Lisle's Character Counts group honors its pillars of society

The Lisle Community Character Counts Alliance today will bestow its Pillar Awards for the ninth time on this fall's crop of honorees.

Nominations of individuals, organizations and businesses are collected at Lisle Village Hall and Lisle Library throughout the year. Forms also are available on the village Web site, villageoflisle.org. Then twice a year the award committee reads nominations and selects those who best model one or more of Character Counts' six pillars - trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship.

The honors will be presented during the village board meeting at 7:30 p.m. at the village hall, 925 Burlington Ave. Home viewers may watch the live presentation on the Lisle government cable Channel 10.

These are the seven individuals who will receive Pillars tonight:

Matt Bucher

If you ask Matt Bucher, 13, why he is receiving the student Pillar Aaward for Respect he is not quite sure.

"I know Adam (Cattoni) as a good friend of mine," said the St. Joan of Arc eighth grader. "I like to hang out with him. I go over to his house and his brother Chris, Adam and I have fun together."

Matt's neighbor, Lisle resident Denise Cattoni, Adam's mother, nominated Matt because she feels that what Matt does for her son is exceptional and much appreciated.

"Matt took the time from the beginning to get to know Adam," wrote Denise Cattoni on her nomination form. "Matt explains to other kids who Adam is, and that he's just another kid who wants to play and who has special needs. Matt has spent time with Adam showing him how to play basketball, soccer and other games."

Adam, 16, has Down syndrome. By being his friend, Matt also knows that Adam plays guitar, enjoys watching movies, likes boating and challenges him playing basketball.

"Adam likes to shoot hoops a lot, and now he knows to run and get the rebound and bring it back," Bucher said.

Matt likes helping people. It is quality that will serve him well when he pursues his interest in becoming a doctor.

Steve Green and Scott Gumina

For a combined 35 years, Steve Green and Scott Gumina have been a core component in the music department in Lisle Unit District 202. The teachers set a standard of excellence within the classroom. In addition, both men spend significant time volunteering to bring students to community events, local nursing homes and free community summer concerts.

Every other year the men bring the marching band from Lisle High School to Disney World in Florida to perform. They also bring jazz music into Yerbabuena, a restaurant in downtown Lisle.

Together they spread the joy of live music to the community.

Steve Green and Scott Gumina will receive a Pillar Award for citizenship in the adult category.

Estella Huang

Estella Huang, 15, knew what to do when she found $90 lying on the street on her way to school. The Naperville North High School sophomore and Lisle resident remembers losing a fraction of that amount once and knew how much someone would miss that money.

"I couldn't believe I found a bundle of money," Estella said. "It must have accidentally dropped from someone's pocket."

From the experience, Estella learned that the best way to return money to its owner is to bring the item to the Lisle Police Station, which has checks and balances in place to make sure the rightful owner correctly identifies the lost item.

Lisle Police Chief Michael Damico nominated Estella because the department is proud of citizens like her who make Lisle a great place to live. The Pillar committee is proud to award her the Pillar of Responsibility in the student category.

Anita Sinha

Lisle resident Anita Sinha will receive the Pillar for Trustworthiness in the adult category. She is the kind of neighbor everyone would like on his or her block.

"We have such a nice neighborhood and have so many kids here," said the mother of three. "Lots of kids come to my driveway to play hoops and all are around my son's age."

A basketball hoop and swing set at the Sinha home are among the child magnets. She cares enough to make sure everyone is safe.

"I should not take all the credit," Sinha said. "The kids are all so nice and friendly; they come and play and we talk. All summer everyone is together and that makes it nice."

Sinha knows her son benefits from the friendliness and closeness the friends share when they play together.

Beth and Erin Weizeorick

The Weizeorick sisters - Beth, 9, and Erin, 12 - attend St. Joan of Arc School in Lisle. At school a Spanish teacher shared her story about how she donated her long hair to Locks of Love, a non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under the age of 18 who suffer from hair loss from illness.

"My hair is a reddish-brown color and was about 12 inches in length," Erin said.

The girls estimate it took them three to four years to grow their hair to the correct length to donate. Both girls had their hair cut to begin the new school year.

"People were surprised we had shorter hair because we always have it long," Erin said. "I like the shorter version of my hair a little better."

"The hardest part of wearing long hair was brushing it," Beth said. "But I like my hair longer so I can wear it in a ponytail."

The experience went so well that both girls grew their hair long a second time to donate to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths program, which provides free wigs for women with cancer. Find details at locksoflove.org and beautifullengths.com.

"My friend is now thinking of doing it, too," Erin said.

Beth and Erin will receive the Pillar award for Caring for their generosity.

The next deadline for Pillar nominations is April 5. Consider nominating a business, organization or individual who lives, works, volunteers or attends school within Lisle. It is a nice way to spread good news.

• Joan Broz writes about Lisle on Mondays. E-mail her at jgbroz@yahoo.com.