Jaycees recognizing Naperville man for 'always doing more'
Some people learn volunteering is important from an early age.
They're required to give of their time for their bar mitzvah or a Scouting award or even for a class at school. They complete their required hours and they do some good along the way.
But Chad Pedigo of Naperville learned something slightly different.
As a child in Springfield, his mom got him involved helping meet people's basic needs for food and shelter when he was 6 years old.
"I learned helping people is important," Pedigo said, "and volunteering is one of the best ways to do it."
On Saturday, Pedigo is being recognized for his volunteer humanitarian efforts by the Illinois Jaycees, who are naming him one of eight Outstanding Young Persons of the Year.
Pedigo, 32, is receiving the award for efforts to make a difference against poverty, be it in Springfield as a child, in New Orleans as a recent college graduate or in Naperville and DuPage County as a young professional.
"What stands out is his consistent involvement of always doing more," said Joanne Rinaldo, co-chairwoman of the 50th annual Outstanding Young Persons awards being presented, coincidentally, in Pedigo's hometown.
The statewide junior chamber organization can recognize up to 10 deserving people between ages 18 and 40 in several categories, and recipients don't have to be Jaycees. But Pedigo's work with Naperville Jaycees, including serving as coordinator of the 2014 Last Fling, certainly doesn't hurt, Rinaldo said.
Pedigo got his first taste of volunteer leadership in high school as president of the Key Club, which is a younger arm of the Kiwanis service clubs dedicated to serving children. He ran a food drive that helped educate students about poverty and hunger and he volunteered with before- and after-school programs.
The experience taught him "what it's like to come together with like-minded people who want to help a good cause," Pedigo said.
So what is it like?
"It's awesome and it's incredibly humbling," he said.
Pedigo continued volunteering with refugees and homeless families when he came to North Central College, eventually receiving a bachelor's degree and a master's in leadership studies and social entrepreneurship.
Pedigo then joined his father in 2008 and 2009 in St. Bernard Parish just south of New Orleans to help with demolition and reconstruction of abandoned homes after natural disasters.
But he soon came back to Illinois and made North Central his workplace when he joined the staff of Fine Arts Director Brian Lynch. For five years, Pedigo helped elderly theater ticketholders get to their seats and defused angry callers who couldn't stay mad long when met with his slight southern drawl and honest compassion, Lynch said.
"People are charmed by him. But the thing about Chad is it's genuine, it's absolutely sincere," Lynch said. "The man has the biggest heart and the biggest soul of anyone I've ever met."
While working at North Central, Pedigo began volunteering with organizations such as the Naperville Jaycees, Naperville CARES, Rebuilding Together Aurora, the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce's young professionals network, Loaves & Fishes Community Pantry, Bridge Communities and Naperville Community Television.
"He's always trying to help the underdog," Lynch said. "If he could do all of this volunteer work and be anonymous, he would be."
Pedigo now works for one organization he connected with as a volunteer, Bridge Communities in Glen Ellyn, which provides transitional housing to homeless families in DuPage County. Colleagues there are thrilled to hear he's being recognized for his tireless efforts to help others.
"He is a very kindhearted and he is generous with his time," said Amy Van Polen, Bridge Communities' resource development director and Pedigo's supervisor. "He wants to volunteer and do everything he can to improve the community in which he lives."
Outstanding Young Persons
Naperville's Chad Pedigo isn't the only suburban resident being recognized as one of eight Outstanding Young Persons of the Year by the Illinois Jaycees.
Palatine resident Collin Corbett also is being honored for his work in political, legal and/or governmental affairs. He started <a href="http://corstrategies.com/">Cor Strategies</a>, a political advisory firm that has consulted for more than 250 campaigns and assisted private and civic organizations with governmental affairs.
Corbett also formed the nonprofit <a href="http://nxtgenillinois.com/">NxtGen Illinois</a> to help find and train young candidates to run for political office to get more people engaged in public service.