologist from Frankfort, was matched with Philip
Duckworth of Mokena in 2003 after his father died of
cancer. Paulette Mangione-Korallus, a Plainfield
Realtor, was matched with Morris teen Eva since
April 2002.
Kristin Hulva of
Wilmington is a Big Sister to 12-year-old Valerie of
Morris.
Martha Villegas
has served as the site coordinator of Big Brothers
Big Sisters program that matches Lewis students as
mentors with grade school students from Ludwig
Elementary and Irene King Elementary.
Monica Brehm
and Maureen Headrick, owners of downtown
Morris children’s clothing store Just
Kidding Around, with the ‘Big’
Business of the Year Award from Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties.
Joliet, Ill. –
Volunteers and supporters of Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties were recognized
at the agency’s annual Volunteer Celebration held on
October 16 at Dollinger’s Farm in Minooka.
Nearly 100 friends and
volunteers were in attendance, including a large
representation of adult volunteers who serve as Big
Brothers or Big Sisters. The children matched as
Little Brothers and Little Sisters presented a
handwritten certificate of appreciation to their Big
Brother or Big Sister while telling the audience how
much he or she means to them.
Special recognition
awards were given out to individuals and businesses
that have provided exceptional support throughout
the year by Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO Lisa
Morel Las and program director Megan Johnson.
Big Advocate of the
Year –
Timothy C. Klotz Memorial Fund, Carroll Klotz
Big Friend of the
Year – Bill
and Joan Caton, Realty World Caton & Associates
Big Business of the
Year – Just
Kidding Around of Morris, owner Maureen Headrick
Big Corporate
Sponsor of the Year
– Packard Transport,
owners Rex & Melody Easton.
Big
Sister of the Year –
Paulette Mangione-Korallus of Plainfield
Big Brother of the
Year – Dr.
Ernie Tan of Frankfort
Big Promising Mentor
of the Year
– Jay Johnson of Minooka
Big Committed Mentor
of the Year
– Kristin Hulva of Wilmington
Big School-Based
Coordinator of the Year
– Martha Miranda Villegas, Lewis University
The
Timothy C. Klotz Memorial Fund was chosen for
the Big Advocate of the Year award as a
result of their support of Big Brothers Big Sisters
in the community. Timothy Klotz’s family and
friends host the Timothy C. Klotz Memorial Golf
Outing and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will & Grundy
Counties has been one of the fortune recipients of
those funds for the last three years. Additionally,
Tim’s widow, Carroll Klotz serves on the Big
Brothers Big Sisters Board of Directors.
Bill and Joan Caton,
owners of Realty World Caton & Associates were
honored as the agency’s Big Friend of the Year
because of their worthy support of the agency’s
annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake fundraiser.
Bill and Joan encourage
their employees to get involved -- this year alone
they had nine teams and raised over $5,000 for Big
Brothers Big Sisters.
Recognized as the
Big Business of the Year award was Just
Kidding Around in Morris. Every year,
store owners Maureen Headrick and Monica Brehm
donate proceeds of their Kids Club sales to Big
Brothers Big Sisters.
Packard Transport,
Inc. owners
Rex and Melody Easton received the Big
Corporation of the Year award for their
long-time involvement with Big Brothers Big
Sisters. They have supported many of the agency’s
fundraising events and appeals, and donate tickets
for matched “Bigs” and “Littles” to attend sporting
and other activities.
Honored as Big
Brother of the Year was Dr. Ernesto Tan,
an urologist from Frankfort. Dr. Tan was matched
with Philip Duckworth of Mokena in 2003 after his
father died of cancer. Paulette
Mangione-Korallus, a Plainfield realtor was
selected as Big Sister of the Year. She has
been matched with Morris teen, Eva, since April
2002.
Jay Johnson, Jr.,
aquatics director for Lincoln-Way East High School,
received the Big Promising Mentor of the Year
award. He was recently matched as a Big Brother
with 9-year old Nick of Morris. Kristin Hulva
of Wilmington, was recognized as the Big
Committed Mentor of the Year award for her
dedication as a Big Sister to12-year old Valerie of
Morris.
Chosen as the
School-Based Site-Coordinator of the Year was
Martha Miranda Villegas of Lewis University.
She has served as site-coordinator of the Big
Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program that matches
Lewis University students as mentors with grade
school students from Ludwig Elementary and Irene
King Elementary.
Big Brothers Big
Sisters is a United Way member agency whose mission
is to help at-risk children, predominately from
single-parent homes, reach their full potential
through one-to-one mentoring relationships. For
more information, visit the web site at
www.bbbswillgrundy.org or call call (815)
725-4324.
Pastry chef Misty
Owens lays out the chocolate and
strawberry mousse cups she just made
for the fundraiser.
One of the more
simple deserts served at the Big
Brothers Big Sisters fundraiser was
cake with a cherry on top. This was
piece created by the staff from
Harrah's in Joliet.
Pastry Chef and
"Baklava Queen" Mary Osman of Joliet
places out more baklava (right) for
guests to sample at the Big Brothers
Big Sisters' FINALE fundraiser at
the Jacob Henry Mansion in Joliet on
Oct.21.
If the desserts
weren't decadent enough, guests also
could dip treats in the white
chocolate fountain at the
fundraiser.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties host one delicioius fundraiser
November 4, 2007
One sweet idea
created the recipe for success for the
first-ever FINALE fundraiser to benefit Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties.
The Oct. 21
fundraiser at the Jacob Henry Victorian Ballroom
in Joliet blended all the right ingredients: top
area food establishments serving up fabulous
desserts, generous supporters and a hard-working
committee.
"The planning
committee faced the difficult challenge of
whipping up an ultra-classy event on a
teeny-tiny budget so more local children can be
matched with a Big Brother or a Big Sister
mentor," explained Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO
Lisa Morel Las.
Stirring this
delicious pot was Sandy Price,
partnership development coordinator for Big
Brothers Big Sisters. It all started with a need
for a fall fundraiser and a love of chocolate.
"I'm a big
chocoholic," said Price. "We knew that we wanted
a fundraiser that would be different and which
would stand out in the community - and our
thoughts turned to a dessert-only fundraiser."
She was happily surprised by the overwhelming
success of the event.
"We were hoping to
sell 200 tickets," said Price. "And in the end,
we sold well over 250 and could have sold more."
Next year's FINALE, because this year's success
demanded another, will be on Oct. 12, 2008.
Steve Scherer,
Big Brothers Big Sisters board vice president
and a vice president at Citizens First National
Bank in Minooka, admits he is not a big dessert
eater. Still, he said "I really enjoyed it. It
was very tastefully done, well attended, well
orchestrated. I go to a lot of events and I have
never seen one like this."
Bridget Domberg,
chief advancement officer for Big Brothers Big
Sisters credits Harrah's Joliet Casino and
Hotel for sponsoring the inaugural event.
"Harrah's was the key ingredient of our
success," she said. Additional VIP Sponsors were
Nicor and Will County State's Attorney
Jim Glasgow.
"We're so grateful
for the 12 vendors who provided the continuous
dessert samplings -- they were outstanding,"
said Las.
The vendors were
Aunt Nina's Sweets & Treats,
Baklava Bakery, Bella Cucina Catering,
Edible Arrangements, Harrah's Joliet,
M&M Specialties Custom Bake Shoppe, Morris
Country Club, The Elegant Touch Gourmet
Catering, Truth Restaurant, WineStyles of
Homer Glen, and the Jacob Henry Mansion.
The Will County Farm Bureau provided a
wide selection of cheese as well.
Attendees were able to vote for their favorite
vendors in various categories. Harrah's grabbed
two of the awards: Best Presentation and
Overall Best. Truth Restaurant won the
Sensationally Decadent award.
Harrah's Executive Chef Lam Vongsakoun
won two awards: Best Presentation and
Overall Best for the three desserts he
showcased: a deconstructed pineapple upside-down
cake with pina colada foam, strawberries and
champagne with strawberry pearls, and a Chambord
raspberry mousse and decadent chocolate mousse.
Kate Mohundro
of Truth Restaurant accepted the
Sensationally Decadent award for her white
and milk chocolate brulée in a chocolate custard
cup dessert.
Price explained,
"Many of the vendors thanked us because they
knew that their business would only grow from
this exposure."
She also said she
couldn't have pulled this party off without the
help of the Pritz family, owners of the Jacob
Henry Victorian Ballroom. "They were so generous
to us, especially Sue Pritz Bornhofen who
was there every time we needed her" she said.
"They involved their entire family in such a
giving way. They love kids, they love our
community. It was such a good mix."
Co-chairing the
FINALE planning committee were Laurie
McPhillips, Will County Recorder of Deeds
and a Republican; and Pam McGuire, Will
County Circuit Clerk and a Democrat. Their
politics might differ, but there were no
disagreements on how to partner for maximum
impact.
The “Finale” committee included Julie
Peterson
of the Grundy County Sheriff's Department;
Mary Lou Bennington of Morris who volunteers
as a Big Sister; Clarice Kofoid of
Something Unique;
Rosa Angeles of First Midwest Bank; local
photographer/writer Jan Larsen; nursing
professor Lora McGuire of Joliet Junior
College; Roxane Geraci for Will County
Executive Larry Walsh; Wendy Langlois of
MSL Benefits and Consultants; Tina
Gildersleeve
of the Joliet YMCA; Annette Leck of
Management Strategies Inc.; and caterer Julie
Shepherd of Lockport.
"I've worked on
dozens of fundraising committees the past 20
years and have never seen staff contribute so
much before," said Larsen, formerly of The
Herald News. "Being on this committee was a cake
walk."
Big Brothers Big
Sisters is a United Way member agency whose
mission is to help children achieve their full
potential through professionally supported, long
term, one-to-one relationships with carefully
screened, dedicated volunteers. Most of the
children, ranging between 7-13 years in age, are
considered at-risk and live in single-parent
homes. For more information go to
www.bbbswillgrundy.org or call (815)
725-4324.
JOLIET - One sweet idea
created the recipe for success for the first-ever
Finale fundraiser to benefit Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.
The Sunday, Oct. 21 fundraiser at the Jacob Henry
Victorian Ballroom in Joliet blended all the right
ingredients - top area food establishments serving
up fabulous desserts, generous supporters and a
hard-working committee.
“The planning committee
faced the difficult challenge of whipping up an
ultra-classy event on a teeny-tiny budget so more
local children can be matched with a Big Brother or
a Big Sister mentor,” said Big Brothers Big Sisters
CEO Lisa Morel Las.
Stirring this delicious pot was Sandy Price,
partnership development coordinator for Big Brothers
Big Sisters. It all started with a need for a fall
fundraiser and a love of chocolate.
“I'm a big chocoholic,” said Price. “We knew that we
wanted a fundraiser that would be different and
which would stand out in the community - and our
thoughts turned to a dessert-only fundraiser.”
She was happily surprised by the overwhelming
success of the event.
“We were hoping to sell 200 tickets,” said Price.
“And in the end, we sold well over 250 and could
have sold more.”
Next year's “Finale,” because this year's success
demanded another, will be on Oct. 12, 2008.
Steve Scherer, Big Brothers Big Sisters board
vice president and a vice president at Citizens
First National Bank in Minooka, admits he is not a
big dessert eater. Still, he said “I really enjoyed
it. It was very tastefully done, well attended, well
orchestrated. I go to a lot of events and I have
never seen one like this.”
Bridget Domberg, chief advancement officer
for Big Brothers Big Sisters credits Harrah's Joliet
Casino and Hotel for sponsoring the inaugural event.
“Harrah's was the key ingredient of our success,”
she said.
Additional VIP Sponsors were Nicor and Will
County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow.
“We're so grateful for the 12 vendors who provided
the continuous dessert samplings - they were
outstanding,” said Las.
For example, the Morris Country Club's white
chocolate fountain was exquisite and the
colorfully-decorated fish-shaped pumpkin cakes were
a unique creation.
The vendors were Aunt Nina's Sweets & Treats,
Baklava Bakery, Bella Cucina Catering,
Edible Arrangements, Harrah's Joliet,
M&M Specialties Custom Bake Shoppe, Morris
Country Club, The Elegant Touch Gourmet Catering,
Truth Restaurant, WineStyles of Homer Glen, and
the Jacob Henry Mansion. The Will County
Farm Bureau provided a wide selection of cheese
as well.
Attendees were able to vote for their favorite
vendors in various categories. Harrah's grabbed two
of the awards: Best Presentation and
Overall Best. Truth Restaurant won the
Sensationally Decadent award.
“Many of the vendors thanked us because they knew
that their business would only grow from this
exposure,” Price said.
She also said she couldn't have pulled this party
off without the help of the Pritz family, owners of
the Jacob Henry Victorian Ballroom.
“They were so generous to us, especially Sue Pritz
Bornhofen who was there every time we needed her”
she said. “They involved their entire family in such
a giving way. They love kids, they love our
community. It was such a good mix.”
Laurie McPhillips, Will County Recorder of
Deeds and a Republican; and Pam McGuire, Will
County Circuit Clerk and a Democrat were co-chairs
of the “Finale “planning committee . Their politics
might differ, but there were no disagreements on how
to partner for maximum impact.
The “Finale” committee included Julie Peterson
of the Grundy County Sheriff's Department; Mary
Lou Bennington of Morris who volunteers as a Big
Sister; Clarice Kofoid of Something Unique;
Rosa Angeles of First Midwest Bank; local
photographer/writer Jan Larsen; nursing
professor Lora McGuire of Joliet Junior
College; Roxane Geraci for Will County
Executive Larry Walsh; Wendy Langlois of MSL
Benefits and Consultants; Tina Gildersleeve
of the Joliet YMCA; and Annette Leck of
Management Strategies Inc.
“I've worked on dozens of fundraising committees the
past 20 years and have never seen staff contribute
so much before,” said Larsen. “Being on this
committee was a cake walk.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way member
agency whose mission is to help children achieve
their full potential through professionally
supported, long term, one-to-one relationships with
carefully screened, dedicated volunteers.
Most of the children, ranging between 7-13 years in
age, are considered at-risk and live in
single-parent homes. For more information go to the
web site www.bbbswillgrundy.org or call (815)
942-9011.
# # #
Truth owner Kate Mohundro (left) accepts the
Sensationally Decadent Award for her white and milk chocolate brûlée
in a chocolate custard cup dessert.
FINALE co-chairs Will County Recorder of Deeds
Laurie McPhillips and Will County Circuit Clerk Pam
McGuire
present the Best Presentation Award
and Overall Best Award to Harrah’s executive
chef Lam Vongsakoun.
On September 25, 2007
Will County Sheriff Paul J. Kaupas presented
a check for $2,233 to Lisa Morel Las, CEO of
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties.The funds were raised
through the yearly event of the Sheriff’s Challenge.The Sheriff’s Challenge fundraising event has
been cancelled after a nine-year stint with Route 66
Raceway.
Over the nine-year
period, the Sheriff’s Challenge raised over $200,000
and the money was split between Wish Upon a Star
Foundation and Illinois Special Olympics.Now that this event has run its final race
and the books are being closed, Sheriff Kaupas
donated the remainder of the funds to Big
Brothers Big Sisters, which he is a current Board
Member of.
“Helping out kids in
our communities never gets old,” stated Sheriff
Kaupas.“Big Brothers/Big
Sisters is a wonderful organization and I couldn’t
be happier to donate money to support the many
programs that they offer.”
Will
County Recorder of Deeds Laurie McPhillips
and members of her office staff came out victorious
in the Battle of the Elected Officials competition
as part of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy Counties Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser.
McPhillips and her office employees raised more than
$1,500, narrowly beating out Will County Executive
Larry Walsh 's team.
This is the third year
in a row that McPhillips has earned bragging rights
as the elected official who raised the most money in
the annual bowling fundraiser. Money raised at this
annual event goes directly to matching children with
a Big Brother or a Big Sister.
"Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties helps so many
children from single parent families that it's easy
to raise money for them year after year," said
McPhillips. "We're a competitive bunch and we love
to proudly display the traveling trophy at the
Recorder's office for all to see."
In addition to being
the recorder of deeds, McPhillips also serves as a
member of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will
County Board of Directors
The event spurs some
good natured competition, but its main focus is to
raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
"In the end, everyone's
a winner, most importantly, the children whose lives
are positively influenced by being matched with a
Big Brother or a Big Sister," says Big Brothers Big
Sisters CEO Lisa Morel Las. "There's no
dollar amount that can be put on helping a child
grow into a productive, successful adult."
For Immediate
Release - July 5, 2007
NASCAR’S MATT KENSETH RACES TO WIN $5,000 FOR
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS WITH EACH VICTORY ON THE
TRACK
JOLIET, ILL
–
NASCAR® maverick Matt Kenseth has additional
inspiration for capturing the checkered flag this
season.
Kenseth will support Big Brothers Big
Sisters (BBBS) through his sponsor Arby’s
who will donate $5,000 to the local agency after
every win (Nextel or Busch Series).
BBBS is the
oldest, largest and most effective youth mentoring
program in the country serving more than 250,000
youth in 2006 through one-to-one mentoring
relationships.
“Mentoring is a valuable and rewarding experience,”
said Kenseth. “A few
hours a month can make a real difference in the life
of a young person. My dad, Roy, was a great mentor
to me -- especially considering I took up the same
line of work that he did. He taught me a lot about
life and about racecars and I can’t imagine where
I’d be without him.”
“Matt Kenseth and Arby’s® are supporting our
programs in a BIG way” said Lisa Morel Las,
CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties – the local BBBS affiliate. “Matt is
great role model on and off the track and we hope he
will inspire others to champion the cause of youth
mentoring, talk about the power of one-to-one
relationships in helping children realize their
potential, and encourage more men to become Big
Brothers.”
Kenseth will support youth mentoring throughout the
year. More than 70% of children waiting for a “Big”
are boys, but only three out of every 10 inquiries
to volunteer come from men. Research has shown that
boys who participate in Big Brothers are less likely
to use drugs or alcohol, have greater self-esteem,
and get along better with their families.
Arby’s is the primary sponsor of Kenseth’s No. 17
Ford Fusion in the NASCAR Busch Series. Arby’s will
also appear as the primary sponsor on Kenseth’s
NASCAR Nextel Cup Ford Fusion.
About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is the oldest,
largest and most effective youth mentoring
organization in the country. The local BBBS
affiliate (BBBS of Will and Grundy Counties) has
been the leader in one-to-one youth services since
1972, developing positive relationships that have a
direct and lasting impact on the lives of young
people. Support for BBBS of Will and Grundy
Counties, in both volunteers and donors, has never
been stronger and the number of children served has
doubled in the last few years. Yet, the surge in
volunteers has been disproportionately female and
more men are needed to help boys develop their
self-confidence, stay in school and reach their
potential. The website is
www.bbbswillgrundy.org and the phone number is
815/725-4324.
About Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc.
Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc., based in Atlanta, is
the franchisor of the Arby’s restaurant system,
which consists of more than 3,500 restaurants
worldwide, and is owner and operator of more than
1,000 of those restaurants located in the United
States. Founded in 1964, Arby’s quick service
restaurants specialize in offering slow roasted and
freshly sliced roast beef sandwiches as well as its
Market Fresh® deli-style sandwiches, wraps and
salads with the convenience of a drive-thru. Arby’s
offers guests a unique, great tasting alternative to
traditional fast food with its one-of-a-kind menu
items including the Beef ‘n Cheddar, Curly Fries and
Jamocha shakes. Arby’s Restaurant Group also owns
and operates the T.J. Cinnamons® brand and is a
subsidiary of Triarc Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRY,
TRY.B). To learn more about Arby’s, please visit
www.arbys.com.
JOLIET -- Lisa
Morel Las, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Will & Grundy Counties, Lisa Morel Las recently
welcomed the following newly appointed members
to the agency's board of directors:
• Don Brown -- Senior Vice President
of Commercial Banking, Grundy Bank
Brown is a member
of the Grundy County Economic Development
Council's Finance Committee. He is the past
president of the Morris Country Club and the
Morris Lions Club. Additionally, Brown served on
the board of the Grundy County Red Cross, the
Upper Illinois River Valley Development
Authority and the Grundy County Chamber of
Commerce. Brown and his wife, Jane, are
residents of Morris and they have two sons.
• Stephen Tribuzzi -- Regional Manager
Public Affairs,Exelon Nuclear
Steve is
responsible for public affairs at Exelon's
Braidwood and Dresden Generating Stations, and
the Clinton Power Station. He is a member of the
Will County Council of Economic Development's
Strategic Planning Committee, and he has coached
his two daughters' soccer teams since 2002. In
August, Tribuzzi and his wife, Tracy, will move
into their newly purchased Channahon home and
plans to coach girls soccer for the Channahon
Park District in the fall.
• Paul Wurster -- Director of Customer
Service,Harrah's Joliet Casino & Hotel
Wurster and his
wife, Yolanda, live in Naperville with their two
daughters. He is a past member of the Silver
Cross Hospital Foundation Board of Directors.
"Don, Steve and
Paul are exceptionally valuable assets to our
board and I'm extremely grateful for the
expertise they bring to Big Brothers Big
Sisters," Las said.
They join 13 other
board members including Will County Sheriff
Paul Kaupas; Angela Ryan of Ryan
Consulting Group; Carroll Klotz of Stofan,
Agazzi and Company; Annette Leck of
Management Strategies, Inc.; Will County
Recorder of Deeds Laurie McPhillips;
Maria Comolli of Stepping Stones Recovery
Center; Doug Durham of National City Bank
Joliet; Will County grant administrator Jack
Riley; John Mortimer of Wood,
Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer; Steve
Scherer of First Citizens National Bank;
Barb Wunderlich of Nicor Gas; Dave Hooper
of Moraine Valley Community College; and Dave
Zeglis of First United Bank.
Youngsters
Kevin
Rand
(left)
and
Cody
Whitt
rely on
their
Big
Brothers,
William
VanPelt
(left)
and
Mike
Keane,
for
friendship
and
conversation.
Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters
of Will
County
Counties
is
looking
for more
men to
help
shape
the
lives of
boys.
Boys come to Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties for
a variety of reasons. Some lack adequate role models
at home. Some simply need another adult to talk to.
Others might have a great immediate family, but just
need someone outside their immediate circle to talk
to, learn from and spend time with having fun.
Such was the case
for Kevin Rand of Joliet. Rand's mother,
Tonya Rand, said her 7-year-old son needed a
male role model.
"He needed a male
influence in his life, a positive male role model in
his life, other than immediate family," she said.
He was matched with
William VanPelt, a 40-year-old whose children
are grown.
"They definitely
make a fit," Tonya said of the program. "As a family
we socialized together for the first few visits."
Today, one year
after the two were matched, they do something
together nearly every weekend. "It's been a year in
building; it's not something that happens
overnight," she said.
Kevin's relationship
with Bill has made a big difference in his life. "I
see a great difference in his confidence," his mom
said. "He's just all around a more joyous boy."
And Kevin said that
even though he lives close to his grandfather, Bill
suggests activities that he might not do with his
grandfather. "He can move around a lot better,"
Kevin said. "We play mini-golf, we build go-carts,
go bowling, play video games," Kevin said.
Seeking male role models
Lisa
Morel Las, Big Brothers Big Sisters chief
executive officer, said many of the volunteers who
come to the organization hope to make a difference
in the life of a child. The difficulty is finding a
few good men.
"It's a national
trend that all Big Brother Big Sister agencies have
trouble getting male volunteers," Morel Las said.
"We do have children that have sat on the list and
aged out.
"When they hit 14,
that's when they age out."
Boys who need a
mentor are not able to get one because men have not
stepped up to the plate. So, the organization has
opened the door to another option. In addition to
single male and single female volunteers, they are
now accepting couples.
"We're hoping that
helps," Morel Las said. "That's new within the last
year or two.
"Many of the
(volunteers) are childless and are young or they
have chosen not to have children."
Morel Las said the
organization also is seeing a lot of retirees.
Generally, they have
grown children and want someone to spend time with
at baseball games and the like.
Mike
Keane of Morris volunteered because he wanted to
give back. He originally was going to volunteer at a
hospital. After helping his wife, who works for the
organization, chaperone a trip to U.S. Cellular
Field, he was hooked.
Keane was paired
with Cody Whitt, a 12-year-old from
Plainfield who needed a positive male role model. On
a recommendation from a counselor at Walker's Grove
Elementary School, Cody's mom, Kelly Whitt,
consulted Big Brothers Big Sisters.
"I wanted a positive
role model for Cody, someone who could be a friend
and set a good example and show that men can be
respectful, responsible and have fun," she said.
Keane and Cody have
been matched for about a year now and while Keane is
Cody's big brother, the two families have really
incorporated one another.
"I can't say enough
about Keane and his wife, Lynn," Kelly said. "They
are like family to us.
"They include us and
we include them."
But Kelly said both
families make sure that Keane and Cody are able to
spend time alone.
"Cody and Keane will
do things together and sometimes will get together
as a family unit," she said.
In the past year,
Kelly said, she has seen many positive changes in
Cody.
"What I've noticed
is that Cody is developing more personal skills,"
she said. "He can communicate his feelings.
"He really was kind
of closed and shut down for a while."
Watching positive changes
Keane has
seen a change in Cody as well.
"He's quite a
gentleman," he said. "He's becoming much more
responsible than he was a year ago."
Even if they do not
plan an outing once a week, they do talk on the
phone. Keane said Cody calls him if something is
troubling him, but not too often. In fact, he said
the two really don't talk directly about issues.
"We kind of chit
chat about this or that," Keane said.
But during the chit
chat, Keane is able to offer advice and Cory is able
to take it.
In April, when Keane
celebrated his 50th birthday party, Cody was there
and Keane was grateful. Cody was on hand for
Father's Day as well.
"I know I'm not your
dad, I'm your big brother, but I'm really glad you
came out this weekend," Keane told Cody. "It made my
Father's Day just that much more special."
And when Cody said
he's always going to be there, like Keane's always
going to be there, it melted Keane's heart.
"Here's a
12-year-old kid who made a 50-year-old kid feel
good," Keane said.
And, Keane said,
more than anything else, volunteering at Big
Brothers Big Sisters has offered him something that
volunteering somewhere else might not have -- a
friendship.
# # #
Top fuel
driver
Hillary
Will
speaks
with
Bigs and
Littles
at Route
66
Raceway
in
Joliet
JOLIET -- More than 40 pairs of Big Brothers/Big
Sisters mentors and students gained a new "Sister"
Thursday afternoon at the Route 66 Raceway.
Top Fuel Dragster pilot Hillary Will is
making her second visit to the NHRA Torco Racing
Fuels Nationals this weekend, and started her stay
the same way she did last year -- talking with
youngsters.
She visited with children at the Joliet Boys and
Girls Club last June, and there was the same
jaw-dropping response this year when she told this
group that her car will go from zero to 100 mph in
about one second. Lockport's Shannel Ellis,
12, looked for confirmation from her Big Sister
Barbara Johnston of Romeoville. Johnston just
smiled and waited to ask her question about Shirley
"Cha-Cha" Muldowney, the legendary woman racing
pioneer and 3-time champion.
There was no need for a question. Will was eager
talk about her inspiration.
"I started when I was 17. I used to go to the races
with my dad and I just watched," Will said. "Then I
got a chance to race a car -- it was the same car I
drove to school, but I was on the track. From that
point on my goal was to be able to do this for a
living.
"Now, I really am racing for a living and I tell
Shirley all the time that she's the one responsible
for me being out there. She opened the door for
women," Will told the hushed crowd. "So, last week,
the History Channel called me and I'm going to be in
a special they're doing on her. She's a great
person."
Joliet's Destiny Martin, 10, wants to be a
fashion designer, but she was among the first to
pose with her Big Sister Sue Shukstor and
Will. A future designer, a tax auditor and a drag
racer in one shot? Was this the oddest setting of
the weekend? Not really. The photogenic Will,
Melanie Troxel and Ashley Force are becoming the
Danica Patrick's of this sport, helping the NHRA
attract a new demographic.
Meanwhile, Will also has something in common with
Shukstor. This racer also has a head for numbers.
She earned straight A's in pursuit of her Economics
degree. "I really use it a lot more than people
would think," she said. "In fact, I always urge the
kids to pay attention to education because this
sport needs people with all kids of degrees."
The younger audience members drug Will into some
uncomfortable answers.
• Yes, she has endured a major wreck. In fact it's
often shown in some of the ESPN highlights because
her car broke in half at over 300 mph. "I walked
away from it, but my crew was really scared."
• Yes, she has made some other mistakes, like the
day she made her first professional run and pulled
the chute release too late and ran all the way to
the sand trap at the end of the track. "I tried to
help them clean it all out, but they said we're the
crew. You're the driver. We'll do this."
• And yes, she is out of breath at the end of every
run. It's only seven seconds, but she admits that
she's panting when she gets out of the car. "I work
out a lot. I'll probably go for a run when I leave
here today. So, I can't explain it, but I am out of
breath and it seems so hard to make a coherent
comment when somebody puts a microphone in front of
me at that point."
Bob
Persak
of Homer Glen, now retired from the oil business,
was in the audience with his Little Brother of three
years, 14-year-old Nikko Jackson of Lockport.
They've had some of their best times at a Bulls game
and horseback riding, but they are looking forward
to using the ticket the track provided for the
program.
"And I hope you'll cheer for me," Will noted. "I
need some better luck."
Will is currently 12th in the point standings, 295
points behind Brandon Bernstein's leading total of
590. She's doing a little better in the Top Fuel
Shootout, where she ranks ninth in the competition
based on consistent qualifying times.
"How many wins do I have? Not enough," she said.
"And if you think we look over at the other car to
see how we're doing ... there's no way we have time
for that. We have to focus just on the track and the
car."
The young Michigan native answered questions and
signed autographs until every youngster was
satisfied. She may have been eager to get to her pit
area, but she has established a tradition of taking
time for area youth. "I tell them that in what I do,
you make one mistake and you go home. It's not like
on a round-and-round track where you can make it up
on the next lap." But in this case it was her second
lap on the talk circuit in Joliet and she hasn't
made a bad run yet.
June 3, 2007
By Brian Gartlan SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP
FRANKFORT -- Dr. Ernie Tan was humbled by the
news he heard recently.
"I
don't do anything special," he said. "There are Big
Brothers doing the same thing all over the place."
Maybe
so, but the Frankfort resident was recognized as the
2007 Illinois Big Brother of the Year and he will be
entered into the national competition.
Tan,
who is a urologist, was matched with Phillip
Duckworth, of Mokena, in 2003.
Phillip, who is now 13, lost his father to cancer
and his mother was searching for a male figure for
him to do "guy stuff" with.
"Tan
turned out to be exactly what Phillip needed to cope
with the death of his father," said Lisa
Morel-Las, Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO. "He was
a big help in Phillip's growth."
Tan
said he focused on bringing Phillip into his house
to introduce him to his family.
He
said his son, who is 26, got along with Phillip
immediately because they both enjoy video games, but
his daughter, who is only three years older than
Phillip, was not an immediate fan.
"Initially, she was not too thrilled, but now she is
accepting," Tan said because of the relationship the
family has built through family outings.
"He
always listens to me and tries to help me when I am
having problems," Phillip said in a news release.
"He makes me feel like I am part of his family."
Currently, there are 60 children in the area in need
of a big sibling and Tan intends to get more
involved.
JOLIET - Dr. Ernie
Tan of Frankfort and Paulette
Mangione-Korallus of Joliet were named the 2007
Illinois Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters Illinois State
Association made the presentations in Belleville on
Monday.
Tan and
Mangione-Korallus have been entered into the
national competition for Big Brother and Big Sister
of the Year,which is announced at the national
conference in June.
Mangione-Korallus, owner of A to Z Realty, has been
a Big Sister to Morris teenager Eva Bjelland
since April 2002. They spend quite a bit of time
together and enjoy talking, bowling, cooking, arts &
crafts, and shopping at the mall.
“I really feel she deserves this honor,” Eva said.
“She is always there for me and listens to me. I
think and feel that she is one of the most amazing
people I have ever met. She is outstanding on so
many different levels, that no one could ever ask
for a better Big Sister!”
“Paulette volunteered to be a Big Sister with the
hope of helping a child see that there are many
different avenues that one could take in life,”
Lisa Morel Las, Big Brothers Big Sisters CEO,
said.
“She welcomed Eva into her home and has made her
feel part of her family. She continually works to
positively impact the life of this once-little girl
who is now a teenager with future goals, compassion
towards others, and strong self-esteem.”
“I cannot begin to describe the impact Paulette has
made on not only Eva, but on our whole family,”
Eva's mom, Rochelle, said. “She always goes way
beyond the call of duty, even though she herself
leads a very busy life, raising a family of her own
and running a business.
“Paulette is a wonderful mentor, friend, and
confidant. I truly believe if it had not been for
Paulette, Eva would not be the person she is today.”
Tan, an urologist with Advanced Urological
Associates, was matched as a Big Brother to
Philip Duckworth of Mokena in 2003.
“Philip's father passed away from cancer the year
before, and his mother came to us in hope of finding
a big brother for him to look up to,” Morel Las
said. “Dr. Tan turned out to be exactly what Philip
needed to cope with the death of his father and
continue to excel in school and with his peers.”
“Dr. Tan is a very caring Big Brother. He always
listens to me and tries to help me when I am having
problems. He makes me feel like I am a part of his
family,” Philip said.
They spend time together outdoors, playing with Dr.
Tan's dog, jumping on the trampoline, and
occasionally having a weekend dinner or breakfast
with one another. They also attend the Bowl for Kids
Sake events together every year, which helps to fund
the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
“Ernie definitely deserves to win. He and his wife,
Connie, treated Philip as if he were part of their
family from day one,” Philips mom, Robin, said.
“The first year after losing my husband was
especially difficult, but Ernie and Connie included
us in their family activities, including birthdays,
Christmas, and family parties.
“This has been a wonderful experience for Philip.
Ernie deserves to be recognized for how he helped my
son.”
“I volunteered to be a Big Brother because I had
extra time and felt the need to spend it helping a
child. I wanted to do something hands-on where I
could make a real difference,” says Tan.
“Philip and I spent a lot of time together right
when we were matched because he was having trouble
after his father passed away. His mother really
wanted a good role model for Philip to help him get
through the grieving and to do ‘guy stuff' with him.
He was quiet at first, but over time we have really
become very good friends.”
“When I joined as a Big Brother,” tan continued, “I
wanted to have an opportunity to share my good
fortune and knowledge with kids other than my
children. I worked hard my entire career, but at the
same time I consider myself very fortunate in
reaching where I am now.
Misfortunes hit all ages, but the kids are the most
helpless. My experience with Philip has been a
learning experience. I know I can never replace his
dad, but if I have been a good influence on him in
some form or fashion, then my time is well worth
it.”
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way member
agency whose mission is to help children primarily
from single-parent homes reach their full potential
through one-to-one mentoring.
There are currently 60 children from throughout Will
and Grundy Counties on a waiting list, ready to be
matched with a Big Brother or a Big Sister. To
volunteer or to donate visit their web site at
www.bbbswillgrundy.org or call (815) 725-4324.
A local urologist
and a Realtor are the top Big Brother and Sister
volunteers in the state and now compete nationwide.
Dr. Ernie Tan
of Frankfort and Paulette Mangione-Korallus
of Joliet were named Illinois Big Brother and Big
Sister of the Year by the state group in Belleville
Monday. There are 22 agencies in Illinois.
"It's pretty unusual
to have both from one organization," said Lisa
Morel Las, Will-Grundy BBBS CEO. "The only
person I know who has won before from this agency
was Jason Hrechko of Dwight in 2004."
Tan, with Advanced
Urological Associates, was matched as a Big Brother
to Philip Duckworth of Mokena in 2003 after Philip's
father died of cancer.
"Dr. Tan turned out
to be exactly what Philip needed to cope with the
death of his father and continue to excel in school
and with his peers," said Las.
"Dr. Tan ... always
listens to me and tries to help me when I am having
problems. He makes me feel like I am a part of his
family," says Philip.
They enjoy playing
with Tan's dog, jumping on the trampoline and
occasionally sharing a weekend meal.
They also attend the
Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser together every year.
Philip's mom, Robin,
explains "The first year after losing my husband was
especially difficult, but Ernie and Connie included
us in their family activities including birthdays,
Christmas and family parties. This has been a
wonderful experience for Philip."
"I volunteered to be
a Big Brother because I had extra time and felt the
need to spend it helping a child," said Tan. "I
wanted to do something hands-on where I could make a
real difference. ... I wanted to have an opportunity
to share my good fortune and knowledge with kids
other than my children. I worked hard my entire
career but at the same time I consider myself very
fortunate in reaching where I am now. Misfortunes
hit all ages but the kids are the most helpless"
Korallus,
owner of A to Z Realty, has been a Big Sister to
Morris teen Eva Bjelland since April of 2002. They
enjoy talking, bowling, cooking, arts and crafts and
shopping together
"She is always there
for me and listens to me," Eva said. "She is one of
the most amazing people I have ever met ... No one
could ever ask for a better Big Sister!"
Eva's mom, Rochelle,
says, "I cannot begin to describe the impact
Paulette has made on not only Eva, but on our whole
family. She always goes way beyond the call of duty,
even though she herself leads a very busy life."
The agency's mission
is to help children primarily from single-parent
homes through one-to-one mentoring. There are 60
children from Will and Grundy Counties on a waiting
list. To volunteer or to donate visit the Web site
at www.bbbswillgrundy.org or call (815) 725-4324.
CBS, the NFL and
Big Brothers Big
Sisters Team Up
In A Historic
Super Bowl
First:
An In-Game PSA
Featuring the
Coaches Who Are
Real Life Mentor
and Mentee
CBS,
the NFL and Big
Brothers Big
Sisters have
joined forces to
create a
15-second public
service
announcement
highlighting the
importance of
mentoring to
debut during
Super Bowl XLI
airing on CBS
Network Sunday,
Feb. 4th. In a
Super Bowl
first, the
in-game PSA will
feature the two
coaches whose
teams are
competing in the
game. The
roughly 90
million viewers
who tune in to
watch the game
will see
Indianapolis
Colts' Coach
Tony Dungy and
Coach Lovie
Smith of the
Chicago Bears
underscore the
importance of
mentoring by
referencing
their real-life
mentoring
relationship.
These
extraordinary
role models, the
first
African-American
head coaches to
bring their
teams to the
NFL's biggest
game of the
year, exemplify
the power of
mentoring.
Dungy, who
waited more than
10 years for an
opportunity to
be
a head coach,
was the person
who gave Smith
his first NFL
job. Smith
considers Dungy
his mentor and
they speak to
each other every
Monday morning.
"I’m thrilled
that the year's
largest
television
audience will
hear this
positive message
about mentoring"
said Lisa Morel
Las, CEO of Big
Brothers Big
Sisters of Will
and Grundy
Counties. "The Super Bowl coaches are a terrific example of how mentoring can
change a
person's life,"
she continued,
"and we
appreciate their
endorsement."
The TV ad will
highlight the
tremendous need
for
African-American
and Hispanic
mentors for the
many boys
who are waiting
for a Big
Brother. It
will also
provide
information to
viewers on how
to volunteer
with Big
Brothers Big
Sisters.
Over 100 boys
and girls are
ready to be
matched with
mentors through
Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will
and Grundy
Counties. Unfortunately there aren't enough adults, especially men, to fill that
gap. Las
explains, “The
lack of a caring
adult in a
child’s
formative years
can spell the
difference
between
achieving
success in
school and
beyond, or
becoming another
heart-breaking
statistic lost
to drugs,
alcohol, prison
– a child adrift
with no future.”
Research studies
on Big Brothers
Big Sisters'
matches clearly
show that
children who are
part of
mentoring
programs benefit
in concrete,
positive ways.
They are 52%
less likely to
skip school, 46%
less likely to
begin
using illegal
drugs than their
peers and 27%
less likely to
begin using
alcohol than
those without a
mentor.
The PSA, which
debuts during
the Super Bowl,
will be aired on
CBS Network
throughout the
week following
the game. CBS
Cares will make
the PSA
available,
without CBS
branding, to any
broadcasters
interested in
airing it.
# # #
The Art
Buddies
of
Morris
pose in
front of
the
blank
white
wall
they
plan on
turning
into a
mural
this
year at
Shabbona
Middle
School.
The Big
Brothers/Big
Sisters
program
teams
Morris
Community
High
School
art
students
with
middle
school
students
for a
mentoring
relationship
during
the
school
year.
MORRIS -- By
the end of
the school
year, the
south wall
of the
Shabbona
Middle
School's
library will
have a
creative,
colorful
mural
painted by
high school
and middle
school teams
of students
with the Big
Brothers Big
Sisters of
Will and
Grundy
Counties'
Art Buddies
program.
This is the
third year
the group
has paired
Morris
Community
High School
students
with
Shabbona
students to
create
murals on
the school's
walls.
"All of our
programs are
one-to-one
mentoring,"
said Rachel
West, BBBS's
director of
programming.
"In this
program,
we're using
art as a way
of
mentoring."
West said
there are
about 15
pairs
working on
this year's
mural, some
of whom also
worked
together on
last year's
mural.
The teams
meet after
school every
other week
to work on
their
designs.
Kerri
Banks
(left),
seventh-grader
at
Shabbona
Middle
School,
with her
Big
Brothers/Big
Sisters
art
buddy
Lauren
Elleson,
senior
at
Morris
Community
High
School.
(PHOTO
COURTESY
OF ANNA
HAINZINGER/
MORRIS
HIGH
SCHOOL.)
They began
with
drawings of
their ideas,
and have now
begun
painting
them.
The official
theme this
year is,
"How I Can
Make a
Difference,"
or what
individual
children can
do
themselves
to serve
their
communities.
"We have a
theme about
service to
get the kids
thinking
about
volunteering,"
West said.
This is the
second mural
that high
school
senior
Lauren Elleson and
seventh-grader
Kerri Banks
have worked
on together.
Lauren is a
member of
the Delta
Phi art
society and
just wrapped
up her
Ceramics
Four class
at the high
school.
Kerri's
favorite
form of art
is anime and
Japanese
art.
Both
students say
they enjoy
working with
each other
and like the
idea of
leaving a
legacy of
artwork on
the walls of
Shabbona.
Their
service
theme is
"Helping the
Homeless."
They both
have a heart
for what the
nation's
homeless go
through --
hunger and
the
biting-cold
winters, in
particular.
Other mural
service
themes the
students are
focusing on
involve
helping the
elderly,
protecting
animals,
recycling,
the
environment,
food
donations,
and helping
the Red
Cross and
Easter
Seals.
This year's
mural should
be finished
by the end
of the
school year,
when the
BBBS will
hold an open
house to
showcase the
work.
Lauren
Elleson,
a
senior
art
student
at
Morris
Community
High
School,
and
Kerri
Banks,
a
seventh
grader
at
Shabbona
Middle
School.
The
students
are
among
the
pairs
in
the
Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters
Art
Buddies
program
who
will
create
a
mural
on
the
wall.
Participants
in
Art
Buddies,
a
Big
Brothers/Big
Sisters
program
hat
pairs
high
school
art
students
with
middle
school
students
for
mentoring
relationships,
stand
in
front
of a
vast
white
wall
in
Shabbona
Middle
School’s
library.
The
students
are
in
the
process
of
creating
a
mural
on
the
wall.
For the
third year
in a row,
creating
works of art
is being
used as a
way of
mentoring
young
students at
Shabbona
Middle
School.
Big Brothers
Big Sisters
of Will and
Grundy
counties is
once again
matching
Morris
Community
High School
art students
with
Shabbona
students in
the BBBS
program who
have a
penchant for
things
artistic.
Two years
ago, the
teams joined
together to
paint a
mural on the
wall of the
center
hallway in
Shabbona.
Last year, a
mural went
up in the
entryway.
This year,
the school's
library
stands to be
transformed
by a large
mural with
themes of
service to
others.
"All of our
programs are
one-to-one
mentoring,"
said Rachel
West, BBBS's
director of
programming.
"In this
program,
we're using
art as a way
of
mentoring."
West said
she spoke to
the high
school's art
club to
recruit the
student
mentors, but
she also
accepts high
school
volunteers
who are not
in the club.
There are
about 15
pairs
working on
this year's
mural, some
of whom
worked
together on
last year's
mural, as
well.
The teams
meet after
school every
other week
to work on
their
designs.
They crouch
down low or
balance on
scaffolding
to get at
their
locations on
the wall.
Right now,
the mural is
still mostly
drawings on
the wall,
but the
painting has
already
begun.
Students and
staff
walking
through the
library can
see the
works in
their
various
stages of
the project.
The official
theme this
year is,
"How I Can
Make a
Difference,"
or what
individual
children can
do
themselves
to serve
their
communities.
"We have a
theme about
service to
get the kids
thinking
about
volunteering,"
West said.
Each team
has already
chosen what
particular
kind of
service to
the
community
they will
incorporate
into their
piece of the
mural. They
will each
draw a large
book and
include
their idea
of good
community
service in
the title of
the book.
Illustrations
will be
drawn in the
book to
complement
the ideas.
This is the
second mural
that high
school
senior
Lauren Elleson and
seventh
grader Kerri
Banks have
worked on
together.
Lauren is a
member of
the Delta
Phi Art
Society and
just wrapped
up her
Ceramics
Four class
at the high
school.
Kerri's
favorite
form of art
is anime and
Japanese
art.
Both
students say
they enjoy
working with
each other
and like the
idea of
leaving a
legacy of
artwork on
the walls of
Shabbona.
Their
service
theme is,
"Helping the
Homeless."
They both
have a heart
for what our
nation's
homeless go
through -
hunger and
the cold
biting
winters in
particular.
Other mural
service
themes on
which the
students are
focusing
involve
helping the
elderly,
protecting
animals,
recycling,
saving the
environment,
donating
food to help
fight
hunger, and
helping the
Red Cross
and Easter
Seals.
This year's
mural should
be finished
by the end
of the
school year.
Nikko
Jackson
and
Bob
Persak
visit
Persak’s
horse,
Doc, in
Mokena.
By
Jean Dunning,
Freelance Writer
CHICAGO PARENT/
January 2007
Nikko Jackson,
13, of Lockport
has his dad at
home, but his
mom, Antonia
Ellis, says
her husband
works long hours
to provide for
his family and
has little time
to spend
individually
with their eight
children. She
enrolled Nikko
in the program
so he could find
someone who is
there just for
him. "Someone
who could
motivate and
mentor him."
Lori Hubbard's
sons, Riley,
10, and
Ramsey, 9,
have not seen
their father in
seven years.
Hubbard says she
did her best to
be both mom and
dad to her sons,
but worried it
wouldn't be
enough. "I can
teach my sons a
lot of things,"
Hubbard says,
"but I can't
teach them how
to be men."
Hubbard turned
to Big Brothers
Big Sisters of
Will and Grundy
Counties for
help.
Match maker,
make me a match
...
Nikko Jackson
met his match a
year ago -
Bob Persak,
a retired
66-year-old
Homer Glen
father of five
and grandfather
of 15. When
Nikko heard
about his big
brother, he
thought it was
more of a
mismatch.
How
to Help
Volunteers
must be
over 18,
pass a
background
check
and
commit
to one
year.
Call
(815)
725-4324
for Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters
of Will
and
Grundy
Counties
www.bbbswillgrundy.org.
Nikko learned
quickly that
Persak is not
your average
retiree. Persak
owns a horse,
scuba dives and
cross country
skis. Together
they take care
of Persak's
horse Doc,
horseback ride,
bowl, hike,
roller skate,
play basketball
and even do
homework.
Since the match
Nikko has made
the honor roll
and has had
perfect
attendance.
Persak says he
wants Nikko to
go to college.
Riley was paired
up with Big
Brother Dan
Hamilton of
Channahon.
Together the
"brothers" play
soccer and
baseball, go
snowmobiling and
attend baseball
games and NASCAR
races. Hamilton
also attends
father-son scout
events like the
Pinewood Derby.
"Sometimes the
other boys will
ask Riley if I'm
his dad,"
Hamilton says.
"He doesn't say
anything, he
just looks up
and smiles at
me, and I smile
back."
Riley's brother
Ramsey found his
Big Brother
around the same
time Riley found
Hamilton.
William's sister
and brother have
also found
theirs.
But William has
been waiting for
three years.
A shortage of
Big Brothers
Sue Balicki,
the senior
enrollment and
match specialist
of Big Brothers
Big Sisters of
Will and Grundy
Counties,
reports that the
group has 50
boys waiting.
For many boys,
the organization
is a lifesaver.
According to a
study published
in 1995 by
Public/Private
Ventures, a
national
research
organization in
Philadelphia,
kids with Big
Brothers or Big
Sisters were 46
percent less
likely to begin
using illegal
drugs, 27
percent less
likely to use
alcohol and 52
percent less
likely to skip
school.
"These boys just
want to have
someone they
know is there
for them, even
if it is only
four hours a
month to play
catch in the
park," Balicki
says. "It is the
little moments
that create
magic."
Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will
and Grundy
Counties has
received a
$1,000 holiday
grant from
Morris Wal-Mart
Supercenter
Store 844.
Wal-Mart
employee Deb
Eungard
presented the
check to Lisa
Morel Las ,
Big Brothers Big
Sisters' CEO.
"Wal-Mart has
been a long-time
supporter of
ours and I am
extremely
grateful for
their financial
assistance of
our children's
programs" said
Las.
Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will
and Grundy
Counties is a
United Way
member agency
whose primary
purpose is to
bring caring
adults into the
lives of at-risk
children who are
primarily from
single-parent
homes. These
quality
relationships
are built on
friendship and
trust, and are
proven to be a
significant
positive
influence in the
life of the
child and the
volunteer.
They provide
community-based
one-to-one
mentoring
relationships by
matching more
than 100
children with
either a
volunteer Big
Brother, Big
Sister, or Big
Couple. They
also provide
site-based
mentoring to
over 300
children in
programs such
as:
• Mentoring
Buddies -- pairs
National Honor
Society students
at Morris
Community High
School with
White Oak
Elementary
School students.
• Art Buddies --
MCHS art
students are
matched with
Shabbona Middle
School students,
Coal City High
School Art Club
students are
matched with
Coal City
Intermediate
School students,
and Gardner
South Wilmington
High School
students are
matched with
students from
Gardner
Elementary
School.
Programs planned
for the coming
year are Career
Buddies.
"Evidence shows
that involvement
in Big Brothers
Big Sisters
helps keep
children
occupied in
worthwhile,
life-enhancing
activities while
helping them
stay off the
street and away
from drugs and
alcohol," said
Las. "Our
mentors provide
positive role
models for the
kids to emulate.
"Without
community
support from
corporate
friends such as
Wal-Mart, our
work would go
undone and many
children would
be adrift.
That's something
no child
deserves,"
For more
information,
visit
www.bbbswillgrundy.org
or call (815)
942-9011.
National City Small Business
Banking Officer Emily Lawrence gets ready to
bowl with Andy (left) and Xavier, two of the
children waiting to be matched with a Big
Brother.
More
than 25
children
who are
ready to
be
matched
with a
Big
Brother
or a Big
Sister
were
treated
to an
afternoon
of
bowling
and food
courtesy
of
National
City.
As part
of their
third
annual
Community
Appreciation
Week,
National
City
employees
from the
Joliet,
Homer
and
Frankfort
bank
branches
sponsored
a "Be a
Big For
a Day"
to
encourage
people
to learn
more
about
the Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters
program.
"On any
given
day, we
have
approximately
50
children
who are
waiting
to be
matched,"
said
Lisa
Morel
Las,
chief
executive
officer
for Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters.
"The sad
thing
is, some
of these
kids
have
been
waiting
for over
a year."
Doug
Durham,
the
Joliet
branch
manager
who also
serves
on the
Big
Brothers
Big
Sisters
board,
said "National
City
wanted
to hold
an event
that
would be
fun for
the kids
and at
the same
time
provide
an
opportunity
to
possibly
match up
more
kids."
For more
information,
visit
the Web
site at
www.bbbswillgrundy.org
or call
(815)
725-4324.
David Zeglis,
chairman of First United Bank, was recently
elected to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Will and Grundy Counties’ board of
directors. First United Bank has locations
in Crete, Steger, Frankfort and Naperville.
Zeglis resides in Kankakee with his wife
Cindy, and has experience on the Kankakee
Community College Foundation Board of
Trustees and the Culver Academy Summer
School Board.
Zeglis joins 15
other board members including Will County
Sheriff Paul Kaupas, Angela Ryan
of Ryan Consulting Group, Carroll Klotz
of Stofan, Agazzi and Company, Annette
Leck of Management Strategies, Inc.,
Will County Recorder of Deeds Laurie
McPhillips-Weglarz, Maria Comolli
of Stepping Stones Recovery Center, Doug
Durham of National City Bank Joliet,
Will County grand administrator Jack
Riley, John Mortimer of Wood,
Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer, Steve
Scherer of First Citizens National Bank,
Jeff Barnes of Baldwin & Co., John
Kilday of Premier Academy, Barb
Wunderlich of Nicor Gas, and local
college educator Dave Hooper.
Big Brothers
Big Sisters is a United Way member agency
whose mission is to help children reach
their full potential through one-to-one
mentoring relationships. Most of the
children, ranging between 7-13 years in age,
are considered at-risk and live in
single-parent homes.
"The
involvement of a caring adult mentor can
often be the difference between a child
entering adulthood as a productive member of
society or not," said Big Brothers Big
Sisters' chief executive officer Lisa Morel Las.
The Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties Match of the Month for October is
"Big Brother" Dan and "Little Brother"
Riley.
Riley is a
quiet child with bright blue eyes. He loves
airplanes and spending time with his Big
Brother Dan.
Dan is an
expansive man who generates energy. He says
his involvement with Big Brothers, since
1996 was a case of "divine intervention.
Everywhere I drove I saw the Big Brothers
bus benches, so I figured it was a sign to
get involved."
Riley is Dan's
third Little Brother. He says he has a
passion to help children. "I came from a
great family. A boy just has to have a
father figure in his life.
"I'm involved
with this for the long term," he said.
"Sometimes, the boy just needs that extra
person. I talk about Big Brothers Big
Sisters wherever I go. I brag about the
organization, because I think that they're
great."
He says it's
important for his own children to see this
type of relationship. "I like to think that
I'm teaching my own children that you do
this to pay back your own good fortune."
The biggest
change he's seen in Riley is communicating.
"At first, he was somewhat shy, but now he
knows we can talk about anything."
As a
fifth-grader, Riley's favorite class is P.E.
He likes swim and snowmobile ride with Dan.
He says that having a Big Brother is "a lot
of fun. I get to spend time with him and I
get to get away from my little brother."
Riley wants to
design planes when he gets older.
There are many
children waiting to be matched with Big
Brothers or Big Sisters in towns like
Joliet, Shorewood, Lockport, Romeoville,
Coal City, Minooka, Morris, Plainfield,
Bolingbrook and Crest Hill. Adults who have
a couple of hours per month to spend time
with these children are needed. Volunteers
are matched with a child based on similar
interests and geographical location. They
pick up their Little Brother or Sister two
to four times a month. The program is free.
To learn more,
visit the Web site at www.bbbswillgrundy.org
or call Lynn Keane at (815) 725-4324.
The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy Counties Match of
the Month for September is Big
Brother DeWayne and Little Brother
Jonathan.
DeWayne, formerly of Romeoville but now
living in Valparaiso, Ind., has been matched
for 10 years to Little Brother Jonathan of
Romeoville. He's seen Jonathan grow and
mature into a personable, charming young
man. "It's been great to watch him evolve,"
says DeWayne. "I've got to tell you, this
relationship means as much to me as it means
to Jonathan."
DeWayne has been involved in most aspects of
Jonathan's life, from family to school. He
says that having Jonathan's mother's trust
was an important thing and now he feels that
he's involved as much as a biological big
brother or favorite uncle. The high point of
their match was when Jonathan gave DeWayne a
Father's Day card.
"That meant so much to me," he said. "He's a
good kid with a good heart and a good head."
He says that they plan to be a match long
after their commitment to Big Brothers Big
Sisters ends.
Jonathan dreams of many things. He'd like to
be an architect. He's a wonderful artist,
and enjoys drawing comic strips.
When asked what DeWayne means to him,
Jonathan shows a rare bit of being
tongue-tied. "It's hard to explain," he
says. "If I hadn't met DeWayne when I did, I
wouldn't be the person I am now. I've never
told him this, but he's like a father figure
to me. He's taught me things about myself
that I didn't know." DeWayne told him that
he was smart and that he could do better in
school than he was doing.
Under the sponsorship of Cemeno's Pizza
in Joliet, an active Big/Little pair is
selected as Match of the
Month. Their picture and story are
featured in the restaurant and they receive
a certificate for a free dinner.
To learn more Big Brothers Big Sisters visit
www.bbbswillgrundy.org or call Sue
Balicki at (815) 725-4324.
A
highlight of the 2006 annual Shorewood
Crossroads Festival was the crowning of the new
Miss Shorewood Crossroads and Miss Shorewood
Crossroads Junior by Mayor Rick Chapman.
Maggie Stewart, 16, daughter of Thad Stewart
of Shorewood, has captured the Miss Shorewood
Crossroads title; and Chanteil Ulatowski, 14,
daughter of Michele and Tony Ulatowski, was
named Miss Shorewood Crossroads Junior.
Maggie, who is a junior at Joliet Catholic
Academy, was chosen from a field of 11
candidates. Among her interests are track and
participating in the Big Brothers/Big
Sisters program. She is a student
ambassador, a member of the Key Club and Spanish
National Honors Society. Maggie has also been
selected to Who's Who Among American High School
Students.
Along
with the title of Miss Shorewood Crossroads,
Maggie was also awarded a shopping spree valued
at $600. The Miss Shorewood Crossroads Contest
was for Shorewood residents 15 to 17 years of
age.
Thanks to the generosity of Joliet Councilwoman
Jan Quillman, children in the Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties program
watched a recent JackHammers baseball game as
special guests in the City of Joliet's private
suite.
Twenty Little Brothers
and Sisters and their Big Brothers and Sisters
enjoyed the afternoon baseball game while enjoying
hot dogs, hamburgers and snacks, donated by Quillman
and her husband, Tom.
During a break in the
game, Quillman spoke with the boys and girls about
the importance of following their dreams and not
allowing adversity to get in their way of attaining
them.
According to Big
Brothers Big Sisters CEO Lisa Morel Las,
"Most of the kids in our program are considered
at-risk and live in single-parent homes. Our focus
is on helping them achieve their full potential
through their one-to-one match with a caring adult
mentor."
Brandon, 11, of
Joliet, is ready to be matched with a Big Brother so
he will have someone to play basketball and football
with. He's looking forward to having someone attend
local sporting events with, as well.
People often tell
Brandon that he looks like comedic actor Adam
Sandler. Like Sandler, he has an outgoing
personality and a good sense of humor. Brandon's
favorite subject in school is science. He enjoys
learning about astronomy and working with
electricity. Because he is intrigued by tornados, he
thinks he would like to be a storm chaser when he
grows up.
With his inquisitive
mind and compassionate personality, Brandon had an
abundance of ideas about what he would do if he were
president of the United States. He would give homes
to homeless people, but expect them to work and
contribute to society in order to keep them. He
would make China a U.S. state, and halt all wars by
negotiating solutions all sides could be happy with.
Brandon would also allocate the needed resources to
repair structural damage around the world resulting
from storms and tsunamis.
Brandon's most vivid
childhood experience was riding the Rock 'n' Roller
Coaster at Disney-MGM Studios in Florida. He
remembers having to "stretch" himself to meet the
48-inch height requirement. Then, after going
through the dark tunnels at a frenetic speed and
being turned upside down, Brandon realized he didn't
need to go on the ride ever again. However, he was
amazed that during the ride an automatic camera took
photos and captured him in the middle of a big
scream.
His favorite food is
his grandmother's "mush" which is a combination of
hamburger, green beans, corn and tomato. One of
Brandon's pet peeves is girls who tell others that
they are his girlfriend when in actuality they have
never even met him.
Like Brandon, more than
50 other children ready to be matched with a Big
Brother or Big Sister in towns like Joliet,
Shorewood, Lockport, Romeoville, Coal City, Minooka,
Morris, Plainfield, Bolingbrook and Crest Hill. More
volunteers are needed who can spend a couple hours
per month with a child playing games or sports,
going fishing, watching a movie, working on weekend
projects or just hanging out together.
Big Brothers Big
Sisters is a United Way member agency whose mission
is to help children reach their full potential
through one-to-one mentoring relationships.
Relationships are created that involve fun,
guidance, trust and respect.
Volunteers are matched
with a child based on similar interests and
geographical location. Volunteers arrange to pick up
their Little Brother or Little Sister at least twice
a month. The Big Brothers Big Sisters agency
provides a list of suggested activities that are fun
such as playing catch, going on a hike, playing a
board game and cooking.
Children aged 7-13 who
are from single-parent homes or from other special
situations are eligible for the program. Volunteers
are screened and trained to be mentors to these
children.
To learn more about
volunteering or to learn more about enrolling a
child, visit the Web site at
www.bbbswillgrundy.org or call Lynn Keane
at (815) 725-4324.
"Big Brothers Big
Sisters was rated one of the top 10 charities by
Forbes Magazine and I'm glad to support the good
work they do here in Will and Grundy Counties," said
Weller as he addressed an overflow room filled with
the agency's employees, clients and volunteers.
Big Brothers Big
Sisters is a United Way member agency whose mission
is to help children reach their full potential
through one-to-one mentoring relationships. Most of
the children, ranging in age between 7-13, are
considered at-risk and live in single-parent homes.
"The involvement of a
caring adult mentor can often be the difference
between a child entering adulthood as a productive
member of society or not," said Big Brothers Big
Sisters' CEO Lisa Morel Las.
MORRIS — While driving
over the Illinois River bridge, passing the
Canalport Park or by visiting the Grundy County
courthouse, a person can take a brief trip through
time getting a glimpse of Morris throughout the last
100 years.
Morris, a city known
for its nostalgic flavor, is continuing its loyalty
to its roots by dedicating wall space on the side of
numerous buildings and inside county-buildings, for
murals illustrating how Morris began.
Morris Alderman Ken
Sereno has played a large part in getting the murals
done and on what they would portray.
"They bring visitors
and it compliments Morris," Sereno said.
Bringing murals to Morris
Sereno;
the Morris Downtown Development Partnership's Home
for the Holidays; Jim Baum, owner of Baum's Women's
Clothing Store; and other local residents helped pay
for the two newest outside murals in town. The first
was completed last summer at Canalport Park on the
side of Cal's Printing at 123 Illinois Ave. across
from the replica canal boat, the Heritage, which is
featured in the mural initiated by City Engineer
Warren Olson.
"I do a lot of small
town driving and don't think I've ever seen anything
like these type of murals that depict the town so
well," Olson said. "They really look like
photographs and really are a work of art."
Taken from about four
or five old postcards dating around 1910 that Sereno
provided, Ray Grossi, owner of Midwest Signworks in
Morris, and his associate Kevin Christensen,
sketched and painted the mural in about a month,
Grossi said. It features a canalport warehouse, a
docked Heritage being loaded and another boat taking
eight people on a ride down the Illinois & Michigan
Canal. The passenger boat was taken directly from an
old photo featuring eight Morris residents,
including Whitney Miller, who was a Morris alderman,
fireman, city electrician and the superintendent of
the Interurban Railroad from Morris to Yorkville in
1910.
In addition, some
recreational activity on the canal is also featured
including a young boy fishing off the dock and some
kids floating in a barrel, which were added by the
artists, Sereno said.
"At first it was made
with the kids floating in an inner tube, but I told
them they would not have been inner tubes that big,
at least not too many, in 1910 so they made it a
barrel," Sereno said.
Also an artist
addition, was featuring Cal Hammond, owner of Cal's
Printing, and Sereno, playing a game of checkers on
the porch of the port building.
This was an unexpected
surprise for Sereno, but once he was asked he came
prepared with photos of himself.
"I didn't know exactly
what the picture was going to be until it was done,"
he said. "I haven't worn overalls since grade
school."
Next mural
Time
warping ahead about 16 years, a passerby on Illinois
47 could take a visit to Liberty Street in 1926.
Grossi and Christensen also painted the mural on the
side wall of a county storage building on Illinois
Avenue, but the wall faces Illinois 47 just after
the Illinois River Bridge, if a driver is going
south on 47.
The sign serves as a
"Welcome to Morris" sign, advertisement for the
canal park and as a tribute to historic Liberty
Street, Sereno said. It was just completed in July.
For both murals, Grossi
projected sketches on the wall at night in order to
outline the mural, and then he used the actual
photographs and postcards to fill in the sketches.
"There was such a
resound excitement about the first one, we had to do
this one. This one was more 'lets get excited about
Morris' and get people to the downtown," Grossi
said.
Half of the mural
features a painting of Liberty Street's look in 1926
and the other half serves as advertisement stating
"Nostalgic Downtown Morris. Canal Boat Replica and
Canalport Park three blocks west," with a hand
pointing down Illinois Avenue.
The idea was to give a
view of Liberty Street from the canal, Olson said.
They based the sketch off of a photo found that only
featured one side of the street. They made the mural
illustrate both sides of the street and added cars.
As far as future
outside murals, both Sereno and Grossi said they'd
like to see one on the north side of town, but funds
have to be replenished and a site needs to be found
first. The murals cost between $3,00 and $4,000
each.
History being recorded
Through a
more detailed mural, history is being recorded in
the perfect place: in the Grundy County Clerk and
Recorder, Lana Phillips' office, inside the
courthouse.
Phillips and Art
Ashcraft, local artist and head of maintenance for
the courthouse, started brainstorming last year on
how to fill the office's empty walls. Phillips said
she knew one thing for sure, she wanted the mural to
feature historical county buildings.
"I suggested we do the
historic buildings and incorporate how Grundy County
got started and filter into the historic buildings
and landmarks and build from there," Ashcraft said.
Ashcraft started by
illustrating the canal and how the county started to
grow from it as a transportation method. The canal
features a boat being pulled by a mule, as was the
way in the early days, he said. It also features
about 24 native animals to the county and when it is
finished there will be 30, he said.
"The animals are kind
of hidden so it also entertain by actually making
you search in the mural to find those things rather
than just looking at it," Ashcraft said.
In front of the canal
is a post pointing to the direction of all the
county's towns and he is now working on painting the
Illinois River bridge over the office's archway. It
will continue to another wall that will feature the
historic buildings, including Phillips' former
childhood home.
Before Phillips' family
owned the home at 109 E. North Street, the very
first county clerk, Perry Armstrong, lived there,
prior to when he took office in November of 1857.
"What are the chances
of the county clerk having a home and later me
living there," she said. "He also was a democrat, as
I am."
The house is still
owned by Phillips' aunt and uncle and is now an
office building. The mural will also feature
Diamond's monument in memory of the 1883 mine
disaster, the Mazon depot, a Gardner hotel and other
county representations that are still being decided,
Ashcraft said. He expects to complete the mural by
the end of fall, he does the painting all on his own
time.
"It is all brush work,
there are no rollers used and it is all from my own
sketches," he said.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Morris'
murals haven't all been done by adults. Shabbona
Middle School in Morris features work by its very
own students, with a little help from Morris High
School students.
This year, 14 matches
were made between "bigs" and "littles" to paint a
round puzzle, with each puzzle piece featuring a
theme: kindness, trust, sportsmanship, diversity,
respect, honesty, hope, creativity, responsibility,
knowledge, service and courage. They worked on it
from September to April.
"The littles do the
painting and the bigs helped come up with ideas to
put in the pieces to illustrate their word," West
said.
Some of the pieces
included an American flag for courage, a paint brush
for creativity and a girl walking her dog for
responsibility. The program was so successful at
Shabbona, West said, that they are starting it in
Coal City, Gardner and Bolingbrook this year.
Shabbona's mural is featured in the front hallway
when you enter the school.
"The kids loved it. It
was very successful and they have a physical
remembrance of it in the school," West said.
Three
holes-in-one that occurred over the weekend were
reported Monday.
Glenn Vann used a
5-iron to ace the 195-yard 10th hole at Inwood.
Ernest Clarke, Jimmy Gant, John McCullum and Billy
Hester Jr. witnessed. Brian Himmelman aced the
161-yard 12th hole at at Inwood, using a 5-wood.
Kevin Himmelman and Jeff Wilkerson witnessed.
In addition, John
Mortimer, the president of the board of
directors of Big Brothers Big Sisters, scored
a hole-in-one at Prairie Bluff.
Occupation: CEO, Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will and Grundy counties.
Birthday: Aug. 27, 1957
Birthplace: Refugio, Texas
Marital status or
family:
Divorced and have a 20-year-old daughter, Lauren, a
junior at Harvard University.
What should people know
about you: I
was a guidance counselor at St. Francis Academy in
the 1980s. My favorite job was serving as the public
administration director for Will County State's
Attorney Jim Glasgow. I am active in the Joliet
Rotary Club, Zonta Club of Joliet, Will County Take
Back the Night, Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce
and the Grundy County Chamber of Commerce.
Previously I served on the boards of United Cerebral
Palsy, Child Care Resource & Referral, DFYIT, the
Family Counseling Agency and St. Paul the Apostle
School Board.
A really great day to
me is:
Watching my daughter's volleyball games, and
attending civic and political events.
My capsule philosophy
of life:
I've always been involved in some way with helping
kids. Helping kids have a future is very important
to me. To ensure a child's success in life is the
best thing any adult can do.
What people would be
surprised to find out about me: I was a premature baby,
weighing less than three pounds when born in a small
Texas town.
Best book I've ever
read. Why: I
read newspapers more than books. My favorite
non-fiction book was "From Good to Great" by Jim
Collins.
The first thing I
notice about a person is: The genuineness of
their character.
In high school, I
wanted to be: Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Education.
Experience that had
biggest impact on my life:
Being a mom to the best daughter in the world.
I'd give anything to
meet: Barbra
Streisand and former President Jimmy Carter.
If I won the Lottery, I
would: Make
sure that Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy counties has a healthy endowment fund to be
able to help more children who are waiting for a Big
Brother or a Big Sister.
My pet peeve is:
Phony people.
Hobby: Working on political
campaigns.
If I were stranded on a
desert island, I'd bring what three things:My
daughter, my golden retriever and my Blackberry.
What I want people to
know about me:
I believe that everyone has the capacity to do good
for others. When they do good for someone — like
help a child or help someone who has less than they
have — they help themselves in the long run. Being
ready to step up and help others is the best way to
help your community.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties
CEO Lisa Morel Las recently welcomed two newly
appointed members to the agency's Board of
Directors.
Joining the board is John "Jack" Riley of
Naperville and Paulette Mangione-Korallus of
Plainfield.
Riley is a grant
administrator for Will County and is active in the
Wheatland Township Republican Organization. His wife
Susan is a member of the Will County Board and they
have two children.
Mangione-Korallus
is the owner/broker of A to Z Realty in Plainfield.
She has one daughter and lives in Plainfield with
her husband, Rick.
"Jack and Paulette
are extremely valuable assets to the board and I am
grateful for the expertise they bring to Big
Brothers Big Sisters," said Las.
Big Brothers Big
Sisters is a United Way member agency whose mission
is to help children reach their full potential
through one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more
information, call (815) 725-4324 or visit
www.bbbswillgrundy.org .
Big Brothers Big
Sisters board members at the
Grundy County United Way 60th anniversary
celebration. (click on photo to enlarge) L-R: Carroll Klotz,
Angela Ryan, Annette Leck.
Randy Matravers, president of
the United Way of Grundy County, and Coleen
Davis, executive director, stand by the
Illinois River in Morris. This year, United
Way of Grundy County celebrates 60 years of
serving the community.
What the more than 200 strong audience might have
expected from the United Way of Grundy County's
Diamond Anniversary Celebration-Kick-Off isn't
necessarily what it received.
Of course there was the standard banquet fare -
pre-meal cocktails, a silent auction, platters of
fried chicken, mostacolli and salad, and speeches
from United Way officials.
But there was also Exelon/United Way Band member
Greg Thomas leading the United Way crowd in a
surprisingly refreshing rendition of "Everyday
People," complete with a celebratory call and
response.
Hopping offstage, Thomas wove through the crowd and,
with the band keeping the tunes rocking, he would
sing a note or two and then solicit the audience for
its response.
"That's my style, the way I am," Thomas said. "It
gets people involved in what we're doing; it makes
them apart of what we're doing. A lot of people
enjoy it."
Thomas was one of five Exelon/United Way Band's
singers, a group that peppered the banquet with
musical accompaniment.
United Way of Grundy County Executive Director
Coleen Davis emceed the organizations 60th
anniversary celebration, ushering in the ceremony
with a quick invocation by Immaculate Conception
Deacon Bob Stansberry.
"I usually don't shoot from the hip when I'm talking
with God," Stansberry said while pulling out notes
pre-prayer, drawing chuckles from the audience.
After the dinner, Davis recognized the Leaders in
Giving/Corner Stone Alliance members and handed out
statues to the philanthropic donors in attendance.
"The purpose of the Corner Stone Alliance is to
recognize and honor those individuals in Grundy
County who have displayed extraordinary leadership
and kindness in meeting local service needs with a
generous financial gift of $1,000 or more," Davis
said.
Next, United Way of Illinois President Ron Melka
delivered a quick history of the county's United Way
organization, as well as a note to its present state
and where the United Way of Grundy County hopes to
be in the future.
"Sixty years is a long time; a lot has changed since
1946," Melka said. "Timesharing meant that families
spent time together in the evenings and on weekends
- not purchasing condominiums."
Furthermore, Melka said he hopes the local United
Way chapter attacks social problems at the source,
rather than try to fix them after the problems
develop.
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
County Executive Director Lisa Morel Las
then spoke, using numbers to epitomize her program's
success.
"Besides being selected by Forbes Magazine as one of
the top 10 charities in the country, Big Brothers
and Big Sisters has validated, provable evidence
that we have an impact on children," Morel Las said.
Children matched through Big Brothers, Big Sisters
are 46 percent less likely than their peers to start
using illegal drugs and 27 percent less likely to
start drinking, she said.
"Because of the unprecedented growth in Grundy
County, there's an urgency that's real, an urgency
that asks us to stand up and really give kids a
chance," Morel Las said.
Finally, United Way of Grundy County Board President
Randy Matravers led the way for a new year and
another 60 years, announcing out the 2006-2007
fundraising goal.
"As our county continues to prosper, we face new
challenges that are a product of that growth,"
Matravers said. "We must answer these challenges if
we are to maintain a quality community, a community
that we've come to call home, a place where we live
work and tend to our families."
"With that, we've made a commitment to raise
$365,000 in our 2006-2007 campaign year."
The connection between Big Sister Kathy and
Little Sister Emily is evident. They love to hang
out and enjoy participating in many events, whether
it's marching in the recent Canal Days parade, going
to Navy Pier or walking the dog, these two have a
great bond.
So much so, that they were chosen as the first
Cemeno's Match of the Month. Under a new program,
every month, an active matched Big and Little pair
will have their picture and story posted at Cemeno's
Pizza in Joliet and will receive a certificate and a
free dinner.
Kathy, a banker for Merchants and Manufacturers
Bank, was asked to tell one thing she enjoyed about
Emily. "Only one?" she asked. "I like her; she's
just a really great kid."
She sees herself involved for the long term with
Emily, an eighth-grader who enjoys art, math and
reading.
Emily's career goal is to be a pediatrician. She
enjoys roller skating – "The kind with regular
skates," she says, and volleyball.
Emily's favorite outing with Kathy was the Winter
Festival at Navy Pier. She says she and Kathy "talk
a lot. We sort out things that happen and like to
spend time together." Her favorite thing about
Kathy? "She's fun to be around."
Emily feels that she's doing better in school,
due in part to her relationship with Kathy. While
they don't focus on homework a lot, Kathy says she
can see improvement in Emily. "She's better at
expressing herself," she noted.
There are many children waiting to be matched
with Big Brothers or Big Sisters in towns like
Joliet, Shorewood, Lockport, Romeoville, Coal City,
Minooka, Morris, Plainfield, Bolingbrook and Crest
Hill. Volunteers are matched with a child based on
similar interests and geographical location. They
pick up their Little Brother or Sister two to four
times a month. Big Brothers Big Sisters can provide
a list of suggested activities, if requested. The
program is free.
To learn more about enrolling a child or becoming
a Big Brother, Big Sister or Big Couple, visit
www.bbbswillgrundy.org or call Sue Balicki at
(815) 725-4324.
Joliet,
Ill. – Thanks to the generosity of Joliet
Councilwoman Jan Quillman, children in the Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties
program watched a recent JackHammer baseball game as
special guests in the City of Joliet’s private
suite.
Twenty Little Brothers
and Sisters and their Big Brothers and Sisters
enjoyed the afternoon baseball game while enjoying
hot dogs, hamburgers and snacks, donated by
Councilwoman Quillman and her husband Tom.
During a break in the
game, Councilwoman Quillman spoke with the boys and
girls about the importance of following their dreams
and not allowing adversity to get in their way of
attaining them.
According to Big
Brothers Big Sisters CEO Lisa Morel Las, “Most of
the kids in our program
are considered at-risk and live in single-parent
homes. Our focus is on helping them achieve their
full potential through their one-to-one match with a
caring adult mentor.”
Herald News features
editor Jan Larsen thrilled the children by bringing
the JackHammer’s yellow Labrador retriever, Champ,
up to visit the suite.
Quillman was
emotionally touched when one child borrowed her Big
Sister’s cell phone to call home and boast about
being a guest in the City’s suite. “Up until my
mother passed away last year, I always called to
tell her when I was doing something fun and
exciting,” said Quillman. “It was wonderful to see
these children excited about being here and knowing
that this would be a memory they won’t soon forget.”
# # #
John Patsch / Staff Photographer
Steve Fusco and Jason Randy repair a bicycle
Thursday that was confiscated by the Will
County Sheriff's Police. Randy is
reconditioning all of the bicycles that can
be repaired and donating them to Big
Brothers Big Sisters. Randy got about 60
bicycles from the sheriff's department.
JOLIET
TOWNSHIP — They range from starter bikes to
10-speeds. Some need brake repairs, some just need
cleaning.
These are
the unclaimed stolen bicycles the Will County
Sheriff's Police have confiscated in the past two
years — 61 bicycles sitting in a shed.
"Typically
we hold a 'sheriff's sale' every few years and
somebody'll bid for the lot to resell them," Sheriff
Paul Kaupas said.
"We're
lucky if we get $100 for the lot," added sheriff's
spokesman Pat Barry.
Lt. Jerry
Nudera had another idea. A scoutmaster with Cub
Scout Pack 256, Nudera knew Jason Bandy was looking
to lead a community service project to earn his
Eagle Scout rank with Boy Scout Troop 444. He helped
Jason pitch a project to the sheriff and Big
Brothers Big Sisters.
Friends pitch in
Jason spent Wednesday and Thursday, helped by
family, friends, fellow Scouts and Detective Dave
Simonson, restoring the bikes at the sheriff's
garage.
They'll be donated through Big Brothers Big Sisters
to children who don't have the resources to get a
bike of their own.
"Most of
the bikes are in good shape," Jason said. "Some of
the brakes are frozen or the seats are missing. A
lot have rust and need a ton of cleaning, but all of
them are repairable."
After
getting the OK for the project, Jason approached
area merchants and asked for donations of parts and
paint.
"He
learned to swallow his pride and get outside his
comfort zone when he had to be the one to ask for
help and support for his project," said Jason's
mother, Tammy Bandy. "He had to become a leader."
"It renews
your faith in kids today," said Kaupas, "that
they'll take on a project like this to help other
people. This year we know (the bikes) will go to
someone who needs them."
Jason's
friend, Steven Fusco of Joliet, didn't seem to mind
spending a summer day kneeling in a parking lot
scouring rust off a kickstand.
"I wanted
to help, and I can use this towards my community
service hours for school. I thought it'd be a good
opportunity for me and a good opportunity for
somebody else (to get a bike)."
Jason
hopes to find a total of 100 bicycles to give away.
He asks that anyone who wants to donate a bicycle
contact him at (815) 741-4745.
"I'll also
be donating my own," he said. "I don't ride it
enough and it'd be nice if I could give every kid a
bike."
Attention
Sox fans. We have a future outfielder here who's
looking for a Big Brother. He's a quiet yet cheery
young man who has a lot of interests and wants to
share his favorite things.
David, 9,
is a third-grader who loves math. He's not sure what
he wants to be, but he does say that he wants to
play in the outfield for the World Champion Chicago
White Sox. He's also a Bulls fan, and likes the
Steelers, Bears and Redskins.
His
favorite thing to do is to go fishing. He likes to
catch catfish and bluegills. He wants a Big Brother
"because I hardly have any friends. I want to hang
out with someone."
He says
his mom is "Wonder Woman" and she makes the best
spaghetti and meatballs, putting a lot of "magic" in
the recipe. That's his favorite meal, and he also
loves chocolate shakes.
If he was
elected president, he said he would like to have
"freedom for everyone."
David and
other children are waiting to be matched with Big
Brothers or Big Sisters in towns like Joliet,
Shorewood, Lockport, Romeoville, Coal City, Minooka,
Morris, Plainfield, Bolingbrook and Crest Hill.
Adults who have a couple of hours per month to spend
time with these children are needed.
Volunteers
are matched with a child based on similar interests
and geographical location. Volunteers arrange to
pick up their Little Brother or Sister two to four
times a month. Big Brothers Big Sisters will provide
a list of suggested activities, such as playing
sports, hiking, board games and cooking. The program
is free to both children and adult volunteers.
To learn
more about the program, visit
www.bbbswillgrundy.org , or call Sue Balicki at
(815) 725-4324.
Joliet Catholic Academy freshmen Nikki Wheeler
and Christine Fisher have spent a couple
hours after school on Mondays this year helping
Hufford Junior High sixth-grader Ben Vowels
with his homework.
Vowels says
the girls have helped him earn passing grades in
classes he was in danger of failing.
"It's a
good feeling, knowing that his grades are getting
better," Fisher said.
Homework
Connection is a program that Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties has successfully
launched throughout its service area, including
Joliet, Plainfield and Morris. High school and
college students are paired with elementary and
junior high pupils to serve as role models and
academic advisors.
"We try to
focus half on tutoring, half on mentoring," said
Rachel West, director of programs for Big
Brothers/Big Sisters.
The
agency's program bridges the gap between the area's
public and private school systems. This year, the
partnership between JCA and the Joliet Grade School
District was expanded to include 10 students from
Hufford, in addition to 24 pupils from Carl Sandburg
and Taft elementary schools.
About 60
JCA students who are members of the school's Key
Club participate in the program. The group's adviser
is Dave Hooper, a JCA science teacher who
worked for many years at Joliet West High School.
The
younger participants develop bonds with their older
mentors, who sometimes help them resolve conflicts
that they may experience at school or at home.
Sometimes, advice from a teen carries more weight
than a lecture from an adult.
"It gives
the kids an opportunity to relate to someone other
than their peers," Hooper said.
Organizers
expected the partnership to benefit the younger
participants, but they received an unexpected
surprise when they realized the impact the program
was having on the older students.
"We began
to realize the older kids were getting rewards out
of it, too," Hooper said. "Some were finding out if
they wanted to be teachers or not, for example."
Educators
say the program's younger participants earn better
grades and have fewer behavior problems. Typically,
participants will spend some time working on
assignments, then devote time to playing cards or
another game, or socializing in some way.
The
program at JCA wraps up for the year with an Easter
egg hunt this week.
Joe
Spicer, a fourth-grader from Sandburg, says he's
disappointed he won't be spending his Mondays after
school at JCA for a while.
"I'm going
to miss it," Joe said.
In
addition to Homework Connection, other programs
sponsored by Big Brothers/Big Sisters match up
Hufford participants from the public and private
sector. Sports Buddies pairs athletes, while Career
Path exposes Hufford students to various occupations
at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center.
Members of the Big Brothers-Big
Sisters Sports Buddies program.
Sports Buddies bring high school,
grade school athletes together
HERALD NEWS - May 26, 2006
When youngsters become involved in sports,
one of the attributes that is learned is
being a good sport. That is part of being an
athlete, the gracious winner, the good
loser, the team player and playing by the
rules.
It
is, in essence, more than just the ball and
the field of competition.
And that also is what Sports Buddies is all
about.
Sports Buddies, a program through the Big
Brothers-Big Sisters organization, is a free
program that matches high school or college
athletes with elementary or junior high
students for fun and athletic activities.
It
is something the Joliet Catholic Academy
sophomore girls basketball team and the
Hufford Junior High seventh-grade girls
basketball team hooked up with at the end of
the season for six weeks.
"We were looking for a community service
project as a team and we thought this was a
very good opportunity for our girls to
connect with younger kids," JCA coach
Mark Clarke said.
The format allows the "Bigs" and the "Littles"
to get together once a week for an hour to
play basketball and learn more about each
other and have some pizza when the session
is over.
"I
felt it was a very rewarding experience for
me," said Kayleigh Tovar, a JCA
player. "I think we made the girls feel good
and I think we set an example for them."
The anxieties
Of
course, everyone was nervous at the start.
"The toughest part was right at the
beginning in getting to know each other,"
Abbey Latz of JCA related. "We were all
nervous but we got involved in little games,
like name games and stuff like that, which
allowed us to have fun and get to know each
other."
For Alicia Martin, a seventh-grader
at Hufford, the experience was very
rewarding.
"We got into a circle and talked about
ourselves," she said. "We then had our own
buddy. I thought I learned how to
communicate better and I learned what it
takes to be a high school basketball
player."
"We talked about school, what they did on
the weekend, what they liked and what they
did for fun," Tovar said. "In that way they
would open up to us and be comfortable."
After the talk time, so to speak, the
basketball time was next. That really
allowed the two groups to meld.
"It was tough at first, but once we started
doing the basketball drills, things opened
up," Brianne Houchett said. "Each
week I could see the influence we were
having on the girls and them influencing us
as well. It was a great feeling."
Raven Hughes, a sixth-grader at
Hufford, didn't know what to expect on the
first day.
"I
didn't know what to expect but they talked
to us and we got to know each other," she
said. "They were fun, not always serious,
and the games we had were fun. We learned a
lot while having a good time."
"When we would do the drills and play the
games the girls really had so much fun."
Latz confided. "That made them more open and
they were more relaxed."
For Kaylyn Jones, a seventh-grader at
Hufford, learning how to shoot a better
3-ball was something she came away with.
"When I went there I found out how to shoot
the 3-point shot better," she said. "The JCA
girls gave me some great information on how
to play the game and what to do to be a good
high school player. I know I need to work on
being able to use both hands with the
dribble and with the shot."
The experience was not a one-way street by
any means.
"Those girls really looked up to us and that
feels good to be a role model," Sandy
Wietstein said. "We made a commitment to
them."
Both benefit
Rachel West, director
of the program for Big Sisters, couldn't be
more pleased with this first experience with
having high school students paired with
junior high students.
"We did this once before at the University
of St. Francis, but this was our first time
at the high school level," West indicated.
"The girls from both schools were very
dedicated in getting something out of the
experience. The key was the one-on-one. No
one was left out
"I
think we all got a lot out of this," Tovar
admitted. "It gave us the experience of
working with younger kids. I know I was not
comfortable with that before but I am now."
Hufford coach Kari Alfredson feels
the program will reap some rewards for her
girls and team.
"I
think it gave our girls good role models to
look to," she said. "It also gave them ideas
on what to do if they aspire to stay with
basketball."
"What we are trying to do is show how to be
a complete person," West said. "Half of the
time was mentoring, talking about anything
and the other time was sports. It goes
hand-in-hand."
That is what being a good sport is, learning
to have the entire package.
"I
think we got to know them and they got to
know us," said Meagan DelSarto, the
center on the Angels' team. "We made a
connection and had fun. It was sad on the
last day when we gave them all shirts."
The connection was made. Fun was had by all.
And everyone learned and gained from being a
Sports Buddies and a good sport.
Cops/Fire: Bowling For Kids
Joliet Fire Department
Wins Coveted Traveling Trophy
HERALD NEWS - March 19, 2006
The winning Joliet
Fire Department team included (back)
John Zagar, Leon Trimmer, (front)
Bob Surinak, Ed Kolenc, and Mike
Bessette.
More than 150
police and fire personnel participated in
the Cops and Fire Bowl for Kids' Sake
fund-raiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Will and Grundy Counties, which raised more
than $17,000. The event was earlier
this month at Town and Country Lanes in
Lockport.
The
Joliet Fire Department team of
Mike Bessette, John Zagar, Ed Kolenc, Leon
Trimmer and Bob Surinak won the
traveling trophy.
Lockport police Chief Jim Antole and
Lt. Bill Kendziora served as chairmen
of this year's event which raised
over $17,000.
"A huge thanks goes to Chief Antole and Lt.
Kendziora who have chaired this event for
many years and do whatever is necessary to
make the event so successful," said Big
Brothers Big Sisters executive director Lisa
Morel Las. "They put in countless hours
helping to recruit over 33 teams from
various departments."
Participating teams
included the Crest Hill Police Department,
Forest Preserve of Will County, Illinois
State Police crime lab, Joliet police and
fire departments, Lockport police and fire
departments, Mokena Police Department,
Naperville Police Department, New Lenox Fire
Department, Plainfield Fire Department,
Romeoville police and fire departments,
Shorewood Police Department and the Will
County Sheriff's Department and auxiliary.
Additional Bowl for Kids'
Sake events are scheduled for April 14 and
23. Bowlers must register before the event
and are asked to raise $100 each for the
organization.
Big Brothers Big Sisters
is a United Way member agency whose mission
is to help children reach their potential
through one-to-one mentoring relationships.
Julie Peterson, left,
along with Kevin Olson, spearheaded
the return of Bowling for Kids Sake
to Morris, and then bowled on the
Grundy County Sheriff’s Department
team. Joining her, from left, were
Dave Carr, Lynn Vidal, Gary Vidal,
Kelli Vidal, Terri Keif, Chris
Thetard Carolyn Broderick and Donna
Draper (Photo submitted)
MORRIS — After a five year absence, Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties brought its annual Bowl for Kids'
Sake fundraising event back to Morris.
Julie Peterson, wife of Associate
Circuit Judge Judge Lance Peterson, and
Kevin Olson of Grundy Bank, spearheaded
the Feb. 11 fundraiser at Echo Bowling
Lanes, which attracted nearly 100 people.
"Bowl for Kids' Sake is all about having fun
to help kids," explains Big Brothers Big
Sisters' Executive Director Lisa Morel
Las. "It's our most important
fundraising event and all proceeds go
directly toward matching children with
carefully-screened and caring Big Brother
and Big Sister volunteers."
Nearly 20 teams participated in the
fundraiser, which is the first of nine Bowl
for Kids' Sake events scheduled from
February to May. Over $7,000 was raised by
individual bowlers who solicited a minimum
of $100 each in donations.
The teams included employees and friends
from a variety of local business and
organizations, including the United Way of
Grundy County, Morris Hospital, Grundy Bank,
the Kiwanis Club of Morris, Morris Community
High School, Provena Saint Joseph Medical
Center, Wal-Mart, the Office of Grundy
County Sheriff Terry Marketti, the Grundy
County Chamber of Commerce, Centrue Bank,
and Wermer, Rogers, Doran and Ruzon.
“I couldn’t have been happier with the turn
out,” states Sara Pekar, director of
development. “Due to the generosity of our
many Grundy County supporters and the
wonderfully accommodating staff at Echo
Lanes, this event is sure to grow larger
every year.”
Pekar adds, "Anyone interested in bowling in
one of our eight remaining events is
encouraged to go to www.bbbswillgrundy.org
where they can click on the Bowl for Kids'
Sake link and register and create a personal
donation Web page."
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way
member agency whose mission is to help
children reach their full potential through
one-to-one mentoring relationships.
Funds raised through Bowl for Kids' Sake go
directly toward matching children with
carefully-screened, caring Big Brother and
Big Sister volunteers. For more information,
call (815) 942-4011 or visit their Web site
at
www.bbbswillgrundy.org
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy Counties is in its 34th year of
providing one-to-one mentoring relationships
for children in need through a variety of
community and site-based programs.
The One-to-One program is the traditional
mentoring program that matches adult
volunteers with children from primarily
single-parent homes. Big Brothers, Big
Sisters, and Big Couples become friends and
role models to children. The volunteer "Big"
picks the child up at home two to four times
per month to do fun things which will
develop a positive, bonded relationship.
Homework Connection matches high school
and college students with local elementary
school students who need a little extra help
and motivation. Current sites include Lewis
University, University of St. Francis,
Joliet Catholic Academy, Joliet Township
High School West campus, Plainfield South
High School and Morris Community High
School.
Career Path matches business and
professional volunteers with junior high
students in preparation for a successful
career. Volunteers meet with their assigned
student two times per month during a study
hall or lunch period. Provena Saint Joseph
Medical Center employees are matched with
Hufford Junior High students and Silver
Cross Hospital employees are matched with
Gompers Junior High students.
Sports Buddies pairs student athletes
from the University of St. Francis' boys
basketball and girls volleyball teams and
Joliet Catholic Academy's sophomore girls
basketball team with elementary students
from Woodland Grade School and Hufford
Junior High. The younger students are
exposed to the positive aspects of
collegiate and high school sports, including
discipline, teamwork and friendship.
Art Buddies involves Morris High School
students with a love of art matched as
mentors to Shabbona Junior High students who
also have an interest in art. Through the
shared activity of creating a large-scale
mural at the junior high, the students
benefit from spending quality time with a
positive, older role model.
This year, Big Brothers Big Sisters
welcomed the following new members to their
board of directors: Will County Sheriff
Paul Kaupas, Angela Ryan of Ryan
Consulting Group, Carroll Klotz of
Stofan, Agazzi and Company, Annette Leck
of Management Strategies, Inc., Will County
Recorder of Deeds Laurie McPhillips
Weglarz, Maria Comolli of
Stepping Stones Recovery Center, Doug
Durham of National City Bank in Joliet
and Jack Riley, grant writer for Will
County.
They joined current members: John
Mortimer of Wood, Phillips, Katz, Clark
& Mortimer, Steve Scherer of First
Citizens National Bank, Barb Hiller
of Wermer, Rogers, Doran & Ruzon, Jeff
Barnes of Baldwin & Co., Kim Hale
of H Squared Construction, Dave Hooper
of Joliet Catholic Academy, John Kilday
of Premier Academy and Barb Wunderlich
of Nicor Gas.
As they do every year, Big Brothers Big
Sisters assisted families in need through
their Holiday Helping Hands program. More
than 70 families had their Christmas gift
wish lists filled by community sponsors who
volunteered to shop for them. Dresden
Generating Station was one of the largest
donors this year, along with generous donors
from area churches, Boy Scout troops,
schools and civic clubs.
For more information on Big Brothers Big
Sisters, a United Way member agency, visit
www.bbbswillgrundy.org or call (815)
725-4324.
2005 award choice: Dwight man
named volunteer of year
By Denise M. Baran-Unland
Special to the Herald News
February 19, 2006
When most
men want to volunteer for the Big Brothers
Big Sisters organization, they contact an
office about their interest before being
matched with a child.
Jason
Hrechko, 30, of Dwight, did it the
opposite way. Hrechko already knew that
someone wanted to be his little brother, and
it was up to him to make the commitment.
Hrechko was
recently named the 2005 Illinois Big Brother
by organization's state association in
Bloomington.
Hrechko,
director of the Jones' Middle School
Learning Lab in Plainfield, has been a Big
Brother to 12-year-old Kyle Sallis
for almost four years. Hrechko plans to
continue a Big Brother relationship with
Kyle until the youth turns 18.
Both Hrechko
and Kyle were excited about the award,
Hrechko said. "It's nice to be acknowledged
for the things we did together. It made him
feel famous."
A deserving candidate
Sue Balicki, enrollment and match
specialist for Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Will and Grundy Counties, said Hrechko
deserved the award.
"He is a dream
of a Big Brother," Balicki said. "He's warm,
he's polite, he's caring and he's dependable
— and that's what we expect. What's really
wonderful is that he's in it for the long
haul, for the good times and the bad times.
Although all we ask is a one-year
commitment, we always hope for a long-term
match.
"Jason
always says that the high point of being a
Big Brother is hearing that Kyle has made
some new friends, or that his grades have
gone up, or that Kyle tells him about
participating in sports or a school
activity.
"Because
Jason is a teacher, he also helps Kyle with
his academics. Kyle has difficulty in
reading, so they often have an outing to
Barnes & Noble where they pick out a book
together, read it together and discuss it
afterwards."
As a college
student, Hrechko spent his summers and
college breaks by working at the Galowich
YMCA in Joliet. A self-described "jack of
all trades" at the YMCA, one of Hrechko's
duties was day-camp counselor.
Little meets big
One boy in particular captured Hrechko's
interest: 7-year-old Kyle Sallis, then of
Joliet, who would chat with anyone he could,
including Hrechko.
One day
Kyle's mother, Dawn Sallis, a single mother
of four children, told Hrechko that her
older son had a Big Brother, which was
working out well for him, but no match had
yet been found for Kyle. Would Hrechko be
interested? He was.
Ironically,
Hrechko had considered becoming a Big
Brother but had concerns about disappointing
a boy should the match not work. In this
case, however, Hrechko was confident that a
match with Kyle would succeed.
Hrechko sees
Kyle at least twice a month, more often in
the summer.
"He's very
energetic and very curious about things. I
have a lot of fun with him," Hrechko said.
"We're always winning something. You know
how when you go into a restaurant or a diner
you fill out a card to win something? We win
all the time."
Many
splendid things
For Kyle, an outing with Hrechko has
open-ended possibilities. "We recently saw
the Harlem Globetrotters," Hrechko said.
"We've gone to Bulls games and had cookouts.
I've taught him to play pool, and
he's very good.
"I love old
cars, so he gets to go to car shows with me
and we're just getting into building model
cars. But sometimes we just hang out and
watch movies. I'll just call him on a
Saturday and say, 'Hey, what are you doing?
Come on down! I've gotten to know his whole
family. They're just like my extended
family."
For Kyle's
mother, the most important aspect of
Hrechko's relationship with her son is not
the activity, but the overall positive
growth she sees in Kyle as a result of
Hrechko's influence.
"It's hard to explain because he has done
a lot for Kyle," Dawn said. "They have a
good, strong relationship. Kyle is very open
with him and feels very confident with him.
Without Jason, I don't think that I would
have the Kyle I have now. Jason is an
incredibly great guy. He is also there for
the other kids if they need someone to talk
to."
Kyle said
that if he didn't have Hrechko, he would
probably just sit at home a lot. Not only
does he enjoy being with Hrechko, he's
impressed with the way his Big Brother
interacts with other people.
Mutual admiration
"He's real nice," Kyle said. "He goes out of
his way to do stuff for people. He'll take
people places. He'll talk to people and make
friends with them. He's a funny guy and he's
just real cool."
Being a Big
Brother has advantages for Hrechko, too. One
is that he's gained an expanded
understanding of the students he tutors at
Jones Middle School.
"I'm with
middle school kids all day, and this gives
me a fuller perspective of them," he said.
"It helps me to understand how the kids are
outside of class. It reminds me how hard
life was at that age."
The other
benefit to his volunteer role is that it
gives Hrechko an opportunity to revert, for
a time, to his childhood.
"I get to do
a lot of the fun things that I did as a
kid," he said. "As a mentor, you have to be
very responsible, almost like a parent. But
as a Big Brother, I can still goof around."
MORRIS — This
year's annual Big Brothers Big Sisters Bowl
For Kids' Sake campaign has begun and has a
goal of raising $100,000 by Will and Grundy
County bowlers for the agency's mentoring
program.
Big Brothers
Big Sisters is an organization that matches
children in one- to-one relationships with
adult mentors, said Sara Pekar,
director of fund development. Although all
the big brothers and sisters are volunteers,
to get a match off the ground costs about
$1,000.
"I think
people get a misconception because the bigs
are volunteers, but we want to make sure the
kids are protected," Pekar said.
Before a
volunteer can become a "big" he or she is
interviewed, fingerprinted and has a
background check taken — all costly
measures, she said.
This year's kickoff event is a community
bowl from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Echo Lanes
in Morris. To start a team, bowl as an
individual or just to donate, visit
www.
bbbswillgrundy.org or call Pekar at
(815) 725-4324. Bowlers need to register
before the event and are asked to raise $100
each for the organization.
On the Web site, bowlers can register
themselves or join a team, and set up their
own page to recruit donators by e-mail.
Donators can then donate by credit or send
it by mail.
Additional community bowl days are Feb.
17, March 4, March 17, April 14 and April
23. For where and when and to sign up, see
the Web site. In addition there is a cops
and fire bowl at Strike-n-Spare Lanes in
Lockport for police and fire department
personnel on March 5 and a teachers' bowl at
Country Lanes in New Lenox on May 5.
To promote the event this year, a
20-member campaign cabinet was established
to recruit teams, sponsors and donations.
"These cabinet members really stepped
up," Pekar said. To reach the goal, about
200 teams are needed and the agency has
about 115. Pekar credits the campaign's
early successes to the cabinet.
Each day, Big Brothers and Big Sisters
help turn little moments into big magic in
the lives of local children. Seemingly small
things — learning how to throw a football,
baking cookies or figuring out a math
problem — make a big difference to a child's
self confidence and provide memories that
will last a lifetime.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy Counties wants to share these magical
moments with you. By attending one of their
Little Moments Big Magic sessions, you
will experience the magic firsthand from
those who have been most affected by it.
Beginning in February, these one-hour
sessions take place from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.
on the first Wednesday of each month through
October at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Will and Grundy Counties office, 2322
Plainfield Road, Joliet. Wine and cheese
will be served.
To reserve a spot, e-mail or call Sara
Pekar at (815) 725-4324.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way
member agency whose mission is to help
children reach their full potential through
one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more
information, visit
www.bbbswillgrundy.org
John Patsch / Staff
Photographer
Will
County Sheriff Paul Kaupas
shows Lisa Morel Las,
CEO of Big
Brothers-Big Sisters, how the
fingerprinting process works. The
sheriff's department will
fingerprint all prospective
volunteers to facilitate background
checks for the community group.
JOLIET — The
local Big Brothers-Big Sisters organization
is receiving much-needed backup from the
Will County Sheriff's Department in its
effort to screen prospective adult
volunteers.
Sheriff's
police this week began fingerprinting people
who apply to Big Brothers-Big Sisters of
Will and Grundy Counties to serve as
volunteer mentors for the region's children
and teenagers.
The
sheriff's department's fingerprints will
enable the community organization to conduct
more extensive FBI criminal background
checks on adults who wish to participate in
the program.
Executive
Director Lisa Morel Las and Sheriff
Paul Kaupas said the federal
background checks provide added assurances
that the volunteers who work with the
organization's youths do not have criminal
records. The FBI's fingerprint-based
database is the most complete in the nation,
containing more than 200 million arrest and
conviction records for more than 45 million
individuals.
The
organization, which accepts roughly 100 new
volunteers each year, has contracted for
years with a private organization that
conducts criminal background checks using
names and Social Security numbers. Las and
Kaupas, however, both said the FBI checks
are more thorough and include not only
convictions but arrest records.
"In some
jurisdictions, for whatever reasons — maybe
expediency — they either throw (the charge)
out or plead it down to a lesser charge,"
Kaupas said. "In some cases, you could have
a very serious charge, and it's pleaded down
to a disorderly conduct."
The
fingerprint-based database also reduces the
possibility that past crimes will be missed
because someone gave an incorrect name or
Social Security number or because someone
typed something incorrectly into the system.
The federal
background screening makes it unlikely that
old criminal records from convicted sex
offenders like Lawrence Southwood will slip
through the cracks, said sheriff's spokesman
Pat Barry.
Southwood,
who was arrested in December and charged
with the repeated sexual assault of a
disabled teenager, is a twice-convicted sex
offender. But he does not register with the
state because his crimes were committed in
1961 and 1992 and are more than 10 years
old.
Fingerprints
taken at the sheriff's department will be
forwarded by Big Brothers-Big Sisters to
SafetyNET, a federal pilot program that
conducts the background checks. Congress in
2003 passed the PROTECT Act, which gives
mentoring organizations like Big
Brothers-Big Sisters the ability to conduct
FBI background checks through SafetyNET. The
act expired in 2005, but was reauthorized
last summer.
Big
Brothers-Big Sisters does not receive
detailed criminal histories regarding
applicants. SafetyNET, instead, rates the
applicants, giving them a green light if
they have no criminal record; a yellow light
if they have arrests in which they were
cleared of a felony or lesser crimes; or a
red light, meaning they have felony
convictions involving sex, drugs, violence,
animal abuse or children.
Red lights
are automatically disqualified. Las said the
organization will allow applicants who
receive a yellow rating to provide Big
Brothers-Big Sisters with detailed arrest
records for further discussion.
Kaupas, who
was recently named to the organization's
board of directors, offered the
fingerprinting service after discussing the
issue with Las. The sheriff's department
will cover the $10-per-person charge for
fingerprinting applicants, a cost that will
add up to about $1,000 per year.
"It's
priceless when you consider the safety of a
child," Las said.
The local
Big Brothers-Big Sisters has never had a
problem with any of its volunteers, Las
said. About 500 local kids participate in
the program.
Former Big Brother Dave Hooper
has volunteered for Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties for the agency's entire
32-year history. He currently serves
a dual role for the agency: host of
the after-school Homework Connection
Program held at Joliet Catholic
Academy where he teaches, and as a
member of the Governing Board of
Directors.
Former Little Brother Anthony
Rapp's memoir about his days in
the Broadway play and movie "Rent"
is entitled "Without You: A
Memoir of Love, Loss, and the
Musical Rent".
Other
notable work includes the film "A
Beautiful Mind," and the stage and
film versions of "Six Degrees of
Separation." Photographs from "Rent"
rehearsals have been published and
in 2000, he released a solo CD,
entitled "Look Around." He's also
appeared as a guest actor in
numerous TV shows.
When you begin sentences with, "I can't
believe it was that many years ago," you've
definitely entered middle age. But, that's
exactly what I said to the folks at Big
Brothers Big Sisters when they asked me to
reminisce with them recently about my match
with Anthony Rapp. My 5-year-old
Little Brother must now be about 32!
(Editor's note: He's 35.) Let's see,
that makes me 27 years older than I was when
we became a match!
The Big Brothers Big Sisters agency in
Joliet doesn't usually match kids who are
only 5, but Anthony was an amazing boy.
He was smart and his single mom knew
early on that her son was going to
accomplish great things in his life. Plus,
his siblings were both matched, and Anthony
felt left out.
Although the little guy was light years
ahead of his actual age in creative areas,
his social skills needed some honing. And I,
being a high school chemistry teacher, was
an expert at honing — or so the staff at Big
Brothers Big Sisters told me!
I also coached baseball and basketball at
the high school. Anthony, growing up without
much contact with his dad, didn't have any
experience playing sports.
But my plans for this little guy
definitely included some athletic activity
over the next few years.
Looking back, I realize now that my
Little Brother would have tried to learn any
sport just so he could spend time with me
and the team members over at Joliet Township
High School.
We worked ourselves into a really neat
routine, with Anthony spending lots of time
with me over at the high school; doing
experiments right along with me in the
chemistry lab, attending school functions
with me and my family, learning how to
handle himself in a multitude of situations.
Anthony was practically on an equal
intellectual footing with his new high
school friends, and by spending time with
them and me, his social skills improved by
leaps and bounds.
Just about the time I thought Anthony was
actually going to start liking sports,
you'll never guess what happened.
After his mom took him for an audition,
my Little Brother was chosen to perform with
Yul Brynner in "The King and I" while the
musical was playing in Chicago.
Ironically, my popularity took a giant
leap upwards when folks found out about my
Little Brother working with Yul Brynner
every weekend.
Anthony's talents just wouldn't quit. He
sang, danced and acted as well as the best
of them, with his skills getting better
every year.
Of course, it was always a thrill for me
to be in the audience when Anthony was on
stage!
One of the other hats I wore with Big
Brothers Big Sisters was helping to start
the agency's first after-school enrichment
program way back in 1988.
We would bring 40 or 50 kids from
surrounding grade schools to the high school
for one-to-one tutoring by high school
students.
This weekly program was really a huge
motivation for everyone, and it continues to
be the biggest program the agency maintains.
Even though he didn't need the academic
help, Anthony often participated in the
Homework Connection, working on his
assignments right along with everyone else.
It seemed that every year our high school
tutors wanted to become more involved in
helping Big Brothers Big Sisters. They
wanted to do more than academics with the
kids, so came up with the idea of hosting
Christmas parties.
For years, right before Christmas break,
all the kids on the waiting list along with
the kids in the tutoring program trooped
over to the high school for entertainment,
games, a homemade Christmas feast and
presents for everyone.
Naturally, Anthony always wanted to be a
part of these parties, and with my blessing
he helped host these annual events.
Hosting a party for more than 100 people
each year was a daunting task, so Anthony's
help was very welcome.
In between performances of "The King and
I," hosting parties for Big Brothers Big
Sisters and shooting hoops,
Anthony and I shared another passion.
With my handle of Silver Fox and his of
Peanut Butter, we spent hours driving and
talking on my car CB radio. "Breaker,
breaker" was a routine part of our
conversation!
I imagine we put at least a thousand
miles on my car during this Silver Fox —
Peanut Butter phase of our match.
Obviously, with Anthony's professional
schedule requiring big chunks of his time,
and my own family and career commitments
growing, our outings occurred whenever we
could both fit them in, but the time we
spent together was always high quality.
Weeks might pass during the summers when
Anthony was performing out of town without
us having a Big-Little get-together.
But, then my Little Brother would be back
in town when school began and we very easily
fell back into the routine of regular
outings.
It is so true that when you spend time
with people you really get along with the
years just seem to fly by.
Before we knew it, Anthony was a
sophomore in my high school Honors Chemistry
class, and an A student at that.
It was about this time that he got his
next big break with a lead part in the movie
"Adventures in Babysitting."
But, even through the hectic schedule of
filming, he kept his grades up and our
friendship remained rock solid.
As a further testimonial to this young
man's character, we could always count on
Anthony to try out for all the Joliet
Township High School plays and musicals. Of
course, he was always selected for a role
because of his tremendous talents, but he
expected no special favors from the cast
selection committee.
Reminiscing on my 13-year match with
Anthony remains a delightful part of my
life. Being a Big Brother to such a
wonderful young man was really a privilege.
Anthony and I spent hundreds of magical
hours together over the years.
We were a chemistry experimenting duet,
CB radio buddies and all-around confidants.
We were good friends. We were magic
together!
Ecolab
Inc. of Joliet recently donated $1,750 to
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
counties.
Rita
Facchina,
chairperson of Ecolab Community Relations
Committee, presented the check to Big
Brothers Big Sisters to support their Sports
Buddies and Homework Connection site-based
mentoring programs.
"I am extremely
grateful that our friends at Ecolab were
willing to assist us in our efforts to
provide positive, life-changing matches
between an adult mentor and an at-risk
child," said Lisa Morel Las,
executive director of Big Brothers Big
Sisters.
"When we match
a child with a caring adult, we make big
strides on the road to steering that child
away from trouble and towards a successful
adulthood."
Big Brothers
Big Sisters mentoring programs are
specifically designed to help at-risk
children and have proven to be extremely
successful deterrents against youth crime,
gang activity and other negative behavior.
Big Brothers
Big Sisters is a United Way member agency
whose mission is to help children reach
their full potential through one-to-one
mentoring relationships. For more
information, call (815) 942-9011 or visit
the Web site at
www.bbbswillgrundy.org
Bowl for Kids' Sake At Many Area Events
Monday, January 09, 2006
JOLIET — Sometimes one adult can make all the
difference.
Do you remember someone in your life when you were
growing up, who, by just being there, added a little
hope and magic to your life?
Well, that is what Big Brothers Big Sisters does
every day, and here is how you can help in efforts
to continue providing these services to local kids.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is kicking off its annual
2006 Bowl for Kids’ Sake
Campaign in bowling lanes across the country. For
over 20 years, this event for Bigs, Littles, donors,
corporations, and other community members, has been
raising money to make this the largest national
fundraising campaign.
There are several different event days taking place
over the next few months — so get your team of 5
ready for a great time. Here is how easy it is to
do:
Form teams of five people and then
register your team online. Each team member
is asked to raise a minimum of $100 in pledges
by asking family, friends, colleagues and other
for donations. Many bowlers raise more money for
even bigger and better prizes.
Bowlers can choose to collect the money
themselves through the
online donation system by creating their own
Web page — which can also be done at the above
e-mail address — and e-mailing it out to all
their contacts, by collecting money face to
face, or having Big Brother Big Sisters bill
them.
Pick a selected day to bowl (dates/times list
below). Each team gets two free games of
bowling, free shoe & ball rental, and pizza/pop
(for Saturday/Sunday events), a round of drinks
(for all Friday night events) and a T-shirt,
provided they bring the minimum amount in
pledges.
Whether it’s helping a child bowl, showing financial
support, or talking to them about life in general,
your support can make all the difference!
Area event dates include:
• Saturday, Feb. 11 — Community Bowl at Echo
Lanes in Morris from 2 to 4 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 17 — Community Bowl at Town
and County Lanes in Joliet from 9:15 to 11:30 p.m.
• Saturday, March 4 — Crazy Bowl Community
Bowl at Town and Country Lanes in Joliet from 2:30
to 4:30 p.m.
• Sunday, March 5 — Cops/Fire at
Strike-N-Spare Lanes in Lockport (all
police/sheriff/fire personal invited) at 1 p.m.
• Friday, March 17 — St. Paddy’s Day
Community Bowl at Town and Country Lanes in Joliet
from 9:15 to 11:30 p.m.
• Friday, April 14 — Community Bowl at Town
and Country Lanes in Joliet from 9:15 to 11:30 p.m.
• Sunday, April 23 — Community Bowl at Town
and Country Lanes in Joliet from 11a.m. to 1 p.m.
and 1 to 3 p.m.
• Friday, May 5 — Teachers Bowl at County
Lanes Bowling in New Lenox at 4 p.m.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way member
agency whose mission is to help children reach their
full potential through one-to-one mentoring
relationships.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties
is pleased to announce the receipt of a $1,000 grant
from Morris Wal-Mart Supercenter Store #844.
Wal-Mart employees Deb Eungard and Beth Robertson
presented the check to Sara Pekar, Director of Fund
Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters.
“Not only am I grateful for Wal-Mart’s on-going
support, but I am extremely proud of their
endorsement and encouragement in our efforts to
provide programs to children throughout Grundy
County” said executive director Lisa Morel Las.
Big Brothers Big Sisters provides mutually rewarding
one-to-one mentoring relationships between a child
and a volunteer Big Brother, Big Sister, or Big
Couple; as well as site-based mentoring programs
such as the Homework Connection and Art Buddies
which pairs Morris Community High School students
with grade school students from White Oak and
Shabbona.
Evidence shows that involvement in Big Brothers Big
Sisters helps keep local youth occupied in
worthwhile, life-enhancing activities; as well as
helping them stay off the street and away from drugs
and alcohol; and providing positive role models to
emulate.
“Without corporate support such as Wal-Mart’s, our
work would go undone and many children would be
adrift….something no child deserves” explained Las.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way member
agency whose mission is to help children reach their
full potential through one-to-one mentoring
relationships. For more information, call (815)
942-9011 or visit the website at
www.bbbswillgrundy.org
JOLIET — The city has been
dragged into the legal battle over bus bench
advertising between the president of Grate Signs
and the local Big Brothers-Big Sisters
organization.
Tony Grate has been haggling
with Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
Counties and the city for more than a year over
who has the right to advertise on certain bus
benches scattered throughout the city.
The dispute stems from Grate's
decision 30 years ago to allow Big Brothers-Big
Sisters to sell advertising on his bus benches
to raise funds for the organization.
Grate decided in July 2002 to
get back into the bench advertising business. He
began placing new benches in locations where
there were none and applied for permits to allow
him to do so, according to court filings.
Big Brothers-Big Sisters
alleged in court earlier this year that Grate
had removed one of its advertisers from the back
of a bus bench at Essington Road and Vimy Ridge
Drive and replaced it with his own
advertisement.
Big Brothers-Big Sisters also
alleged that Grate removed another of its
benches and contacted some of its advertising
clients in an effort to underbid the
organization.
Grate denied the allegations.
But a judge earlier this year issued a temporary
restraining order barring Grate from removing
any of Big Brothers-Big Sisters' bus-bench
advertisements or contacting its advertisers
pending a trial on the organization's
allegations.
Grate filed a counterclaim
earlier this month making the city a party in
the Big Brothers-Big Sisters lawsuit.
His counterclaim alleges that
the organization over the years had placed its
advertisers on 12 benches that were reserved for
Grate Signs. It also alleges that Grate paid for
and received city permits to advertise on 78 new
benches in 2004 and 2005.
The city's business licensing
department, however, determined that all of
those bench locations belonged to Big
Brothers-Big Sisters, the counterclaim alleges.
"Our legal position is that we
applied for them. They took our money. They
belong to us," said Grate's attorney, John
Schrock.
It appears, however, that 32
of the permits Grate alleges he acquired in
April were for bench locations that already
belonged to Big Brothers-Big Sisters. Grate
alleges that the community service
organization's benches violated a longstanding
ordinance barring animation, figures or faces in
the advertisements.
Rich Clementi, Joliet's
business license inspector, said the city's
attorney had reviewed the allegations and
determined the benches did not violate the
spirit of the ordinance. Clementi said even if
the benches were in violation, the permits would
not be up for grabs to the first party to claim
them.
"We would work with the bus
bench people to get compliance," he said.
Clementi
also said the city will review payments Grate
made for bench permits. "If he's got money
coming back, we'll refund it," he said.
The counterclaim asks the
court to declare all of the bench locations
belong to Grate Signs.
Eric Swanson, Big Brothers-Big
Sisters' attorney, this week filed a motion
asking the court to dismiss the counts that
apply to his client. He argued that a statute of
limitations applies to the 12 benches in a
dispute dating back to the mid-1970s agreement.
And he insisted his client will fight any effort
by Grate to take away benches that are
rightfully permitted to the organization.
Grate gave the organization
permission to use 38 of his benches for
fund-raising purposes in a handshake agreement
in 1976. There are no records to document the
transaction. But former Big Brothers-Big Sisters
Director Daryl Alderson told the city council
back in 1976 that Grate had given the
organization benches for the token sum of $1,
according to meeting minutes.
In recent years, Grate has
asserted the benches he gave Big Brothers-Big
Sisters long ago rightfully belong to him and
that the organization had failed to acknowledge
his 1976 offer. In an April letter to Clementi,
Grate said he intended to give the 32 Big
Brothers-Big Sisters benches to a more
appreciative charity.
Big Brothers-Big Sisters
Director Lisa Morel Las, who took the reins a
year ago, said her organization has always
acknowledged Grate's kindness. She said bench
advertising, which has grown over the years,
generates much-needed revenue for the
organization.
Exelon Employees Give Christmas Spirit Wheels Host holiday skating party for participants in
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Big Sister
Debbie Evans and her Little Sister Jamaya
JOLIET —
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will & Grundy Counties
was the beneficiary of the Christmas spirit of
Exelon Braidwood Station Crew #5.
On Dec. 3, the Exelon employees and their families
dedicated an entire Saturday afternoon hosting a
fun-filled roller-skating party at Skateland in
Channahon for the kids Big Brothers Big Sisters
serves.
"Through the generosity of the Braidwood Station
Crew #5 employees, the kids had a blast," said
Executive Director Lisa Morel Las. "Not only did the
Exelon employees pay for and organize the entire
event, they also generously donated $1,000 to top
things off!"
For over two hours, 50 Big Brother-Little
Brother/Big Sister-Little Sister matches, along with
Exelon employees and their families, skated and ate
a hot lunch and homemade treats, which Crew #5
provided.
“It was our pleasure to give the Bigs and Littles
that participate in the programs the opportunity to
have fun and not have to worry about the cost,"
stated Al Koch, nuclear station operator.
"The best part of the day came when I witnessed one
of the Big Sisters teaching her Little Sister how to
rollerskate backwards.
“That is what Big Brothers Big Sisters is all about,
and why it is vital to continue giving to our local
charities.”
Director of Fund Development Sara Pekar explained,
"Giving kids a reason to smile is a priceless gift.
Thank you again to the employees of Exelon Braidwood
Station Crew 5 and their families for sponsoring
this event for our kids!"
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way member
agency whose mission is to help children reach their
full potential through one-to-one mentoring
relationships.
Thanks to the Daisies from Girl Scout
Troop 308 of Cathedral of St. Raymond's
School, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy Counties now has a work of art
displayed on the walls of its once-plain
interview room.
Rachel West, Big Brothers Big Sisters
match specialist, wanted to perk up the
plain, white-walled room where Big and
Little interviews take place during the
initial matching process.
"When kids come to our agency to be
interviewed, they can be nervous and scared.
I figured that the room they are being
interviewed in should, at the very least, be
friendly and inviting," West said.
West's wishes were answered when Eileen
Gutierrez, development director at St. Ray's
and mom to one of the troop members, called
Big Brothers Big Sisters looking for service
hours as part of a school-wide initiative to
help the community. From there, the project
is history.
On Dec. 3, 20 little daisies showed up in
their smocks and painting attire, ready to
begin their masterpiece. With only the
guidance of a few stencils on the wall,
these little artists painted to their little
hearts' content. They painted everything
from trees and butterflies to American Flags
and pumpkins.
The Daisies have been working diligently
since the beginning of the school year,
trying to fulfill the 10 petal requirements
that, when completed, will resemble one full
daisy flower that they can wear on the front
of their uniforms. Dec. 3rd's project
fulfilled the petal requirement called "Make
the World a Better Place." Co-leader Sue Runde said the girls are halfway to the full
daisy.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy Counties is grateful to Troop 308,
Donna Hanson, Sue Runde, Kim Fladhammer,
Eileen Gutierrez, Faith Gould,
Colleen Dow
and all the other volunteers and parents for
making the interview something to admire and
cherish.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way
member agency whose mission is to help
children reach their full potential through
one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more
information, call Sara Pekar, director of
fund development, at (815) 725-4324, or
visit the group's Web site at
www.bbbswillgrundy.org
For Immediate Release
Date: October 10, 2005 Contact: Sara Pekar, Director of Fund Development - 815/725-4324
Joliet, Ill – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will & Grundy Counties executive director Lisa Morel Las recently welcomed the following newly appointed members to the agency’s Board of Directors:
Paul J. Kaupas is the elected Sheriff of Will County. He has been a law enforcement officer for 32 years, the last 29 with the Will County Sheriff’s Department. Paul served 3 years of active duty in the United States Marine Corps, and is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. He also is a member of the New Lenox VFW and American Legion. Paul and his wife, Barbara, are residents of Mokena and have two adult daughters.
Angela Welsh Ryan of Ryan Consulting Group has extensive past experience in marketing communications and governmental affairs for the Chicago Botanic Garden, Dominick’s Finer Food corporate office, and the Chicago Housing Authority. Additionally she has been involved with fundraising for the Illinois Bar Association and the Chicago Bar Association’s legal aid service. Angela is a new Joliet resident and is married to Matt Ryan, Chief of Staff for Will County Executive Larry Walsh.
Carroll J. Klotz of Stofan, Agazzi & Company, Inc. has over 25 years as an investment broker and tax accountant. Having previously worked for American Express and Citigroup, she is a life-long resident of Joliet and is extremely active in the community. Carroll founded the annual Tim Klotz Memorial Golf outing held in honor of her late husband, Tim, and is the mother of four grown daughters.
Annette S. Leck is the President/CEO of Management Strategies, Inc. whose clients include Chicagoland Speedway, Vulcan Materials, and National City Bank. Her extensive background in public relations and event planning skills were instrumental in the restoration of the Bird Haven Greenhouse. Annette has one adult daughter and lives in Joliet with her husband, Richard.
Laurie McPhillips-Weglarz is the elected Will County Recorder of Deeds. In her 20 years of employment with the County of Will she has used her budgeting and finance skills in the preparation and implementation of the County budget. Laurie has served on an assortment of boards and committees throughout Will County. She and her husband, Russell, reside in Plainfield with their young son.
Maria T. Comolli has over 25 years of accounting experience in the private and public sector including the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. She is currently employed as the Business Manager at Stepping Stones Recovery Center, Inc. Maria lives in New Lenox with her husband.
Douglas R. Durham is the branch manager of National City Bank in Joliet. He has volunteer experience with the Danville Day Care Facility and the Danville Head Start program. Doug lives with his wife and two young children in Coal City.
The new members join current Board members:
John S. Mortimer, Wood, Phillips, Katz, Clark & Mortimer;
Steven P. Scherer, First Citizens National Bank;
Barb Hiller, Wermer, Rogers, Doran & Ruzon;
Jeff Barnes, Baldwin & Company;
Kim Hale, H Squared Construction; Dave Hooper, Joliet Catholic Academy;
John Kilday, Premier Academy; and Barb Wunderlich, Nicor Gas.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way member agency whose mission is to help children reach their full potential through one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more information, call (815) 725-4324 or visit the web site at www.bbbswillgrundy.org
Joliet, Ill. – Volunteers and special friends of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties were recognized at their annual Volunteer Celebration held on October 1 at Dollinger Farm in Minooka.
Over 50 friends and volunteers were in attendance, including a large representation of Big Brothers and Big Sisters with their matched Little Brothers and Little Sisters.
Executive Director
Lisa Morel Las presented the following special recognition awards for individuals and businesses that have provided exceptional support:
‘Big’ Advocate of the Year
–
Larry Walsh, Will County Executive
‘Big’ Friend of the Year
–
Rich Clementi, City of Joliet
‘Big’ Volunteer of the Year
–
Steve Chamblee, Will County Locksmith
‘Big’ Business of the Year
–
Discount Technology Workforce (DTW)
Big Brother of the Year
(Will County) –
Bob Persak
Big Brother/Big Sister of the Year
(Grundy County) –
Tom and Mary Lou Bennington
County Executive
Larry Walsh was chosen for the 'Big' Advocate of the Year award as a result of his ongoing support of Big Brothers Big Sisters in the community. Larry promoted many of the agency's Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraisers in print advertisements and this year he served as co-chairman of their annual golf outing.
Rich Clementi of the City of Joliet earned recognition as Big Brothers Big Sisters 'Big' Friend of the Year through his assistance with business licenses that regulate the bench rental service the agency runs. Will County Locksmith owner Steve Chamblee's donated labor garnered him acknowledgement as 'Big' Volunteer of the Year.
The 'Big' Business of the Year award was presented to
Discount Technology Workforce (DTW) for generously donating technical assistance with the agency's computer network system.
Chosen as the best Big Brother in Will County was
Bob Persak of Homer Glen. Morris residents Tom and Mary Lou Bennington were selected as Big Brother/Big Sister of Grundy County.
“Saying thanks to the people who support our mission is extremely important, and this year we had so many people to thank,” said
Las. “Without the help and dedication of each and every one of them, we wouldn’t be the strong agency we are today.”.
Big Brothers Big Sisters also extends a huge thank you to Dollinger’s Farms who opened up their farm and big hearts by hosting the event.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way member agency whose mission is to help children reach their full potential through one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more information, call (815) 725-4324 or visit the web site at www.bbbswillgrundy.org
JOLIET — The local Big Brothers Big Sisters organization and the president of Grate Signs went to court Thursday to work out a long-standing dispute over who controls the advertising on 130 bus benches in the city.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties filed a motion for a temporary restraining order to bar
Tony Grate from removing any bus-bench advertisements that the organization sells to raise funds.
Under a court order approved by Circuit
Judge Herman Haase, Grate also cannot locate any of his own bus benches on sites currently occupied by Big Brothers Big Sisters' benches. Nor can he contact any of Big Brothers Big Sisters' advertisers.
The not-for-profit organization alleges that Grate removed one of their advertisers from a bus bench at Essington Road and Vimy Ridge Drive and replaced it with his own advertisement. The organization also alleges that he removed one of its benches at Essington Road and Jefferson Street and contacted its advertising clients in an effort to underbid them.
Grate, through his lawyer, insists he did not contact Big Brothers Big Sisters' advertisers.
"My client states that he has not interfered with any of their clients," said attorney
Steve Landis.
Big Brothers Big Sisters Director
Lisa Morel Las, who took the reins at the organization a year ago, said the bench advertising generates much-needed revenue.
"It's our main source of non-endowment revenue," she said.
The dispute between Grate and the organization reportedly has been simmering for more than a year. It stems from a 1975 handshake agreement involving Grate and the former Big Brothers Big Sisters director.
Grate has said that 30 years ago he agreed to allow Big Brothers Big Sisters to sell advertising on his bus benches to raise funds.
But over the years, the city, which regulates bus-bench advertising, came to recognize Big Brothers Big Sisters as the registered owners who are entitled to advertise in those spaces.
Rich Clementi, Joliet's business license inspector, recently canvassed the city's bus benches and recorded those that belong to the organization. Earlier this year, Las launched an effort to repair broken benches and pump new life into the advertising program.
Grate also began asserting that the benches he gave to Big Brothers Big Sisters long ago rightly belong to him.
Landis, however, conceded that there is no contract or paperwork filed with the city to document his ownership.
"Back in 1975, they did things on a handshake," he said.
The parties will return to court Oct. 26 to haggle over the restraining order. It is unclear whether the ownership issue will be litigated. In the meantime, Big Brothers Big Sisters may continue to contract with advertisers for their benches.
"They can use the benches the way they've been using them," said
Eric Swanson, Big Brothers Big Sisters' attorney.
More than 160 firefighters and law enforcement officers and their families converged from all corners of Will and Grundy counties to participate in the annual Cops/Fire Bowl for Kids' Sake fund-raiser for Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties.
The annual Cops/Fire bowl-a-thon is one of the most anticipated fund-raising events of the year for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Participants raised more than $16,000.
Serving as co-chairmen of the event were Chief Jim Antoleand Lt. Bill Kendziora of the Lockport Police Department.
The
Lockport Police Department won the championship title. Teams included the
Channahon Police Department,Crest Hill Police Department,
Forest Preserve of Will County,
Illinois State Police Crime Lab,
Joliet Police and Fire Departments,
Lockport Police and Fire Departments,
Mokena Police Department, Naperville Police Department,
New Lenox Police and Fire Departments,
Plainfield Fire Department, Romeoville Police Department,
Shorewood Police Department and the
Will County Sheriff Auxiliary.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way member agency whose mission is to help children reach their full potential through one-to-one mentoring relationships.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties has launched a new spin on the popular Bowl for Kids' Sake fund-raising event. The organization is instigating a battle.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is drafting bowling teams from area civic organizations, banks, elected officials, labor organizations and builders to participate in Community Days Bowl-a-Thons on April 24 and May 1.
Teams from each of the five categories will go head-to-head to see who, within their group, will raise the most money in pledges for Big Brothers Big Sisters. A winning trophy and bragging rights will be given to the top team in each division. Will it be the Lions over the Exchange Club and Kiwanis Club in the civic organizations division?
Will First Midwest come out on top of First American and Harris in the banking division? And, who will be the winner in the builder, labor union and elected official divisions?
"I'm thrilled to be able to help Big Brothers Big Sisters raise money with this friendly challenge between other elected officials," said Wheatland Township supervisor
Shirley Armstrong who, with Will County Board member
Susan Riley, is entered in the elected officials division. "I've already warned Will County Recorder of Deeds Laurie McPhillips-Weglarz that we're going to be a tough team to beat."
Openings are still available for teams wanting to battle to be best among bankers, elected officials, labor unions, builders and civic organizations. Interested participants must:
• Form one or more five-member teams from the organization and either solicit a minimum of $50 in pledges per person, or have someone sponsor your team for a flat fee of $500 in lieu of individual pledges.
• Select and register for a date and time to bowl from the Community Days by calling (815) 725-4324 to reserve a spot.
Big Brothers Big Sisters will tally up the donations of all participating teams and the team in each category with the most money raised will earn the "2005 Battle of the — Bowling Champion" title.
The winning team will be awarded with a trophy to proudly display. Additionally, the winning team will be publicized for all to see and envy in all after-event media coverage, as well as on Big Brothers Big Sisters' marquee and Web site. The best however, will be the satisfaction of knowing which team ranks No. 1.
Big Brothers Big Sisters is a United Way member agency with a mission of helping children reach their full potential through one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more information, call
Sara Pekar, director of fund development at (815) 725-4324 or visit www.bbbswillgrundy.org
L to R: Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi, John Quinn, Lisa Morel Las, Rep. Jack McGuire, John Mortimer
Joliet, Ill. – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties received a $5,500 technology grant as part of the SBC Excelerator program.
John Quinn, director of external affairs for SBC Illinois presented the award to Big Brothers Big Sisters executive director
Lisa Morel Las and Board president
John Mortimer. Also in attendance were local legislators Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi and Rep. Jack McGuire.
Funded by the SBC Foundation, the philanthropic arm of SBC Illinois, the grant will fund computer training for the staff, updated hardware and software, as well professional technical assistance.
“I am ecstatic that Big Brothers Big Sisters was awarded this grant, and am truly appreciative of the support from the SBC Foundation,” said Las. “This SBC Excelerator grant will allow us to communicate more effectively with our clients, volunteers and donors due to improved computer technology.”
SBC Excelerator is a major philanthropic initiative that connects the nation’s neediest residents – including at-risk youth and underserved urban families – to important community resources. The program empowers nonprofits to use technology to expand the reach of services and heighten the impact those services have on people in the community. This year, the SBC Foundation awarded $840,500 in SBC Excelerator technology grants to 59 nonprofits throughout Illinois.
“Nonprofits like Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties make a profound difference in our communities and in the lives of people in the area,” said Quinn. “SBC Illinois and our employees are part of this community and are proud to support efforts like this to build technology capabilities and deliver more services at the local level.“
Since the program’s creation in 2002, more than $4.1 million in SBC Excelerator grants have been awarded to Illinois organizations that connect people with little or no access to technology.
The SBC Excelerator program was founded on the premise that technology access and resources can improve the lives of people in communities across the nation. To qualify for an
SBC Excelerator grant, an organization’s major focus and project proposal must emphasize education, community development, health and human services, or arts and culture. Grants, ranging from $2,500 to $25,000, can be applied toward data communications services, hardware, software, technology training, personnel, and application development.
The SBC Excelerator program is the largest special grants program undertaken by the SBC Foundation, one of the top corporate foundations in the nation, according to The Foundation Center. Since 1984, SBC Communications and the SBC Foundation have contributed more than $1 billion to nonprofit organizations across the country.
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to help children reach their full potential through one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more information, call (815) 725-4324 or visit the web site at www.bbbswillgrundy.org.
Big
Brothers Big Sisters of Will and
Grundy Counties is in its 33rd year
of providing community-based and
site-based programs that help
children through one-to-one
mentoring relationships.
The
One-to-One program is the
traditional community-based
mentoring program that matches adult
volunteers with children from
single-parent homes. Big Brothers,
Big Sisters, and Big Couples become
friends and role models to children.
A volunteer pick ups a child at the
child's home two to four times per
month to do fun things with the
child.
The
Car Connection, a new site-based
program funded by the Morris
Community Foundation, began matching
students from Shabbona Middle School
in Morris with high school students
from Grundy Area Vocational School.
Art Buddies is another new
site-based program that matches
students from Shabbona Middle School
with students from the art club of
Morris Community High School.
The
Homework Connection is a site-based
after-school tutoring program. High
school and college students provide
extra help and motivation to
elementary students. Current sites
include Lewis University, University
of St. Francis, Joliet Catholic
Academy, Joliet Township High School
West campus, Plainfield South High
School, Wilmington High School and
Morris Community High School.
Career Path is a site-based program
that matches business and
professional volunteers with junior
high students to prepare the
students for a career and for life.
Volunteers meet with their assigned
student at school two times per
month during a study hall or lunch
period.
Sports Buddies is a site-based
mentoring program that matches
college athletes with elementary
school students. The elementary
students are exposed to many
positive aspects of collegiate
sports, including discipline,
teamwork and friendship. The men's
basketball team and the women's
volleyball team from the University
of St. Francis are matched with
students from Woodland School in
Joliet.
Some
2004 highlights included receiving a
Governor's Home Town Award for the
Homework Connection; a
story on Big
Brother Mike Schuster of Joliet
appearing in a book that
commemorated 100 years of the Big
Brothers Big Sisters movement;
receiving the Organization of the
Year award from the Grundy County
Chamber of Commerce and Industry;
and Lisa Morel Las taking over in
September 2004 as executive
director, replacing Beth Hobby, who
retired.
For
more information on Big Brothers Big
Sisters, call (815) 725-4324 or
visit the Web site,
www.bbbswillgrundy.org
Financial services company HSBC has saved the day
for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will
and Grundy Counties through a recent donation of 7 desktop computers. The computers will allow the agency to interface with a new national database which will allow Big Brothers Big Sister agencies across the United States to share information to best provide service to our clients and volunteers.
"We were worried about not having the necessary hardware to access the national information management system before receiving the HSBC donation. Now we are on Cloud 9!" said
Lisa Morel Las, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy County. "This donation from HSBC will improve our service tremendously."
HSBC serves more than 60 million North American customers in five key areas: personal financial services, consumer finance, commercial banking, private banking, and corporate investment banking and markets.
Ed Savant, Senior Manager of HSBC's Technology and Services, said, "We are pleased that HSBC can play a role in providing mentors to at-risk children."
The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters is to help children reach their full potential through one-to-one mentoring relationships. For more information, call (815) 725-4324 or visit the web site at www.bbbswillgrundy.org.
Jane Mihelich, a sixth-grade student at St. Mary Nativity School in Joliet, was the winner of the Christmas Ornament Design Contest sponsored by Star 96.7 and Rand's Hallmark.
One thousand ornaments have been manufactured with Mihelich's design and are available for purchase at Rand's Hallmark stores. All profit from the sale of the ornaments will go to four local agencies: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties, Crisis Line of Will County, Guardian Angel Home and Joliet Area Community Hospice.
The concept for the contest came from
Val Rand of Rand's Hallmark and
Dennis Mockler of NextMedia. "This time of year generates a desire in people to give to others," said Rand. "Dennis Mockler and I thought that the ornament contest would be a great way to make it easy for people to help charities."
Applications to participate in the contest were distributed to schools throughout Will County in the fall. The contest was also publicized in the newspaper, on the radio and at Rand's Hallmark stores. A committee selected the winner.
Mihelich said that she got part of her idea for the design from the contest application itself, but she couldn't explain where her other creativity came from. Mihelich added, "I hope that the ornaments raise enough money to really help."
In August 2004,
Lisa Morel Las became the third person to hold the position of executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. Previous executive directors included agency founder Daryl Alderson and Beth Hobby.
Lisa came to Big Brothers Big Sisters after more than 25 years of public relations, marketing, public affairs and fund-raising experiences in a variety of not-for-profit arenas, such as government, education and health care.
After high school graduation from St. Francis Academy, Lisa earned a bachelor's degree from Saint Mary's College, Notre Dame and a master's degree from Loyola University, Chicago. She also completed post-graduate business administrative courses for not-for-profit organizations at the University of Notre Dame.
Lisa's first job out of college was as a social studies teacher at an alternate school in New Orleans. It was a challenge to just get the kids to bring a notebook and their textbook to class," Lisa said.
But she was challenged, nevertheless, and, by the end of the year, had developed a passion for working with challenging teenagers.
"It was through that experience that I realized I wanted to work directly with teenagers in an effort to give positive direction and focus to their lives," she said.
She spent the next six years as a guidance counselor at St. Francis Academy where she not only worked as the college adviser, but also was on the team that organized the first Operation Snowball anti-drug leadership program for teens in Joliet.
From her strong relationships with college admissions counselors, Lisa was encouraged to enter the college admissions field and was brought on as the first director of admissions for the new baccalaureate degree-granting institution, Saint Joseph College of Nursing. Four years later, her healthcare and marketing connections led her to a marketing position, covering six counties with Lutheran General Behavioral Health.
Lisa's career took an unexpected turn when Lutheran General abruptly closed all its behavioral health facilities, and she was forced to find a job to make the auto and mortgage payments for which she was responsible.
For a year, Lisa commuted between Joliet and Renesselaer, Ind., as the director of public relations for St. Joseph College.
With a desire to get back to working full time in her local community, Lisa accepted the position of director of public administration for Will County State's Attorney
Jim Glasgow. It was a job she refers to as her "most memorable and exciting" previous position.
"Being the conduit for Jim's community outreach for domestic violence and sexual assault victims was exciting and extremely rewarding," she said.
During her tenure with Glasgow, Lisa wrote the grant for Will County's first drug court program and coordinated the activities of the Will County Domestic Violence Commission, the Will County Child Advocacy Advisory Board and the Douglas Petan Crime Victims Assistance Commission. She also was instrumental in the lobbying efforts for all of Glasgow's successful legislative initiatives.
Lisa continued working in government as district administrator for Illinois State Sen. Debbie Halvorson. Through this and her own public relations/marketing business on the side, she developed an extensive background in press relations and media management and a familiar relationship with print and broadcast media throughout the Chicago area.
Also, as a Joliet community television channel 6 volunteer, Lisa has produced numerous community access cable television shows on historic preservation, domestic violence, child safety on the Internet, juvenile justice reforms and political candidate forums.
Lisa is a member of the Rotary Club of Joliet, Will County Take Back the Night, Zonta Club of Joliet and the United Cerebral Palsy board of directors. Her community involvement includes past chair of the Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School, membership on the Will County Sunny Hill TB Sanatorium Board of Directors and the Joliet Area Historical Museum advisory council.
She also has served as a member of the board of directors of Drug Free Youth in Touch of Greater Joliet; the Child Care Resource & Referral Agency of Will, Grundy, Kankakee; the Family Counseling Center of Will County; and St. Paul the Apostle School.
Lisa is proudest of her role as mom to Lauren, a member of the 2003 Joliet Catholic Academy state championship volleyball team and a freshman on the Harvard University volleyball team.
Lisa uses her vast experiences to lead Big Brothers Big Sisters. As the nation's oldest and largest youth mentoring organization, she is challenged "to get the message out about all the good that we do for children in Will and Grundy counties."
Her first-year goals include increasing corporate and individual support of the agency, as well as development of an organizational strategic plan and board development.
"Not a day goes by that I don't hear a touching story or see the emotional result of a Big Brother or a Big Sister touching the life of a child in a way that could have never been anticipated," says Lisa. "I'm more focused than ever to increase our service to those children we've yet to reach out to."
For more information on the community and site-based mentoring programs offered by Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties, a United Way of Will County partner agency, log on to www.bbbswillgrundy.org
For Immediate Release
Date: November 10, 2004
Contact: Lisa Morel Las 815/725-4324
Big Brothers Big Sisters Wins 2004 Governor’s Home Town Award
Joliet, Ill. – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties’ after-school mentoring program, Homework Connection, was a winner of the 23rd annual Governor's Home Town Award at a banquet held at the Springfield Hilton on Wednesday, November 10, 2004.
The Homework Connection program, under the coordination of Dawn Arnold, received the award for its 2003-2004 after-school program in which 270 high school and college students assisted elementary students with homework and basic learning skills. A key element of the program is the bonding relationship developed in the one-on-one matches.
"I thank the many high school and college students who volunteered their time and talent to the grade school children who uniquely benefited from their tutoring, encouragement, and friendship,” said executive director
Lisa Morel Las. “I am also grateful for the numerous volunteer coordinators and supervisors who we count on to recruit students and who supervise the Homework Connection in their schools.”
Las said that a recent survey of elementary school teachers showed that 57% of students in the Homework Connection had improved self-confidence, 50% had improved academic performance, and 41% had an improved attitude toward school.
The following schools participated in the Homework Connection during the 2003-2004 school year: Lewis University was paired with Irene King Elementary School and Ludwig Elementary School; Plainfield South High School was paired with Meadow View Elementary School; Plainfield Central High School and Drauden Point Middle School were paired with Ridge Elementary School; Joliet West High School was paired with Thigpen Elementary School; Joliet Catholic Academy was paired with Taft Elementary School; University of St. Francis was paired with Pershing Elementary School; Washington Jr. High School was paired with Keith Elementary School; Morris Community High School was paired with White Oak Elementary School; and Wilmington High School was paired with Booth Elementary School.
As a Governor’s Cup winner, Big Brothers Big Sisters received a large road sign and a ceremonial plaque acknowledging the highly-sought after honor.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity administers the Governor's Home Town Awards program to recognize the successes of volunteers in addressing community needs. Awards were presented in eight categories based on community population. Volunteer judges reviewed and ranked applications based on local need, volunteer participation, project continuity, and results.
# # #
Joliet 'Brothers' Chronicled in Book By Mohra Gavankar, HERALD NEWS - October 6, 2004
Big Brothers Big Sisters, the largest and oldest youth mentoring organization in the United States, recently celebrated 100 years of service. To commemorate this event, a book of inspirational stories, written by Big Brothers and Big Sisters, was published.
The book, titled "Little Moments, Big Magic," includes stories by
Matt Lauer, Wayne Brady, Brad Miller and Joliet's own
Mike Schuster.
When Mike heard the organization was looking for stories about the experience of being a Big Brother or Big Sister, he submitted his short story and was pleasantly surprised to learn he was one of the top 100 to be printed.
"Being a Big Brother has been one of the most positive experiences in my life," Mike said. "Little did I know that decision would have such a huge impact on my life."
The 400 page book is filled with stories about special moments when a person realizes they have made a difference in a child's life.
Connection
Mike met his little brother,
Dwayne Porter, when he was a senior at Joliet Catholic Academy and was required to complete 20 hours of community service work. He decided to volunteer as a Big Brother. "The first boy I was paired with didn't work out," Mike said, "so I 'upgraded,' as I call it, and got Dwayne. I remember how polite he was, especially for such a little kid." Dwayne, an 8-year-old at Lockport's Lugwig Grade School, recently had lost his father and had no male role model in the home. "My mother enlisted me in the program," said Dwayne, "and happened to tell them I had always enjoyed working on old cars with my father."
Using that tidbit of information, organizers paired him with Mike, who also was interested in cars and owned an old beater car.
"Dwayne would help with my car, and we'd take it out to show it off," Mike said.
They would meet every Sunday and plan an activity that could either last a couple of hours of flying kites or playing a game or the entire day. Often, they would just hang out at Mike's home watching a game on television.
"My wife, then my high school sweetheart, was always included in our activities," he said. "She planned fun things for us to do and deserves a lot of credit for keeping us together."
After a few months together, Mike remembers Dwayne's mother telling him how her son's self-esteem had risen and how well he was doing in school.
"That made me realize what I was doing was more than just required volunteer hours," Mike said. "He taught me to be more considerate and more patient. But above all, he taught me that to give is better than to receive."
Mike lost touch with Dwayne when Dwayne turned 14, but he never really forgot him. Seven years later, at Dwayne's grandfather's funeral, they ran into each other again. This time, Mike made sure they did not lose contact.
A New Relationship
Then a 21-year-old, Dwayne met Mike and his wife often for dinner, and they rekindled their friendship, which took on a more equal footing.
A year later, Mike invited Dwayne to work for his family plumbing business.
"Dwayne already knew a lot about mechanics, and I enjoyed passing on my skills to him and showing him the ropes," Mike said. "I feel as if I had hired one of my own family members."
Mike says more high school teens who want to do something in the community should participate in the program.
"Take the time and do it," he said. "I think, more than ever, kids need someone to look up to. If you can encourage one person, it may make all the difference in the world."
Mike says he and Dwayne are proud of each other and happy to be back together.
"Like so many things in life ... it is more than coincidence that this has come full circle ... it is all part of a greater good."
In a thank-you note to Mike, the authors of the book said they hoped the book would be a powerful recruitment tool for Big Brother Big Sisters.
The books are available at Big Brothers Big Sister by calling (815) 725-4324 or visiting www.BigBrothersBigSisters.org.
Lisa Morel Las began serving as Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties on August 23, 2004. Retiring executive director Beth Hobby participated in the transition during the month of September.
Las has been an active community leader in Will and Grundy counties for over 25 years and has extensive professional relationships with many business, labor, religious, and social service leaders. She has past experience in fundraising, public relations, and media relations in social services, education, and government.
Most recently, Lisa was Chief Development Officer of Guardian Angel Home in Joliet. She previously served as District Administrator for Illinois State Senator Debbie Halvorson and was the Director of Public Administration for former Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow.
Lisa is an enthusiastic "volleyball mom". Her daughter, Lauren, was a member of the 2003 Joliet Catholic Academy state championship volleyball team and is a freshman on the Harvard University volleyball team.
T.J. Weinrich
won the Standard Bank $10,000 hole-in-one prize at the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties golf outing held at the Morris Country Club on Monday, August 9.
Dave Reid, captain of the Firefighters Local 3192, said that Weinrich was a last minute fill-in for his foursome, replacing a firefighter who had to work. "Weinrich had beginner's luck--the last time he golfed was at Putt Putt Golf when he was 12 years old."
"What an amazing shot, what an amazing shot" Weinrich exclaimed as the ball flew down the fairway and into the hole. Subsequent screaming in celebration was heard throughout the course.Kathy Alexander and Jan Ruddy were the official witnesses of the amazing shot.
Weinrich used a 5-wood club on the 162 yard hole. "The ball bounced a couple of times and then went into the hole" according to Reid "T.J. didn't hit another ball like that the rest of the day."
Weinrich lives in South Elgin and works at the Carol Stream Fire Department.
The Volunteer Center of the United Way of
Will County Outstanding Volunteer of the
Year special award recipient in the social
services category is Dave Hooper.
Dave
Hooper
was nominated by Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Will & Grundy Counties, a United Way of Will
County member agency.
Hooper was a
Big Brother to Anthony Rapp, a native of
Joliet, starting when Rapp was 5 years old
and continuing all the way through his high
school graduation.
Rapp now
lives in New York and is an actor. As a
child, Rapp toured with Yul Brenner in "The
King and I." As a teenager, Rapp was in the
movie "Adventures in Baby Sitting" and later
was in the original Broadway cast of "Rent."
Hooper lives
with his family in Lockport. He has three
children: one a 25-year-old, one a sophomore
at the University of Illinois and the third
a sophomore at Joliet Catholic Academy.
For many
years, Hooper was a teacher at Joliet West
High School where he started the tutoring
program in 1986.
One year
ago, he took early retirement — for two
days. Hooper then received a telephone call
from Joliet Catholic Academy asking if he
would like to continue teaching. He said yes
and now teaches environmental biology and
chemistry.
Hooper has
since established the tutoring and Key Club
programs at JCA.
Hooper is an
active member of the Governing Board of Big
Brothers Big Sisters and was one of the key
players in establishing its new Teen Board.
He and
Joliet West's Key Club have sponsored the
Big Brothers Big Sisters Christmas party for
"their kids" for more than 15 years.
Hooper says,
"I never really look at it as a volunteer
thing — it's built into my daily schedule,
and it just becomes part of my everyday
life. I think if volunteers looked at it
this way, they wouldn't think it so
cumbersome to be a volunteer."
nd
he's very good.
Ecolab
Inc. of Joliet recently donated $1,750 to
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy
counties. 
In August 2004,
Lisa Morel Las became the third person to hold the position of executive director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Will and Grundy Counties. Previous executive directors included agency founder Daryl Alderson and Beth Hobby.
