Early one morning Bill, a retired fireman, noticed flames coming out of a nearby neighbor’s house. He called 911 and ran to the house, to wake up the family inside. His neighbors escaped the flames along with their two cats and the family dog, while Bill organized the neighbors to use garden hoses in an attempt to fight the flames. Firefighters arrived and got the fire under control. Rutland Dundee Fire Protection District Chief praised Ahlman for doing the right thing to save two lives that day, but Bill said he did “what anyone would do”. Bill then opened his own home to his neighbors until the insurance company provided them housing. September:
Kellie Kinsella of Palatine
As a senior at Fremd High School, Kellie Kinsella founded and directed the Youth Hunger Opposition in Palatine (YHOP) in the fall of 2007. YHOP is comprised of students from Fremd and Palatine High Schools, and area church youth groups working together to fund the Palatine Township Food Pantry. YHOP has raised over $110,000 in under six months, and the Township will use the YHOP Fund to continue to fund the Food Pantry to help families. Over 220 families are served every month, and Kellie has established YHOP to live on to continue to meet the challenge in the future. Visit www.YHOP.com to learn about future YHOP events and activities!
August:
Dexter Ball of Carpentersville
Pastor Dexter Ball serves the Carpentersville community every day, all day long. He and his wife Shaunna are selfless in their concern and care for others, personally answering calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, whatever the need. From dawn into evening Dexter does whatever he can to lighten the burden of those suffering or in need; from helping children with their school work, to visiting hospitals to encourage the sick and pray for them, or delivering diapers and formula to young mothers in challenged circumstances, to bringing clothing and groceries to families and individuals in need. The list is endless, and yet Pastor Ball is humble, never asking anything in return because he does all this for the sheer joy of helping others and showing them the love of God. He is truly tireless; he is always there for people although his work seems endless, and he was nominated because those who know him believe there is no one more deserving to be recognized as a real life Unsung Hero!
July:
Judee Rasmussen of Wonder Lake
Judee began organizing gatherings, raffles and motorcycle rides to raise money to help others in serious need after a friend who committed suicide left two children ages 12 and 15 who needed her help. Judee began her first campaign to raise money for a children's college fund for the surviving children. Her husband John helped her begin a website to post charity runs as one way to raise funds for these children in need. One of her ongoing projects is to continually raise funds for a little 5 year old girl with a rare heart disease who exhausted her health insurance for life at age 3. The child's medical costs are a $1,000 or more per month and she will eventually need a new heart. Judee took action to help this little girl and her family, starting a raffle promotion with a local bar/eatery to raise funds by raffling baskets of meat, such as roasts, steaks, hamburger, etc. donated or obtained at a discount by a supplier (which raised several thousand dollars), and Judee also organizes motorcycle runs. She has the true heart of a hero!
June:
Marilyn (Lynn) Kellum Doyle of Lansing
Marilyn’s life was changed when she first visited Africa in 2004, when she saw people walking for miles with no shoes, and sick people who could be tremendously helped by simple over-the-counter medicines available freely here in America! Every month, Marilyn collects and ships donations of new or used shoes, over-the-counter medicines & other items for the needy in Africa, with her "Shoes for Africa project". These much needed items are then distributed to Orphanages, Leprous Homes and remote villages in
Africa! To learn more or to see photos of people in Africa receiving the donated items visit www.shoesforafrica.net
May:
Kevin Vaughn
Kevin volunteers, working with at-risk teenagers, and teaching them SCUBA diving skills woven into a program built around academics and including invaluable life skills such as public speaking, physical fitness/stamina, team work, leadership, mature decision making, healthy living, and environmental awareness. The students earn their dive certification and a host of other new skills to help them at school and to live better, more successful lives. The culminating dive adventure is a trip to Grand Turk in the Caribbean for their "open water" certification if the funding can be secured by the non-profit organization, STARS International, which Kevin created and now directs. The program has resulted in students' improved grades, family relationships No more drug or tobacco use, physical fitness, and self confidence. April:
Nancy Barlaug
Nancy Barlaug is a foster mom who wants to reach out and make a difference in the lives of as many children in need that she can. The love in Nancy's heart finds space for children in need even when bedrooms are outnumbered by the children she'd like to provide a loving home to. After having been a foster child herself briefly when her mother was recuperating from surgery, Nancy wanted not only to provide a house for children removed from their own families because of neglect, abandonment or abuse, but this foster mother also wants to provide a home and a sense of what love really is, for teenagers who are often bounced around in foster care from home to home. Nancy knows how important it is for these kids to hear the words "I love you". Nancy had always wanted a big enough family so there would be a big group together for Sunday dinner, and to feel like they have a close family. She feels that once the kids have experienced love, stability, and accountability, then they will be better equipped to start life later on their own. The job isn't easy...these kids have "emotional baggage" causing them to challenge even a loving "mom" like Nancy, but Nancy has learned that even then they are often crying out for love and stability she provides them with all her big heart. Nancy runs "Little Rascals Daycare" from her home so that she can be there for the children during the day, as well as "Nancy's Cleaning Service", along with taking care of her 71-year old mother. She volunteers, too, cleaning Aurora and North Aurora's 32 bus shelters for no fee. Nancy wants to adopt several of her children, and dreams of someday having a bigger house to be able to take in even more children!
March:
Susie Gindo
Susie chairs an employee sponsored event known as "Operation North Pole", in which the employees of United Airlines raise money for families with seriously and terminally ill children, taking them on a fantasy flight to the North Pole! There they are greeted by Santa, Mrs. Claus, & Snowmen, treated to a Holiday Dinner, and receive food gift cards and everything on the children's wish lists! Susie works all year organizing and coordinating the event along with her fellow United Airlines Employees!
February:
Ann Crawford
Ann founded "The Center for Independent Future Schaumburg", a charity that raises funds to provide housing for disabled adults. Ann researched grants, chaired meetings and organized fundraisers that raised thousands of dollars for housing needs of the adult disabled. The first home was successfully established in Palatine and houses several young disabled adults. Ann has done all this while caring for her dying mother and her own disabled child.
January:
Ray Piagentini
Ray is a counselor at Barrington High School. He organizes fundraising activities for "The Brothers Keepers"; a group of students that take trips to Native American Indian communities in South Dakota that have been economically devastated. There, the students experience Native American Indian culture, Spirituality and traditions and learn community service by bringing food, clothing, and medical supplies to these Native Americans in need. Ray also volunteers to help the homeless in Chicago; working in food pantries, shelters and on behalf of the Good Samaritan Act that benefits homeless women and children.
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