Arlington Heights Hearts of Gold winners announced

The 2009 Arlington Heights Hearts of Gold winners will be honored at an awards dinner on Feb. 7 at the Sheraton Chicago Northwest in Arlington Heights. Tickets are $45. Here's the list of those being honored:

• Kathie Hahn, mentor award. Despite her own diagnosis, Hahn is a breast cancer mentor and works with the Northwest Community Hospital's breast cancer foundation and marketing department and is on the center's advisory board. • Steve Patzke, beautification award. Patzke, a St. Viator junior, recently received the Eagle Scout award for building a garden area on the grounds of St. James Catholic Church.

• Dee and George Bigham, best neighbor award. When neighbors of the Bighams were having difficulties, they organized a team to help maintain their neighbor's yard.

• Nancy Abruscato, Christie Brennan and Melba Gustafson, educators award. The team helped an Arlington Heights student who suffers from a rare neurological disorder by showing compassion and commitment. Today the student is back on track academically and socially.

• Betsy Ward, young at heart award. Since moving to Arlington Heights in 1951, Ward has volunteered for the PTA, Red Cross, Arlington Heights Nurses' Club and more.

• Erin Kaiser, young champion award. Kaiser is a Hersey High School junior who is involved in the Make-A-Wish foundation and organizes monthly visits to the hospital. She's also active in the Hersey Service Over Self group and volunteers with the Special Olympics.

• Parameswari Gopalan, heroic award. Gopalan, a nurse at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital helped Chandrasekar Velayudam, of Green Bay, Wis., locate his injured two-year-old daughter who was flown to Lutheran General after his family was involved in a serious car accident in Aurora. Gopalan also offered her home to Velayudam's family to recuperate and continue their medical treatments.

• Jerry Klopp, volunteer award. For the past 28 years, Klopp has committed his time to run the Saint Viator's scoreboard clock, managed the Viator's girls' basketball feeder programs for two years, coached and served on the St. James Athletic Board, and more.

• Jim Bertucci, city of good neighbors award. Bertucci helped start and now leads the Arlington Heights Dollars for Scholars program and is active in Arlington Heights Crime Stoppers, Chamber of Commerce, Arlington Heights Historical Society and the Noon Rotary Club.

• Derek Hanley, business leader of the year award, owner of Peggy Kinnane's Irish Restaurant & Pub. Hanley helped raise $25,000 for the Ed Dillon Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of the Arlington Heights police officer.

• Sue Burlini, Pam Stocking heart of gold winner. Burlini is the former director of senior and disability services for Wheeling Township. Besides the dedication to her professional role, Burlini is a strong advocate for those with disabilities.