|
 "Through their hard work, these selfless women have helped
children and adults with disabilities, victims of sexual abuse and
domestic violence, military members and their families, and have
empowered thousands of women to become self-sufficient. Today's PATH
Award recipients are history makers and we are proud to honor them,"
said Blagojevich.
"Women's History Month is a time to remember the many
contributions women have made throughout the course of American
history. Today, on behalf of Governor Blagojevich, I am proud to
recognize these individuals, as their efforts to help others in
their community are an inspiration for all to follow," Nix said.
The governor's PATH Award recognizes groups or individuals who,
through their hard work and commitment, have improved the lives of
their community and have helped Illinois move forward in health
care, public safety, education, environment, economic development
and affordable housing.
The following individuals received PATH awards:
Ann Ford, executive director, Illinois Network of Centers for
Independent Living, Springfield
Ford has dedicated her life to empowering people with
disabilities to become full participants in society. A tireless
advocate and strong leader, Ford worked for the National Spinal Cord
Injury Association and served as executive director of two Centers
for Independent Living in Illinois. As executive director of the
Illinois Network of Centers for Independent Living, Ford is perhaps
one the most significant advocates for Illinoisans with
disabilities. Health care policy is a critical advocacy issue for
Ford and is personally and professionally vital to her. After
contracting polio at age 5, she overcame countless challenges as she
moved through the world.
Ford has served as the co-chair of the Disabilities Services
Committee since its enactment in 2003. The committee enhances the
state's compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the
implementation of the Olmstead v. L.C. decision. In this capacity,
Ford has shown a unique ability to bring stakeholders from a wide
variety of backgrounds together to make substantial policy changes
for people with disabilities.
Ford was also instrumental in the passage of Illinois' Medicaid
Buy-In program and serves on the program's statewide advisory
committee advocating for expanded Medicaid coverage and universal
health care in Illinois. The Illinois Network of Centers for
Independent Living recently introduced "Money Follows the Person"
legislation in Illinois, which channels long-term care funds into
community services for people with disabilities.
Cindy Housner, founder, Great Lakes Adaptive Sports
Association, Lake Forest
Housner has dedicated her life to helping disabled children
participate in sports because she firmly believes that the quality
of life should never be limited by a physical or visual disability.
The Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association actively supports and
encourages the integration of individuals with disabilities and that
these individuals should be encouraged to participate fully in both
competitive and recreational sports. The organization recognizes the
importance of family and friends, so every effort is made to provide
programming that allows options for disabled participants to include
these individuals in their leisure pursuits.
Housner also seeks and develops dedicated personnel and
facilities to support the delivery of Great Lakes Adaptive Sports
Association programs. Through the organization, Housner has striven
to remove boundaries, elevate expectations and enhance self-worth in
individuals with disabilities through participation in athletic
competition and recreational activities.
Maria Socorro Pesqueira, CEO and president, Mujeres Latinas
en Acción (Latin Women in Action), Chicago
Pesqueira oversees Mujeres Latinas en Acción, a social service
agency in Chicago's Pilsen neighborhood that assists upwards of
7,000 families. Founded in 1973 to help runaway teens, it developed
into an organization that assisted victims of sexual abuse and
domestic violence. Today, as one of the nation's longest-standing
Latina nonprofit organizations, it also offers child care,
after-school tutoring, parenting classes, a variety of health
resources and other assistance programs.
[to top of second column] |
 Pesqueira has made great efforts to help the Pilsen community.
When she joined Mujeres Latinas en Acción in 2000, she had already
spent eight years as development director of the Mexican Fine Arts
Center Museum, leading a capital campaign that raised $7.5 million
-- enough to build a new wing and establish an endowment. In
February 2006, after Pesqueira revitalized the organization's
fundraising, Mujeres Latinas en Acción moved into a new
14,000-square-foot, $3.4-million facility.
Pesqueira introduced new programs: a mother-daughter leadership
course, designed to help put the brakes on the burgeoning Latina
teen-pregnancy rate; and Project Sanctuary, which provides a safe
space for noncustodial parents to have child visitations. There's a
new satellite office in Cicero, and the staff has converted the
organization's former headquarters into a youth facility.
Pesqueira serves on the boards of the National Council of La
Raza, the Community Memorial Foundation and the Aetna Medical
Advisory Board. She is also the co-founder of Latinos in
Development.
Beth Piccolo, director, United Service Organizations, Great
Lakes Naval Station, Great Lakes
Piccolo is a reserve master sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps and
a true inspiration among female military personnel. Piccolo made
history in her early years in the Marine Corps by becoming one of
the first females in her assigned ordnance specialty. In that
capacity, she helps assemble and dissemble multiple types of weapons
alongside her male counterparts. Her superior performance led to her
being named Ordnance Man (woman?) of the Year, which led to Marine
of the Quarter and finally a meritorious promotion to corporal.
Today, Piccolo serves as the director of the United Service
Organizations Center at Great Lakes Naval Station. In this capacity,
she works a job that demands well over 40 hours a week and still
maintains her reserve drilling status with the Marine Corps. As a
family readiness officer for her Marine unit, she is responsible for
planning and coordinating overseas deployment send-offs,
homecomings, pre-deployment information gatherings, family days,
return and reunion briefings, and handles media queries. For many
years she has worked with the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program,
assisting in making the holidays better for thousands of children.
Piccolo fosters discussions with children's groups about various
topics from desert survival and respecting others to American flag
history and etiquette.
As director of the USO Center at Great Lakes Naval Station,
Piccolo works tirelessly to connect military families in need with
the USO of Illinois assistance programs. For the last four years
Piccolo has organized the shipping of hundreds of care packages to
troops serving overseas. During the Gurnee flood in August of 2007,
Piccolo spent two days providing water, snacks and pizzas to the
hundreds of volunteer sand-baggers. Piccolo has served her country
for almost 25 years and will continue to do so for many years to
come through the USO of Illinois.
Janet Williams, program coordinator, Illinois Support,
Training and Employment Program for Displaced Homemakers, Rock
Valley College, Rockford
Williams is the program coordinator for the Illinois Support,
Training and Employment Program for Displaced Homemakers at Rock
Valley College in Rockford. The center empowers individuals who have
experienced the loss of family income due to divorce, separation,
loss of a spouse or a disabled spouse by facilitating them toward
achieving economic self-sufficiency and independence. A displaced
homemaker herself, Williams has volunteered numerous hours to the
cause and identifies with the needs of others in similar situations.
Since Williams joined the program in January 2007, Rock Valley
College has seen a tremendous turnaround in the counties of
Winnebago, Boone and parts of Ogle. Williams has assisted over 250
displaced homemakers with their education and employment goals and
has successfully provided displaced homemakers with employment
assistance, access to education and training, and life skills
development.
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information] |
