Elk Grove to recognize citizens of character

Some of Elk Grove Village’s finest citizens will be recognized Friday night for their “exceptional character” displayed in a variety of service and charitable efforts.

The fifth annual Celebration of Character, sponsored by the Community Character Coalition of Elk Grove, is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Elk Grove Pavilion, 1000 Wellington Avenue. The event is free and open to the public.

The coalition, which started in 2003, recognizes those who demonstrate one of six pillars: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness and citizenship.

“Part of the goal of the Character Coalition is to recognize people of good character,” said Betsy Boswell, who sits on the coalition’s executive board. “We try to do it every month at our meetings. Now we want to do that in the public.”

Those who will be recognized include:

Ÿ Georgette and Roy Frank, who started the Heart of a Marine Foundation in Elk Grove Village.

Ÿ Nancy Clarbour, who recently retired after more than 20 years at the helm of the Elk Grove Village Food Pantry.

Ÿ Ann DeBartolo and Rob McCraken of the PADS program.

Ÿ Students in the Margaret Mead Junior High School Interact and Rotary Prep clubs, who organize a food pantry at the school.

Ÿ Barbara Belski and Donna McGuire, who volunteer at A Caring Place respite program.

Ÿ Boy Scout Troop 495, for its support of the Elk Grove Memorial Day observance.

Ÿ Village Trustee Chris Prochno, who started the village’s Memorial Day observance.

Ÿ Former Elk Grove Township Supervisor Nanci Vanderweel, who retired last spring after more than four decades in politics.

Ÿ Gino Piscopo, a local student who has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research since he began shaving his head for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation.

For more information, visit ccceg.org.