Center honors top volunteers, groups

The Palatine Emergency Management Agency has been named the Volunteer Program of the Year, one of several awards presented by the Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago.

Headed by Coordinator Tom Smith, Palatine's community response program now has more than 190 volunteers from all walks of life, trained to assist the village's first responders in a natural or man-made disaster.

"Our volunteers are the ones that make our organization run," Smith said. "We have tremendous leadership on all of our (response) teams."

Palatine's volunteers were among the Volunteer Center's 2010 Impact Award recipients, honored during an afternoon reception Monday at the Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights.

"One of the things we've been focusing on is the gap between our shrinking resources, and the growing needs of our communities," said Christine Smith, Volunteer Center president.

"With very little time and resources, we have to make sure everything we do counts, and our efforts make an impact.

"Our volunteers we honor today," she added, "have demonstrated that."

Individual awards went to Fremd High School senior Lisa Koenig of Hoffman Estates. She was named the Emerging Leader of the year for her work heading the Bridge Youth & Family Services youth board, and starting the Tie Your Shoes Foundation, which donates shoes, toys and clothes to an orphanage in Thailand.

"I'm sure none of us in this room started volunteering for the recognition," Koenig said, "but what a great time to celebrate with one another."

Ann Marie Nordby of Arlington Heights was named the Community Champion for her work in developing fashion shows for Women in Need Growing Stronger (WINGS), using clothes and dresses donated to their resale shop.

Over the last three years, they've raised more than $50,000 for the agency, which reaches out to domestic abuse victims and their children.

Christine Stepelton of Aurora was recognized for her volunteer efforts with patients at Passages Hospice.

Charlene Sligting, the executive director of development for Passages, said Stepelton's award was a personal triumph as well as an organizational one.

"The award is fabulous, but it goes so much deeper than that," said Sligting, noting that Stepelton had to overcome a great deal of personal anxiety to be able to work one on one with hospice patients.

Employees from LeasePlan in Rolling Meadows were recognized for their ongoing efforts in supporting Shelter Inc. in Arlington Heights.

Likewise, employees at Zurich North America in Schaumburg were named Community Partner of the year for their ongoing efforts in supporting causes ranging from the American Cancer Society to Northwest Special Recreation.

"The company's dedication to service, has led to a culture of giving," said Mary Fitzgibbons, Volunteer Center executive director.