Helping Hand Gets a Helping Hand from the Berkowitz Committee

The Berkowitz Student Committee held their annual Morning Ex to announce the selection of Helping Hand to receive a grant for their work empowering children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the Chicago area.

The Susan F. Berkowitz Award for Outstanding Service to Children recognizes individuals whose work builds hope and optimism in children, strengthening the bonds between family, school and community. Such work demonstrates the commitment and imagination necessary to ensure conditions that support the positive growth, development and education of children. Each year, the Berkowitz Award process offers hands-on experience with philanthropy as students use Parker’s resources to help those in need, providing a $10,000 grant to a Chicago organization that builds hope and optimism in children.

Berkowitz Committee Heads senior Malea Caplan, junior Fiona Chazen and senior Solena Ornelas Pagnucci described the committee’s year-long process before selecting a winner, beginning with brainstorming to identify a particular theme for that year that directly affects Chicago’s youth. They then researched organizations that fit the theme and contacted them, encouraging them to apply for the award. The committee reviewed all the applications, comparing their goals, sizes, funds they receive and locations to narrow down the list to three or four finalists. After interviewing the finalists, the committee had the difficult task of choosing a winner.

Helping Hand Director of Clinical Services Jillian Elmore, speech language pathologist Allison Bouma and physical therapist Alyssa Harkema accepted the award and talked about their program. Joining them was Holly Hickey and her son Jack, who has received services since he was young, and Jack’s dog Pongo to spread awareness. They discussed Jack’s life, the resources he uses, his likes and dislikes (Go Portillo’s!) and a message to the community, which reverberated throughout the Heller Auditorium: “We have more similarities than differences!”

Parker congratulates Helping Hand and the students who worked so tirelessly this year to find such a capable, deserving organization.