1. Annette Gallagher
With two sons on the autism spectrum, Annette was moved to give all of her personal time and dedication to helping launch the Northern Illinois Center for Autism (NICA), which she now continues to serve as President and Executive Director. Beginning as a small parent support group, the organization is now a non-profit organization thanks to Annette’s endless hard work and passion to help children and their families with autism. For three years Annette volunteered her time and efforts 7 days a week, without any personal compensation other than the joy of helping empower families with resources to help their loved ones with autism. Few individuals understand the heartache and frustration that can come from watching a loved one suffer because of autism, and most families don’t know where to turn for help and education. Because autistic individuals can have a wide variety of specific needs, NICA was developed to be a resource providing a wide variety of services and information from dietary, vocational training resources, social therapy, tutor sessions and therapy consultations to name a few. The center is scheduled to open locally in January 2009 to serve individuals and families in our area.
2. Larry Zea
Larry worked 34 years on the railroad, and afterward, began working as a lay minister in response to a Church in need of one; and later he became the Minister of the Meadowdale First Baptist Church in Carpentersville. Throughout those years Larry served others in every way he could, selflessly inspiring others with hope, and providing help and support, even through the loss of his wife of 61 years. Although he retired in 1993, Larry remains more active than most people half his age, volunteering to serve others in multiple ways. First, he serves as the chaplain for Dundee Carpentersville American Legion Post 679, and makes regular nursing home visits. In the summer of 2005 he stopped into Parkview Elementary School to inquire about the school’s annual Veterans Day Program at Veteran’s Garden, and became one of the school’s Veterans Day Committee Members, making sure that it’s servicemen and women, are honored with a parade of students including drummers from Dundee Crown High School, and a Carpentersville police squad escort, with a Post 679 and 57 posting of the colors and rifle salute to America’s heroes. Larry inspired the kids to begin each adopt a branch of the service by grade, (Marine Corp, Army, Navy) and make momentos to honor these service men and women each year. Since 2005 Larry has also become one of Parkview Elementary School’s most cherished volunteers; volunteering his time each week to mentor the 4th and 6th grade classes in reading and math. The kids love having him, and consider him to be like a grandfather to them all. The principal of Parkview Elementary said of him: “His energy and enthusiasm for our students and staff is truly infectious. We consider Mr. Larry Zea to be a member of our Parkview family.”
Joe Cicero Weekdays 5a-10a
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