2021 Volunteer Center Super Heroes to be Honored

They Saved the Day! The Volunteer Center of N.E. Metro Chicago (VC) is gearing up to recognize its outstanding volunteers – dubbed “Super Heroes” for their heroic acts in this daunting year where saving the day was critical to so many people in crisis. The event this year is VIRTUAL and will be held on March 11th from 7-8pm. The Community is invited to help us support the Super Heroes and the VC by attending, donating, or purchasing Raffle Tickets that include an exclusive Staycation in Chicago, a huge Save Our Local Restaurants Package, and more! Registration and info: VolunteerCenterVirtual.com

Each year the VC recognizes exceptional volunteers who help people in need. Nominated and selected by board members of this 61 years nonprofit, this annual Recognition Event highlights exceptionally selfless individuals and groups who make life easier and mobilize others to join their efforts. It is intended to inspire the community to step forward and make a difference, in small and large ways.

The honorees this year are as inspiring as this program has ever presented:

Dr. Jeremy Warner of Winnetka, President of the Warner Institute (Facial and Plastic Surgery and Reconstruction) and Director of Face The Future Foundation, will be recognized for his life saving work at the Foundation, which he leads with a team of other surgeons to provide complementary direct reconstructive surgery to patients in Kathmandu, Nepal. They also help train their Nepalese colleagues in techniques that will help them achieve success with their patients.

Mary Robinson of Northbrook and Tom Nguyen, Chicago, are being honored for their incredible support for front line workers in hospitals, medical facilities and nonprofits. The Volunteer Center coordinated with Mary Robinson who brought forward the need for PPE equipment to these personnel beginning in the early stages of the Pandemic last March. The VC put out an emergency request to the North Shore and myriads of people answered the call, including service groups like the Winnetka-Northfield Rotary, schools, scout troops, Facebook mask groups, family volunteers like the Tichys in Glencoe, and Tom Nguyen in Chicago, who is also being recognized at the March 11th event for his massive contribution of thousands – nearly 12,000 to not only this program but others, which included hand-made masks, caps and other surgical coverings. He engaged his friends and family and with help from others secured supplies that were distributed. Super heroes indeed.

Annice Moses from Glencoe, has been involved with the Imagine Englewood If... nonprofit for years and answered the call for help last summer following the racial strife and the unfortunate riots and looting in the Englewood community. The Englewood neighbors were in serious need of support of food, supplies for clean-up and basic necessities. She mobilized the community and received goods from over 100 families on the North Shore which provided support to 883 families in need.

BINARYHEART – New Trier High School Club. BinaryHeart is a student-led club at New Trier High School. BinaryHeart’s objective and operations center around collecting donations of broken or used electronic devices, repairing and refurbishing them as donations to help our less-resourced peers. Their hope is to empower learners with access to technology and make education a reality for more students in our nearby communities - to bridge the digital divide for all. Ultimately, they aim to have a positive impact on the lives of others.

The Volunteer Center is proud to honor these Super heroes for their compassion, energy and exceptional selflessness. The event is open to anyone who is interested in gaining inspiration and supporting their work as well as The Volunteer Center’s ongoing efforts to engage the community in work that makes a difference to so many people in so many walks of life.

The event attendees will be treated to Emcees Onnie and Steven Scheyer, who are local leaders in school, civic and faith-based organizations. They are also compassionate supporters of causes where they can make a difference, in particular for social services, hunger, education, and the arts. Onnie is a Past President of the Volunteer Center and an Honorary Board Member, Past President of the New Trier High School Board, and Fundraising Consultant. Steven is a business executive who consults and serves on consumer-products boards.

More information about the Volunteer Center can also be found on the VC website, VolunteerCenterHelps.org and registration on VolunteerCenterVirtual.com

Direct immediate questions to Barb Tubekis, info@volunteercenterhelps.org