Bridge honors two with Sonya Petersen Awards
The Bridge Youth & Family Services hosted its annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner June 25.
Up to 300 volunteers give of their time and talent to help The Bridge fulfill its mission in any given year. Annually, two adults are chosen by a consortium of agencies serving youth in Palatine and Barrington townships to receive the Sonya Petersen Award for their efforts working on behalf of needy or troubled children.
The memory of Sonya Petersen, a former volunteer, is kept alive by choosing recipients who, like Petersen, work to promote and advocate for the children of our community.
The two recipients for 2012 are Sue Quinlan, counselor at Palatine High School, and Dani Rogers, a volunteer in The Bridge Youth Mentoring Program.
Volunteers participate on various levels for The Bridge such as sitting on different committees supporting fundraising efforts, being on the board of directors or a standing board committee, being a youth mentor, or being involved in a corporate group helping with events.
The Bridge Youth & Family Services has been serving the Northwest suburbs since 1965 with Child and Family Counseling, Crisis Intervention, Early Childhood Counseling, Mentoring Programs and Youth Leadership Development.
Some or all these services are offered to six area townships, including Palatine, Barrington, Maine, Hanover, Schaumburg and Elk Grove.
“The Sonya Petersen Award represents the spirit of volunteerism and professional service to troubled and needy children and adolescents,” says Nancy Kukankos, volunteer and prevention supervisor.
“It honors those who make outstanding contributions and commitments to children, helping them lead happier, more successful lives.”
A 12-year-old, the mentee match of Dani Rogers, said, “I don’t know what I would do without her. She helps me with my art and my dreams. She is every word that means peaceful, nice and kind.”
To learn more about the Youth Advocacy Program and other volunteer opportunities at The Bridge, contact Nancy Kukankos at (847) 385-3083, or nkukankos@bridgeyouth.org, or visit www.bridgeyouth.org.
Upcoming Bridge events:
Ÿ The Peter D. Cunneen Memorial Golf Classic: Aug. 20 at Inverness Golf Club.
Ÿ Bridge the Gap Walk/Run: Oct. 6.
Ÿ “Hog for a Cause” Motorcycle Raffle Drawing: Oct. 6, with raffle sales throughout the summer.
Register for the golf outing and purchase raffle tickets online at www.bridgeyouth.org.