Teen Fights Chronic Illness By Founding Charity To Help Others

Jen Rubino, 17, a high school senior, has braved two dozen surgeries so far. After one, a kind act inspired her to start a charity that has mushroomed, gained celebrity endorsements and helped children in unimaginable pain.

  As an 11-year-old with a chronic illness, Jen Rubino was having a dark day. She'd had her 13th surgery, and she was lying in a hospital bed, in pain. When she received a handmade greeting card saying "stay strong" from a volunteer she never met, she says it made a world of difference to know that others were pulling for her to make it--and it really did help her to stay strong. Now 17, Rubino, of Park Ridge, a senior at Maine South High School, has founded a charity to give other seriously ill kids that sense of hope and caring she says the card meant to her.  Though Rubino struggles with chronic pain every day, she has managed, through Cards for Hospitalized Kids, to help 10,200 kids in hospitals in many states, helped by endorsements …

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MADD Picks Jacobs Freshman to Join National Influencer Group

Tucker Lehman was among 10 students from across the nation recently picked by Mothers Against Drunk Driving to join the Power of You(th) National Teen Influencer Group.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving recently chose H.D. Jacobs High School freshman Tucker Lehman as one of 10 students be a part of MADD’s first Power of You(th) National Teen Influencer Group. Lehman was nominated by his biology teacher Ms. Terri Dawson and was selected based on his efforts to stop underage drinking in his community. “We are proud to have Tucker represent our school, community and state as a member of the Power of You(th). He will be an integral part of this initiative and is already gathering sample ordinances and statistics to present at National Teen Influencer Group,” Dawson said. A youth member of the McHenry County Underage Drinking Task Force, Lehman actively participates in activities designed to reduce underage …

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Algonquin Teen Draws Chicago Comedians to Local Benefit

The DC Comedy Jam for families struggling financially will be held at 7 p.m. May 1 at Dundee-Crown High School.

Algonquin teen A.J. Lubecker is using some of the connections he has made while performing in comedy shows to help raise funds for a Dundee-Crown High School organization that helps families struggling financially. Lubecker has performed his open-mic standup routine at the Apollo Theater in Chicago, Laugh Out Loud Theater in Schaumburg and Duke’s Alehouse in Crystal Lake. You can read more about Lubecker in this Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Patch profile Lubecker has organized a comedy show — The DC Comedy Jam — at Dundee-Crown High School at 7 p.m. May 1. The event will draw some of the "funniest comedians from Chicago," including Chris Redd, Dave Odd and Joe Kilgallon.  Proceeds from the show will go to S.A.F.E. — for Students Assisting …

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Sage's Foglia: We Need to Start Concentrating on Younger Generations

Sage's Chairman of the Board talks politics.

In our uncertain economic condition, Sage Products, Inc., Cary, Ill., has been and continues to be profitable and internationally well respected. Vince Foglia, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, has concrete ideas of why his company has been successful and the government’s role in helping — and hurting — the cause of businesses and citizens alike.  “Sage is in the right time period for the products that we have. Our products that focus on infection prevention for hospitals, for example, support the need for the medical industry to lower infection rates,” Foglia said. This helps keep patients from being re-admitted to hospitals, keepings patients healthier and costs down.  It’s easy to create a slogan for your company but …

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Algonquin Resident Opens Center to Help Children with Autism

A keen business sense leads to an autism therapy center and a sense of accomplishing more than just monetary success.

Algonquin resident Brad Balduf always has had an entrepreneurial spirit. With a background in real estate and an outgoing personality, he likes to make things happen. A few years ago, Balduf, 42, was out to dinner with his wife, Jennifer, and their friends Julie and Craig Martin. Julie, a speech and behavioral therapist, mentioned how she felt she could do so much more for autistic children if she had more autonomy and resources. “Little did I know, that really got the wheels turning in Brad’s head,” she said. Balduf went to work developing a business plan. “I like to start something from scratch and watch it grow,” he said. Balduf quickly found several independent investors and raised enough money to start an autism center. When Balduf …

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Letter to the Editor

LITH Woman Seeks Help for Niece's Heart Transplant

Savana Sky is 29 months old and recently had a heart transplant. Her aunt, Kelly Abbott of Lake in the Hills, has set up a fundraising page to help cover the medical expenses her sister's family has incurred.

Hi my name is Kelly Abbott, and I'm from Lake in the Hills. I want to tell you about my niece Savana Sky and get her story out.  Savana Sky and her twin sister Trinity were born on Feb. 9, 2009, in Chicago to my sister Leeann Sweeney. She lived in Chicago until my sister moved to Springdale, Ark., in July of 2009. Savana Sky kept getting sick, my sister kept bringing her to the doctors where they would tell her it was acid reflux or that nothing was wrong. Leeann knew something wasn't right with Savana and kept bringing her to doctors. Finally a doctor listened to my sister and did a chest X-ray of Savana's chest and found out her heart was enlarged. Savana was born with congenital heart defect called ALCAPA, which stands for anomalous …

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