Local First-Responders Honored at Annual Gala

On Saturday, March 11, representatives from several local police and fire departments gathered at the Oak Brook Hilton Resort for Helping Hand Center’s 18th Annual Gala to be honored by the organization with a Community Partner Award.

Helping Hand Center presents the Community Partner Award annually to a business or organization that demonstrates exceptional and ongoing commitment to the many service areas of the organization. Representatives from Brookfield Police and Fire Departments, Countryside Police Department, Hodgkins Police Department, LaGrange Police and Fire Departments, LaGrange Park Police and Fire Departments, Lyons Police and Fire Departments, Pleasantview Fire Protection District, and the Tri-State Fire Protection District were present at the event to accept the award.

“The police and fire departments that serve our community are nothing short of stellar,” said Helping Hand Center Chief Program Officer, Amy Moran. “They are patient; they are willing to come out and learn so that they can better serve us.” Helping Hand Center operates two programming sites and thirteen residential homes to provided assistance to children and adults with disabilities in the western suburbs of Chicago, all of which are protected by the Community Partner Award recipients. “They’re not annoyed to find out it’s just another slice of burnt toast,” Moran said. “And we’ve had medical emergencies and they respond the same way regardless. That’s reassuring.”

“It’s been a turbulent few years for law enforcement,” said Master Sergeant Paul Klimek of the Countryside Police Department. “But we definitely feel the community support and it does mean a lot to us.” Other award recipients for the evening included Staff Excellence Award winner Michelle Cozza of Oak Lawn, and Achievement Award winner Lisa Guidice of Countryside. The awards were presented by Helping Hand Center Policy Board President, Daniel Linklater of Indian Head Park, who took a few moments before the ceremony to talk about his family’s decision to adopt two sons with disabilities.

Dawn Winters, Interim-Executive Director for Helping Hand Center, began the evening’s program by praising the community for their ongoing support of the agency and its mission. “Our theme for the past year has been ‘come together’,” Winters said. “It’s a mantra that we’ve used to remind us that none of what we do is possible alone.

The Annual Gala is the largest fundraiser for Helping Hand Center, and features live and silent auctions, an invest in the mission, a grand raffle, dinner, cocktails, a live band, and dancing. Over 400 guests were in attendance. The event net over $170,000 to support the agency’s mission of providing independence to people with disabilities.

For additional information about Helping Hand Center, visit hhcenter.org