Cathy, Maria and Patricia Named Hero Finalists – Now Cast Your Vote!
By: Stevie Hoey
September 22, 2011 9:00 am CT
Heroes today are not running around wearing capes or awesome costumes. They are individuals who inspire others with their everyday actions or those who encourage positive change in their communities. Sometimes it’s the little things that matter the most.
The three people below have been nominated for the Our Town, Our Heroes program because of their daily acts of heroics. Now that we have three outstanding finalists, we need YOUR help to name one of them our winner! Take a few moments to read their stories and then cast your vote for the person who inspires you the most. After the voting period, the finalist with the most votes will win a week-long loan of a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle along with a special hero package.
Cathy Rehr from Joliet, nominated by Debbie Greene
Cathy organized and opened Little Sprouts Early Learning Center at the Pilcher Park Nature Center. She teaches children to love and respect nature. By hosting fun activities, Cathy makes the outdoors even more fun for the kids. Cathy is a true hero as her passion for teaching children about the outdoors is giving them something to hold onto their entire lives.
Maria Milik from Lake Barrington, nominated by Michelle Price
Maria is always willing to do anything for anyone. She is on the board for the Special Ed Forum in Barrington and headed up procurement for the AutismOne gala that raised over $10,000 for autism. When someone needs a child picked up or a sitter, she’s the friend you call because she will do it. Maria also shares her wealth of knowledge on all sorts of health topics and always shares what she knows with whoever needs it.
Patricia Bodden from Algonquin, nominated by Jillian M. Bodden
Patricia, my mother, is truly a local hero. She is not only a compassionate mother, but also a caring nurse. Every day, she is in charge of protecting the wellness and health of more than 5,000 employees, and she treats nearly 700 patients a month. To her, they’re not just her patients; she builds a lasting relationship with each of them. She also brings her talented and caring personality to other facets of her life as well: family, friends, church, and the community. She has inspired me to continue along her path and to become a nurse like her. My mother is truly a hero.
Loading ...
Remember, only one vote per person per round! We actively monitor voting to ensure all votes follow the Our Town, Our Heroes Contest Rules.
Voting for this round of Our Town, Our Heroes ends at 6:00 P.M. CT on Wednesday, September 28, 2011. We will announce the winning hero on Thursday, September 29, so be sure to keep checking DrivingtheMidwest.com and follow us on Twitter @DrivingMidwest for updates!
We are always accepting nominations for Our Town, Our Heroes, so nominate YOUR hero today!
Tags: Cathy Rehr, Chicago, grassroots, Illinois, Maria Milik, Our Town Our Heroes, Patricia Bodden, vehicle loan, vote
i visited the little sprouts program at pilcher park and LOVE what you guys are doing! GO Cathy!!!
My son attends Little Sprouts with Ms. Cathy. She is wonderful! The program she developed is unbelievable. The amount he learned and the fun he had in the first two week amazes me.
Patty is truly a wonderful woman. Everything she does is out of her love for others. She deserves this honor!
Cathy is one of the greatest people that I know, she will do anything for anyone! She is the most giving person I know! She deserves to win!
Patty is an inspiration to those that know her – including her three beautiful, talented, bright daughters for whom she is a role model.
Maria is an incredible mother and autism supporter to all Illinois families though a multitude of autism organizations. Some local autism programs and other national non profits. She works tirelessly to support families and educate them in the many autism treatments, that is always confusing and extensive in light of this rising epidemic. But Maria keeps that wonderful smile on her face. I have worked with her and supported her on a number of occasions. There are so few out there like her….she definitely deserves being our "Our Town, Our Hero."
Maria is a truly amazing mom and a friend. I have watched her contribute to the Barrington community for the last 15 years. Over the past 8 years her effort have been primarily focused on Autism -With my autistic nephew, she is always the one o go to for advice and perspective – she worksntirelessly to educate individuals and the community. I never cease to be amazed at hoe she does it all AND manages to make her home the place that all the kids want to hang out at! Maria is truly my hometown hero!
My little girl loves the Little Sprouts program so much. She has learned so much already about nature and animals! Miss Cathy is so loving and she really cares about these kids and what that are learning.
Cathy happens to be my Aunt and I'm so proud to say that she is family. She is an amazing wife, mother, and teacher to all. She has an unbelievable talent with cooking, crafts, and nature. She is truly an inspiration to me and many others around her. Since she launched this wonderful program "Little Sprouts" she motivated herself to go back to school and learn more to share with others. The children that attend her class are truly blessed to have such an amazing teacher who loves teaching others. She is one of the most knowledgable people I know. Good Luck Aunt Cathy, we love you.
VOTE FOR CATHY!!!
Good luck Maria! You are loved for all you have done and continue to do!
Everything I've learned about Little Sprouts is inspiring .. Anything that helps kids pay attention better, think more clearly and prepares them to cope more effectively with stress has my vote. Go Cathy and thanks for caring enough about our kids to make their future "just a little brighter through learning".
You are an inspiration to every mother out there.
Lori
Cathy's Nature program gets the little ones involved in so many fun activities. They even have a special area to play veterinarian! When they learn to count, they might count butterflies or ladybugs. They learn music and art and cooperation, all with a nature theme. They go outside and enjoy the nature the park has to offer. The Little Sprouts program is such a creative one, and gives the kids lots of time to play the way kids were meant to play. Cathy is making a real difference in the lives of these children.
cathy is a great influence to all the little sprouts children, all the kids look up to her. She improves the environment alot and teaches everyone to also, She is my hero.
My Aunt Cathy is the best, I hope she wins!!
Cathy is an amazing person. Her selfless dedication to teach children about nature is inspiring.
Cathy is truly an inspirational woman. Her dedication and time spent to show not only children but adults as well, her love of nature and taught many to love nature. She has gone above and beyond what it means to be a hero.
Cathy is my sister, so you might say that I'm a little biased. But seeing her grow, especially in the time she has been with Pilcher Park and the Little Sprouts, makes my heart swell with pride. She motivates not only those children in the program, but my daughter and myself as well. She has gone back to school and set and achieved goals for herself that I never would have seen coming 20 years ago. I am so proud of you Cathy, and my only wish was that mom was still here to see you too. She would have been amazed at the strong, caring woman you have become. No matter waht, you are my hero and I love you.
Maria Milik is an advocate worldwide. She belongs to support groups and committees, fund raises for non-profits, works on local charity events and researches daily to help friends on the Internet. She often goes out of her way to get the answers that parents need. She is an advocate for families and uses her vast experience in order to help others. If she can't find the answer she will find an expert who can. She goes over and above to help those in need and she definitely is already a hometown, world wide hero.
Maria is truly inspirational, as a mother and a friend. Her knowledge about autism and the myriad therapies available is truly amazing. She is a wealth of information, and is eager and willing to help anyone who asks. As a friend, she will drop any of her numerous activities to be a supportive advocate, or a shoulder on which to lean. Not to mention her marvelous, outgoing and passionate personality! She has been a Godsend to friends and family- a true Hometown Hero.
Patricia: How many hats do you wear during a week?? I hope you are very pleased that your daughter recognizes the results of the heroic, servant way you care for your family and those with whom you work. You are an inspiration for me, too. Thank you.
Way to go Maria for being nominated!! From reading all the comments, how could you not be nominated? Having a child with Special Needs is very hard on a family. It is wonderful to hear Maria has been there for friends and still able to be there for her family. She is a great Mom who will do anything for her children and friends. Congrats Maria!!!
Cathy is an amazing teacher. This is my sons first year attending preschool at Little Sprouts and all he can talk about is Ms. Cathy and what he is learning from her. Thanks to Ms. Cathy my son has been blessed with a positive start to his school years. Thank you Ms. Cathy you are an awesome teacher and person. Vote for Cathy!
Thank so much!!!
Thank you so much for the wonderful comment!
Thanks for the nice comment:)
I am really doing what comes naturally for me, I just love love love my job!
Thanks Shawna, but I'm just doing what I love:) You're one heckuva woman yourself you know!
Thanks Jules!
Thanks Lori, but just doing what I love:)
It's really a magical place to be able to teach!
Wow, thanks Cindy, but just doing what I LOVE!
I think there are way more people that deserve to be called heroes, but thanks Sammi:) Just love what I do!!
Thanks for the caring words, but like you, I'm just doing what I love! We are winners in life being able to do that!
Thank you so much Dana for your kind words! I'm already a winner being able to do what I love!!
Maria Milik is a tireless advocate for autism families. Because of her influence, my daughter wants to become a dance therapist working with the differently abled. She is an inspiration to mothers and to the upcoming generation.
Maria Milik is a true community leader and advocate for autism. It's great to see that she was nominated as she is so deserving!
Cathy is such a wonderful person! We visit the nature center a couple times a week and she's always so nice to me and my boys. I am looking forward to her teaching both my 2 and 3 year old next year!
Little Sprouts and Ms Cathy is one of the best things that ever happen for Pilcher Park.
You are all already winners! Patricia – wouldn’t we all be blessed if our children said such wonderful things about us as your daughter did for you. Way to go ladies!
Ladies, you are all winners! Patricia, how amazing that your daughter nominated you, had such wonderful things to say about you and now wants to follow in your footsteps. Amazing! You are blessed!
Please vote for Cathy!! She is a great person who runs an amazing programs teaching kids about nature! Thank you!! She deserves it and this program deserves the recognition!!!
Congratulations on being nominated for this , I wish you all the best and thank you for everything you do!
Cathy wish we could clone you. Nobody works harder. Keep it up please. I know the community and kids are grateful. Thanks again!!
Nobody works harder than Cathy.
Thank you Cathy
Thanks! I love my job and love chatting with everyone who comes in when I have a free moment:)
thanks happy parent:)
Please vote for my mom, she deserves it, I don't know anyone who works harder or enjoys her work as much as she does, she's has done so much for park nature center and the little sprouts program, she has touched so many lives with her work. VOTE FOR CATHY!!
Another vote for Cathy Rehr.
Dear “Driving the Midwest”,
Although I must vote for the fabulous Maria Milik because I have seen and experienced first hand what she does, all 3 of these fabulous women look deserving of help for their incredible organizations! Why not give all of these organizations a boost?
Love,
Impressed Bystander and Proud Woman
Liz Bure
Please vote for my mom, no one works harder or loves her job as much as she does! She has done so much for the pilcher park nature center and the little sprouts program, she has touched so many lives with her work and will only continue to do so! Please vote!!
Great to have someone like Cathy.
Maria is a great lady!
vote for Cathy Rehr!
Maria, thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of the 1 in 91 children across America now affected by autism. You are truly amazing!
It is good to hear that people like Cathy are being honored. We need more people like her. Way to go Cathy
I agree! Good Luck Cathy