Libertyville Rotary honors Doreen Lagoni
Doreen Lagoni was recently presented with the Service Above Self Award by the Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Club.
This award was established by the club in 1997 to recognize non-Rotarians who exemplify the Rotary motto of “Service Above Self.”
“This award is a great way in which our club recognizes unsung heroes within our community,” noted Bill Rickert, chairman of the award committee.
Lagoni was selected for this award for her tireless efforts with Bear Magic in Lake County and the Lake County Council of Seniors. She founded Bear Magic in Lake County in 1999 as a not-for-profit charity chartered by Good Bears of the World in Toledo, Ohio.
The organization was conceived and founded by James T. Ownby in 1969 after reading Peter Bull’s book, “Bear With Me.” The book tells of a man who dedicated himself to giving bears to hospitalized children. The organization, chartered in Bern, Switzerland, in 1973, was founded with this same ideal — to ease loneliness and inspire love and compassion through an ageless symbol of love — the teddy bear.
Lagoni is dedicated to providing love and comfort to traumatized children and forgotten elderly by sharing and gifting teddy bears to hospitals, police departments, fire stations and senior housing facilities such as Winchester House. The Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Club has supported Bear Magic in Lake County for many years.
In addition to her outstanding efforts with Bear Magic, Lagoni is chairman of the Lake County Council for Seniors.
She has been with LCCS for 11 years and is the “rock” of the organization. Lagoni is on the annual LCCS Senior Expo Committee, Senior Recognition Luncheon Committee, she is an adviser for the Seniors United newsletter, and also helps with client services at the LCCS office.
She’s also a longtime blood donor at Life Source in Gurnee and, in October 2009, at age 80, was recognized with a celebration on the occasion of her 100th blood donation — bringing her total donation to 12.5 gallons.
“She will never know whose lives she’ll save. I’m looking at what I call an anonymous hero,” said Life Source Spokeswoman Tammy Basile.
According to Rotary, Lagoni exemplifies the criteria for the Service Above Self Award. It states: “Nominee saw a need and, without hesitation and without being instructed to do so, took on the tasks to meet that need.”
The Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Club is a local chapter of Rotary International. Founded in 1905 by Paul Harris in Chicago, it is an international humanitarian service organization.
Visit www.libertyvillesunriserotaryclub.org.