LSSI Honors Arlington Heights Residents Eric and Jodie Draut

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois (LSSI) honored Arlington Heights residents Eric and Jodie Draut with its True Friend Award on October 12.

The award, which honors "significant contributions to the human community," was presented before 250 attendees at LSSI's 38th Annual Amicus Certus gala, which benefitted the organization's programs. Julie Luck Jensen of Des Plaines chaired the Amicus Certus Event Committee. The gala raised $407,000.

"Eric and Jodi have a heart for service," said LSSI President and CEO Mark Stutrud, "I can't think of two people more deserving than Eric and Jodie Draut in recognition of the work, contributions, and support that they've given LSSI."

Eric Draut has served on the LSSI Board of Directors since 2006, including Board chairman from 2008 to 2010, 2012-2013, and 2014-2017; Executive Chairman 2013-2014; and Emeritus Chairman 2017-2018. Eric was nominated by the LSSI staff and received the President of the United States' Council on Service and Civic Participation Call to Service Award in 2014.

Jodie Draut, an attorney, is a member of Our Saviour's POWER (Policy beyond Our Walls: Education and Response) Ministry whose members participated in Lutheran Day. She is a past member of the Statewide Advisory Council of Lutheran Advocacy-Illinois.

Elizabeth Vargas, award-winning journalist and author of Between Breaths: A Memoir of Panic and Addiction, gave the keynote address. "The work that [LSSI] does is absolutely extraordinary and is clearly changing lives," Vargas said. "Part of the reason I didn't seek help sooner is because I thought I was alone. By telling my story, other people out there who are secretly suffering might know that they're not alone either."

Serving Illinois since 1867, LSSI is a nonprofit social service organization of the three Illinois synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. LSSI is one of the largest statewide social service providers in Illinois. The organization offers critical programs for Illinois residents, including foster care, mental health services, alcohol and drug treatment, affordable senior housing, home care, residential programs for people with developmental disabilities, and programs that help formerly incarcerated individuals integrate back into society.