Mom’s work earns donation for Barrington mental health advocates

Safeco Insurance has donated $2,000 to the Barrington area chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illinois in honor of a Lake County woman’s work on behalf of children’s mental health.

Toni Hoy, of Ingleside, received the company’s Community Hero award for her efforts. Hoy is the mother of two sons who suffer mental illness attributed to pre-adoption trauma.

She writes a column for the Barrington chapter, and her first book, “Second Time Foster Child” will be released this fall. The Hoy family is also part of a documentary “Not Home,” that is expected to be released next year.

Hoy was one of 10 people chosen for the honor from more than 200 nominees.