Steve Hester, Jeff Hester and their team at Hester Painting and Decorating are all about paying it forward. Founded in 1968 by Tom Hester, the company — which serves both commercial and residential customers — has beautified spaces for many Chicago-area homes and businesses, including schools, healthcare facilities, hospitality providers and tech companies. They were […]
Fentanyl has been called the single deadliest drug threat our nation has ever encountered. It is, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. The staggering numbers show that in 2021 alone, 107,375 Americans died of drug overdose and poisoning, with 67% of those deaths involving synthetic opioids […]
Fire Chief Tracey Steffes of Morris, Illinois, is the 2022 Red Cross Firefighter Hero Award recipient. Chief Steffes has dedicated his life to his community, serving first as a volunteer fireman for the city of Morris before eventually becoming fire chief. In June 2021, Chief Steffes faced his biggest challenge as the leader of the […]
Nearly 300 guests gathered at Walden for Breakthrough’s 2022 Annual Benefit on October 20 to celebrate the organization’s 30th anniversary. The event raised more than $900,000 for Breakthrough’s programming and resources. The mission of Breakthrough — a 2022 Make It Better Foundation Philanthropy Award Winner — is to develop a safe and stable community within Garfield […]
Red Cross Board Member Jill Schaaf says she’s “hooked” on seeing just how far a little, or a lot, of good can go. At the time of her retirement in 2016, Schaaf was the CVP, President of Renal at Baxter Healthcare. Now, after a prolific career in healthcare, she continues to make a big impact […]
Officer Jennifer Maddox of Chicago is a 26-year veteran of the Chicago Police Department as well as the 2022 Red Cross Law Enforcement Hero Award recipient. Working on the south side of Chicago as a police officer, Officer Maddox developed a strong bond with the community and noticed that so many children were fearful to […]
The Chicago International Film Festival celebrated its 58th year with a hybrid event running October 12- 23, 2022. The 12-day fest raised $34,818 for its presenting organization, Cinema/Chicago, a nonprofit enriching the community through year-round programming devoted to international and independent cinema. As the longest-running competitive film festival in North America, the Chicago International Film […]
Financially, it is a difficult time for many right now. With recent hikes in inflation — some of the highest since 1981 — many feel a strain that comes at the expense of choosing between necessities. One particularly affected population includes seniors, many of whom face the decision to forgo medication in order to put […]
Individuals across the Bay Area gathered for the San Francisco Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s event on November 5, 2022, raising nearly $900,000 for research, care, and support. The annual event, emceed by Grant Lodes of KRON4 and Reggie Aqui of ABC7, started with a community gathering at Pier 27, where participants enjoyed a […]
More than 2,500 Chicagoland residents participated in the Chicago Walk to End Alzheimer’s event on Saturday, October 8, 2022. The event raised more than $1 million to accelerate global research, increase early detection and maximize quality care and support for those living with Alzheimer’s. Despite the chilly Chicago weather, participants dressed in purple attire and gathered at […]
