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Hoffman Estates honors disabled citizen

At a village board meeting this past Monday, Eric Brandt, 32, was surprised with the Barb Basl Award by the Hoffman Estates Commission for Disabled Citizens.

Commission Chairwoman Michelle Pilafas said the award is given to one disabled citizen each year who “had a special something that added to the community.”

The award — named after Barb Basl, who Pilafas described as a “champion for the disabled” — was first awarded in 2009. In conjunction with the award, the village also declared June 22 as Eric Brandt Day.

Brandt, who has cerebral palsy, is a DJ who this year performed at the village’s St. Patrick’s Day event and various other gatherings in the suburbs. Pilafas called Brandt’s efforts “far reaching.”

“It was a no-brainer,” Pilafas said of choosing Brandt for the award. “He was just an amazing guy.”

Besides being a DJ, Brandt enjoys singing and voice recording. In the past he had the honor of performing at Carnegie Hall and singing the national anthem at U.S. Cellular Field.

“Eric Brandt is an inspiration for all of us,” Mayor William McLeod said.

Brandt’s other interests include theater and sport, and Pilafas said he has served as a spokesman for the United Cerebral Palsy Association.

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