Above / Kids connect at the bus stop where they greet their peers on the way to set goals and get things done at school. And sometimes students need some assistance.
The 2019 Kids’ Best Friend Benefit and Awards Dinner is set to return to the Grand Ballroom of Double Tree by Hilton on Sat., Oct. 12, to celebrate 40 years of helping youth succeed.
Every day for the past 40 years, The Education Center has been dedicated to its vision of helping children discover their own strengths and dreams and pursuing those dreams against all odds. Through the efforts of the organization’s founder and executive director, Dr. Michael Litow, the center has helped students learn the skills “to succeed in school as well as in life.”
The center’s 40-year record of achievement will be celebrated at the Kids’ Best Friend Awards Benefit in October. Many inspirational success stories will be shared by former students and grateful parents. The Education Center will also honor two individuals who have led efforts to enhance the lives of children and families. Michael Vickery, director of the Institute for Community, will receive the Kids’ Best Friend Award, and Nicki Anderson, president and CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce, will be honored with the Making a Difference Award.
“As we celebrate 40 years of working with students throughout the area, we are pleased to honor these two individuals who have devoted their lives to serving children and families, enriching lives and making communities stronger,” said Litow. “They exemplify the positive leadership that is vital to the success of our youth.”
Kids’ Best Friend Award
Michael Vickery, winner of the Kids’ Best Friend Award, has served for 20 years as the director of Institute for Community. This nonprofit organization partners with other groups to provide educational and enrichment services for children and families.
Vickery has created and directed programs that impact the lives of thousands of kids in the western suburbs, including summer camps, after-school care, academic enrichment, and youth leadership training programs.
The institute also offers a free lunch program in partnership with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, serving over 5,000 free lunches every summer. Vickery’s work ensures that families living in diverse and multi-family housing communities have access to opportunities that promote faith, friendship, and quality of life.
Making a Difference Award
Nicki Anderson, the Making a Difference Award winner, is the first woman to serve as the president & CEO of the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce. She has been called a true “servant leader” for the vast amount of work she has done with organizations in Naperville and beyond.
She has served on several nonprofit boards including 360 Youth Services, SamaraCare, IDEA Health and Fitness, and Loaves and Fishes Community Services. Anderson fosters business and community relationships that enhance the quality of life for all families. She shares her values of family, service and innovation to make our community the best place to live and work.
Prior to her role as CEO, Anderson founded Reality Fitness in 1993, which was one of the first in-home personal training businesses in the region. Reality Fitness went from a one-woman operation to a staff of 12 with the addition of a brick and mortar facility. She traveled throughout the world educating small and large health clubs about customer service, marketing and innovation.
2019 Kids’ Best Friend Benefit and Awards Dinner
The 2019 Kids’ Best Friend Benefit and Awards Dinner will be held on Saturday, October 12, in the Grand Ballroom of the Double Tree by Hilton Lisle Naperville, 3003 Corporate West Drive, in Lisle. Tickets are $150 per person and include a cocktail reception, dinner, raffle, and live auction. The reception begins at 5:30PM.
For more information, contact the center at (630) 420-7807 or visit www.theeducationcenter.org. The Education Center of Developmental Resources is located at 113 East Van Buren in Naperville.
Story and photos of recipients submitted by Jini Clare for The Education Center.
(PN File Photo at the top with students at the bus stop reminds us of the dedicated bus drivers and crossing guards who also are kids’ friends every day on their way to and from school. Have a good one!)
