American Red Cross Honors Frankfort Man As 2023 Hero

FRANKFORT, IL —The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago is honoring Keith Wallace of Frankfort as this year’s Community Impact Hero at the organization’s 21st Annual Heroes Breakfast, according to a news release from the organization.

The event will be held May 11 at the Hilton Chicago.

Wallace is the Executive Director of the Lincolnway Special Recreation Association. LWSRA’s mission is to provide recreation and leisure services for individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities, while also promoting greater disability awareness in the community, according to the release.

Wallace has led and coached adaptive sports for more than 20 years and works to get individuals with disabilities into college and the workforce, a release states. Wallace has also grown the Lincoln-Way wheelchair basketball program from one to five teams, all of which compete in the North American Wheelchair Basketball League he founded and the National Wheelchair Basketball Association. In 2022, LWRSA served 400 people.

Wallace has also grown wheelchair softball opportunities, including bringing the Wheelchair Softball World Series to the Chicago area in 2022.

“It’s a privilege for the American Red Cross to honor heroes like Keith who dedicate their time and talent to inspiring individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities to find their inner hero,” Celena Roldán Sarillo, chief executive officer of the American Red Cross of Illinois, said in a release. “Keith is impacting lives, and we are proud to honor him at this year’s Heroes Breakfast.”

An independent committee of leaders in the business and civic community selected honorees in 12 community service categories, according to a news release.