progress
Oak Brook inventor creates a faster water fountain
Try filling a water bottle at a drinking fountain. It gets awkward. Elkay Manufacturing Co., based in Oak Brook, used this awkwardness as inspiration for a new twist on the old drinking fountain. It created the EZH2O wall-mounted system, which allows users to refill a 16-ounce water bottle in about six seconds — three times faster than traditional drinking fountains — with cold, filtered water.
Join the bone marrow registry, and help save a life
Lacey Horwitch needs your help. Since August, the 9-year-old has been in the hospital fighting a rare blood disorder called HLH, which causes the blood cells to attack the body’s cells and organs. A bone marrow transplant is the answer, and donations of marrow are the means.
Links provides free, confidential teen services to the LGBT community
The Pride Youth Program director at Links, a nonprofit organization in Northfield., provides confidential health, education and guidance to teens in the LGBT community.
IUN professor gets her students environmentally conscious
Ellen Szarleta sees the environmental challenges facing Northwest Indiana as representing opportunity. She teaches this philosophy to her students at Indiana University Northwest and practices it in her role as interim director of the university’s Center for Regional and Urban Excellence.
I Am You teaches women how to create and design
I Am You teaches girls and young women how to sew, design and sell their own creations in the organization’s public storefront, the Red Dot Resale Boutique, at 3930 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. Here, the women learn entrepreneurial, interpersonal and professional skills under the guidance of founder Shawna Spencer, 46.
LivingWell Cancer Resource Center expanding as needs grow
LivingWell Cancer Resource Center is a community-based, non-profit center that opened in 2005 in Geneva, with the vision of providing wellness, support and educational services for individuals and entire families. “Our footprint expands as the need expands,” said executive director Nancy Vance. The center will open a new facility on May 4.
War vet doesn’t let loss of leg slow him down
When Brian Wilhelm lost his leg while serving in Iraq, he made a decision it would not stop him from pursuing his goals. That included competing in the pentathlon in the army and studying computer science at Lewis University, where he’s involved in some interesting research.
School nurse goes on to start clinic for uninsured
While a school nurse in a school district in Portage, Ind., Jan Wilson discovered that, for children, being uninsured doesn’t affect just their health, it affects their education. That was the motivation behind her helping to found what would become NorthShore Health Centers, which serves the uninsured, underinsured, people on Medicaid or holders of private insurance.
Will County dentist takes to the road to bring care to the under-served
Herself a “victim” of lack of readily-available dental care in her native country, Dr. Sangita Garg, dental director at the Will County Community Health Center, launched a rolling dental care van for the under-served.
Autistic students find support in new College of DuPage group
When College of DuPage counselor Dr. Michael Duggan and his colleagues sent letters announcing a new social and support organization to the approximately 120 students who identified themselves as autistic, they had no idea how many people would show up at the first meeting. More than 60 students and parents came out that night in December 2010. Now, the organization — named Autismerica by the students — regularly draws between 50 and 60 people to its monthly meeting.
Afghan maternity care gets desperately needed funds
The Afghanistan Midwifery Project raises money for medical supplies, education, outreach to build a midwifery program to help under-served women.
Social worker, psychotherapist strives to change harmful behaviors in girls and young women
Mary Waldon has been helping troubled teens in the north shore since 2005, as a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist who focuses on girls and women’s issues. She also trains high school social workers in the northern suburbs and lectures about helping raise kids.