Sunday, November 25, 2012
Jen Rubino, 17, a high school senior, has braved two dozen surgeries so far. After one, a kind act inspired her to start a charity that has mushroomed, gained celebrity endorsements and helped children in unimaginable pain.
- VOLUNTEERS IN THE NEWS
- Pam DeFiglio
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Sunday, November 25, 2012
As an 11-year-old with a chronic illness, Jen Rubino was having a dark day. She'd had her 13th surgery, and she was lying in a hospital bed, in pain. When she received a handmade greeting card saying "stay strong" from a volunteer she never met, she says it made a world of difference to know that others were pulling for her to make it--and it really did help her to stay strong. Now 17, Rubino, of Park Ridge, a senior at Maine South High School, has founded a charity to give other seriously ill kids that sense of hope and caring she says the card meant to her. Though Rubino struggles with chronic pain every day, she has managed, through Cards for Hospitalized Kids, to help 10,200 kids in hospitals in many states, helped by endorsements …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Grayslake restaurant owner was honored by the Jaycees for his community service and leadership, where he earned top honors among The Outstanding Young People in Illinois. Pruitt was also named as one of The Outstanding Young Americans, an award only g
Mike Pruitt, co-owner of The Vine Martini and Wine Bar in Grayslake, was nominated as one of The Outstanding Young People in Illinois. And on Saturday, May 12, he won top honors - the best of the best. "I am more than humbled," said Pruitt, 29, of Round Lake. This is the 47th year that the Illinois Jaycees have selected and honored outstanding young people from throughout the state. The prestigious TOYP Honors Program was held Saturday, May 12 at the Springfield Hilton. The young professionals selected by the Jaycees had achieved success in a number of fields, including financial success and economic innovation, philanthropic contribution or voluntary service, politics or government service, scientific or technical contributions or legal …
Monday, November 7, 2011
A Grayslake author shares her life story in a nationwide Reader’s Digest contest.
From Anger to Love As a child… I walked among a sea of the insane who created violence with drugs and alcohol. I protected my siblings as the oldest with the anger. I thought made me strong. I feared nothing... Colleen Ofsanik of Grayslake is described today by family and friends say she is soft, calm, peaceful, and a good listener. It is a far cry from her difficult childhood of abuse, alcohol and drugs where her life was anything but peaceful. Ofsanik is now sharing her story of transformation in the Reader’s Digest project “Your Life… The Reader’s Digest Version”. The contest calls for authors to submit their life story in 150 words. They will be voted on, with the Grand Prize winner receiving $25,000. Their story will be published in …
Joe LoVerde
7:45 pm on Thursday, November 22, 2012
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