Meet Arlington Heights' Hearts of Gold award winners

Winners of the recently announced 20th Arlington Heights Hearts of Gold awards include longtime volunteers, veterans and fundraisers who have made significant contributions to the community, organizers said.

The village's special events commission gives out the awards annually to those who live and work in Arlington Heights. Individuals and groups begin making nominations in September, and the chosen winners are honored at a banquet, scheduled this year for Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Rolling Green Country Club.

Here's a look at this year's honorees:

• Mentor Heart of Gold - Matthew Hahn. The deacon at St. James Parish and substitute teacher for Arlington Heights Elementary District 25 is a volunteer for a number of projects, collaborating with young adults, senior citizens and others who want to help. Hahn, a Marine Corps veteran, has been a mentor to young men as a troop leader and volunteer for the Boy Scouts of America.

• Best Neighbor Heart of Gold - Chris Guth. Serving for 13 years as Wheeling Township's assistant director of senior and disability services, Guth ran programs including Meals on Wheels, Friendly Visitors, Caring Caller and Make-a-Difference Fun Fair for children with disabilities. At St. Edna's Church, Guth took Thanksgiving baskets to families, taught classes and was secretary on the finance committee. She was also block captain for the Northgate Civic Association, collecting dues and attending to the needs of the area.

• Educator Heart of Gold - John Novak. The assistant principal for student activities at John Hersey High School oversees programs such as the school variety show, honors assemblies and the annual alumni basketball tournament, and fundraisers such as raising money for a classmate needing a liver transplant and the annual Thanksgiving food drive.

• Young at Heart Heart of Gold - Joan Drolet. The pianist has given lessons to 550 students in her home since 1959, and still plays at Sunday Mass at Our Lady of the Wayside Parish, where she also assists families with planning and playing music for funerals. Drolet also plays the piano in the lobby of Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington.

• Heroic Heart of Gold - Robert Extrom. The veteran became one of "The Chosin Few" as part of the 1st Marine Division to fight at the Battle of Chosin Reservoir during the Korean War. For putting himself in harm's way and keeping lines of communication open, Extrom received two combat awards and was later promoted to staff sergeant.

• Young Champion Heart of Gold - Elizabeth Ferrazza. She has helped raise more than $7,000 for a dozen no-kill animal shelters, including Mady's Way, Second City Canine Rescue and The Buddy Foundation - an effort that began at age 5 when she began to donate her birthday gift money to animal needs. By age 10, Ferrazza started making and selling jewelry at the Arlington Heights Doggie Block Party.

• Volunteer Heart of Gold - Mary McArthur. For a decade, the hospice caretaker has helped those in Arlington Heights and their families navigate the end of life journey. Her daily focus is to help patients realize that, though death is coming, there is wonder in the everyday. "Let's help you live until you don't" is an adage of hers.

• Community Spirit Heart of Gold - Billy Anderson. For the last 20 years, Anderson has been the "hardest working" volunteer member of the Rolling Meadows High School custodial team after he graduated there in 1999. Described as the "heart and soul of Rolling Meadows," he regularly attends basketball, football and baseball games to cheer on students and staff.

• Business Leadership Heart of Gold - Napleton's Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram. The car dealership has supported a number of community programs, including Frontier Days, Timothy's Ministry in feeding the homeless, Fill the Boot campaign for muscular dystrophy, food drives for St. Alphonsus, and raffles for Hersey High School and Toys for Tots.

• Kenneth M. Bonder Beautification Heart of Gold - Kathy Wolan. A member of the Arlington Heights Garden Club since 2002, Wolan has held leadership roles in the group and coordinated a number of gardening projects, including at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum. She started sharing her affinity for gardening with the community in 1996 by tending the gardens at Our Lady of the Wayside.

• Pam Stocking Heart of Gold - Deb Whisler. The recently retired director of communications and marketing at the Arlington Heights Memorial Library also took on leadership and volunteer roles for causes and organizations in the community, including the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary Club, United Way and Metropolis. She created and organized a holiday book drive at the library, and packed Thanksgiving baskets for those in need in Wheeling Township.