Arlington Heights names Kenneth Hood award winner

The Arlington Heights Senior Citizens Commission has named Maureen Seleski as the recipient of the 2016 Kenneth Hood Senior Service Award.

Seleski has volunteered for several causes to help senior citizens since the 1980s, including those of senior transportation, hospice and respite issues.

"Maureen has championed for the frail elderly, women's health and disadvantaged seniors," according to a news release.

Seleski has served as president of the Northwest Board of Directors for Escorted Transportation Service, a program that helps transport senior citizens to doctor's appointments and other necessities. She was also previously chairwoman of the village's senior citizens commission and led the group through a senior needs assessment that helped create a five-year plan for the commission, according to the release.

She later led the group through the national Maturing of America survey that created a group of recommendations for the village of Arlington Heights called Blueprint for Aging. She served on committees of the Northwest Suburban Transportation Consortium and she led the Human Care Council through the complex process of securing state funding to develop the Township Ridership Initiative Project, a transportation service for seniors for medical purposes that crosses township lines.

"Senior citizens are my passion," Seleski said.

She is an ordained Catholic lay minister and has held leadership positions at St. James Catholic Church in Arlington Heights. She spent five years as a foster mother for infants in need.

Seleski will be presented with the award at the Aug. 15 Arlington Heights village board meeting.