Barrington Resident honored with Jaycee Award

The Illinois Jaycees selected Mary Sandner as an honoree of its Outstanding Young Persons of Illinois awards program. The Outstanding Young Persons (TOYP) program annually recognizes young people throughout Illinois who excel in their chosen fields, endeavors and show a great commitment to their respective communities. Sandner, 31, is being recognized in the category of Humanitarian and/or voluntary leadership.

Sandner founded The Community Meal, a non-profit organization that organizes community meals which provide a welcoming place, nourishing food, a listening ear, and acceptance to all regardless of faith beliefs of economic means. In 2017, the organization hosted 27 community meals serving nearly 5,000 meals in four cities: Barrington, Cary, Palatine and Wauconda.

“The simple act of sharing a meal together gives hope to the elderly, lonely and hungry,” said Sandner. “We’ve strengthened friendships and inspired a community that is inclusive and loving towards one another.”

Sandner is a Human Resource Manager at Power Construction located in Chicago. She earned her Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and Organizational Leadership from Illinois State University.

The Illinois Jaycees will recognize honorees at an awards banquet on May 12, 2018 at the Wyndham Springfield-City Centre. The event is supported by friends and employers of the honorees, local Jaycee organizations, Illinois businesses and the Illinois Jaycees Charitable Foundation. Friends, local businesses and organizations can offer congratulations to the honoree and support the program by purchasing space in the banquet program. Additional Details can be found at www.iljaycees.org/toyp.

Leadership development through community involvement has been the basis of the Jaycees since its inception in 1920. The goal of the not-for-profit organization is to provide members a means to reach their full potential through networking and personal growth opportunities and is ideal for proactive young people, ages 18 to 40. Members enhance a variety of skills as they work together to plan and run civic and individual development activities in their home communities and chapters. Illinois is the largest Jaycee state in the United States. To locate a chapter nearest to you, email servicecenter@iljaycees.org.