Tom Li, 35, of Oak Park volunteers as a mentor and tutor for kids in neighborhoods all over the city twice a week. "I like working with kids. They're appreciative of the time I spend with them," Li says. "They're the future, and it's best for society to do right by them."
Chicago Police Officer Gerold Lee, of Bridgeport, volunteers as a mentor to Harold Washington College student Angie Wines through the Illinois Education Fund. For the last year, Lee has met with Wines, who wants to be a police officer, every month to help her prepare for a job in law enforcement. "There's personal rewards and satisfaction in helping people out the best you can," he says. "It feels good."
Megan Dailey, 34, of Belmont Heights is hosting a benefit on Sept. 15 in honor of her late father, retired Chicago police commander Maurice "Mo" Dailey, who died of a brain tumor. All proceeds will be donated to the American Brain Tumor Association.
Christopher Frost, 26, of Bucktown, spends one day a week with Philip Kaish. They met through Best Buddies Illinois, where Frost volunteers and where Philip, who's autistic, takes classes. "I enjoy being there for someone with a disability," Frost says. "And he always gives me a different perspective on things."
Mary Johnston, 44, of Edison Park is a serial volunteer who spends her free time helping immigrants study for the U.S. citizenship test, volunteering at the North Park Nature Center and making crafts with seniors at a nursing home. "It feels good to help people, and I think it's just good citizenship."
Recent Northtown Academy graduate Justin Romero and a dozen of his classmates painted a mural under the viaduct on Peterson just east of Rogers Avenue as a gift to the Sauganash neighborhood. The Northtown graduating art students worked on the painting in six-hour stints every Saturday in May and June.
Avondale School classmates Paulina Juache, Delilah Torres and Destiny Kirby painted flower boxes and planted flowers outside the school as part of a Logan Square beautification project sponsored by Bank of America. "We made the neighborhood more green and more beautiful," Destiny says. "I enjoyed it very much."
Since 1985, Richard Eastline of Lake View has volunteered 3,500 hours for the Blind Service Association in Chicago. Eastline makes recordings of WFMT/98.7-FM's classical music listening guide.
Kevin Healy says he's just a beer-drinking foreman who manhandles a jackhammer for Peoples Energy.
But folks who know the unassuming Irish guy from West Lawn describe him a different way. They call him a "saint." "An angel." "The greatest guy I've ever met."
Burn victims, cops with cancer, kids with horrible diseases, families struggling with monumental medical bills -- Healy has helped them all.
The guy has organized nearly 100 fund-raisers that have put millions of dollars into the pockets of families and charities who need it most.
Tell me about someone from your neighborhood who always seems to lend a hand to people in need?
Anna Sieczkowski of Lake View tutors five adults in reading and life skills at the Anixter Center on Clybourn every Monday afternoon. "I was working at a restaurant and I felt like I just wasn't contributing [to society]. I wanted to do something to give back," she says. "The students I tutor are very enthusiastic and appreciative, kind-hearted people.
Clare McKeown and Catherine McDonald of Beverly have collected more than $3,000 for the Little Company of Mary Cancer Center by selling their handmade pink jewelry, headbands and trinkets.
Sara Feinstein of Logan Square and nine other volunteers for Trees Across the Miles planted 500 trees along the Dan Ryan and the Kennedy Expressways in April. "The goal is to help the environment, create beauty in community and help clean the air. It's really a fulfilling way to connect with the earth even in an urban environment."
After a tragic Wrigleyville apartment fire killed 4-year-old Blake Carlson's mother, the president of Harry Caray's Restaurants group, Grant DePorter, put together a benefit at Hi-Tops in Wrigleyville to start a trust fund for the boy.
Acts of Kindness: The Last Portrait -- Sun-Times photos by Brian Jackson
I spent a Sunday morning with the Santanas and photographer Timre Surrey at the Garfield Park conservatory while Surrey snapped family portraits, the last wish of Kimberly Santana, who has end stage lung cancer.
I hung back and talked to family members during the moments between pictures. Due to space limitations, not all of those moments made it in the paper. So here's the rest of the story -- in snapshots.
Ron Hazen of Andersonville spends every Tuesday night tutoring a 6th grader named Sam at Bezazian Library in Uptown. Hazen, 28, has been a volunteer with the Inspired Youth Tutoring Program for two years. "It's fun working with the kids and great being a real, positive impact in their lives," he said. "And I've noticed Sam's reading skills have really been improving."
What I want to know is if a friend or family member has gone out of their way to help someone else, even in the smallest way — raising money for cancer, helping a senior paint their porch or organize a benefit for someone in need?
With their niece, 16-year-old Meghan Henry of Itasca, suffering from Stage 4 lung cancer Tim and Lori Quinn of Mt. Greenwood helped organize a benefit at Sox Park to raise money for Meghan’s medical bills that are not covered by insurance.
It's that kind of selfless effort that too often goes unnoticed. I say, we put a stop to that.
