Red Cross to honor 13 for heroism
Four northern Cook County residents, including a 9-year-old with cancer and a firefighter from the Arlington Heights Fire Department, are among 13 people who will be honored for acts of heroism at the annual American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast event April 30.
This year's honorees pulled survivors from a fiery highway car crash, matched blood donors with patients who have rare blood types, fought to change military medical laws, rescued a woman who nearly drowned in a drain pipe, battle human trafficking and bring holiday cheer to children in Chicago Public Schools.
All honorees will be recognized at the American Red Cross Heroes Breakfast at the Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Drive. To purchase tickets or for more information, contact (312) 729-6271 or visit redcross.org/chicago/heroes.
The four 2014 Heroes Breakfast honorees from northern Cook County are:
• Kenneth Hechtman of Buffalo Grove is the Adult Good Samaritan Hero. Hechtman saved a mother and daughter from an explosive car wreck on a busy highway. Complete strangers before the night of the accident, the families remained connected and Hechtman has since raised $15,000 to help the mother and daughter with their medical and living expenses.
• Rosie Colucci of Palatine is the Youth Good Samaritan Hero. Rosie, now 9, was diagnosed with brain cancer at 3. She's had 13 surgeries and more than 140 rounds of chemotherapy, but from her winning smile, upbeat attitude and desire to help others, most can't tell she's been ill for most of her young life. Rosie's Toy Box was created by the 9-year-old to bring joy and hope to children one toy at a time. In the past six years, Rosie has become a philanthropist, raising more than $325,000 toward research for pediatric illnesses.
• Beth Conlon of Glenview will be honored as the Community Impact Hero. Conlon founded a "Secret Santa" program for Chicago Public Schools elementary students because she believed every child should experience the joy of unwrapping a present during the holidays. Conlon turns her home into a Santa's workshop five months of the year, with clothes and toys taking over the rooms and the hallways. In 13 years, Conlon has made it possible to bring gifts and smiles to more than 2,000 children.
• Deputy Fire Chief Kenneth Koeppen of the Arlington Heights Fire Department will be honored as the Emergency Medical Assistance Hero. A 34-year veteran of the fire department, Koeppen was off duty when he saw a commotion outside a nearby home. A gunman was holding a person hostage inside and a police officer was shot responding. Koeppen applied pressure to the officer's wounds and stabilized him until paramedics arrived.
Honorees were selected from more than 170 nominations in 12 categories throughout the greater Chicago region by a committee of Red Cross board members and leaders in the business and civic community.
Additional recipients are:
• David B. Speer of ITW, who will be honored posthumously for his philanthropic work.
• Dr. A. Kyle Mack of the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, who will be honored for his work with sickle cell disease.
• Kristen Hendricks of Elburn, who will be honored for the Kwagala Project that helps hundreds of girls start a new life in Chicago.
• Nancy Brooks Edison of Chicago, a registered nurse, who has devoted 50 years as a volunteer for the American Red Cross.
• Firefighter Dan Schiradelly of the Oswego Fire Protection District, who jumped into frigid waters and saved a woman who was caught in a drain pipe.
• Police sergeants James Cascone and Dawn Love of Chicago. Cascone was stabbed a Love treated his wounds.
• Alderman James Balcer of Chicago for his advocacy for service members, veterans and their families.
• Stephanie Krienitz of Plainfield, a registered nurse, for her work in the Philippines.