Annual Dinner Meeting

A Night Full of Celebration

At Easterseals Joliet Region, we proudly take this opportunity to honor and express our gratitude to those who have helped build and strengthen our community through their unwavering dedication and hard work. Throughout the years, we have been privileged to be supported by talented members of our Board of Directors, devoted staff, and generous volunteers. Below is just a snippet of all that took place in our Annual Dinner Meeting.

Board of Directors

We are pleased to announce the installation of Don Maxfield as Chairman of the Board, advancing from his previous role as Vice Chairman. Don expressed his gratitude to James for his dedicated service as Chairman and presented a token of appreciation on behalf of Easterseals Joliet Region.

We also welcome Stephanie Lewickas as Vice Chairman. Stephanie is a speech pathologist and currently serves as the Executive Director of Rehabilitation at St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.

In addition, we are delighted to recognize Deb Blocker, who will be joining the Program Committee. Deb represents Kendall County and brings with her extensive experience as a volunteer in both the public and private sectors.

We are pleased to welcome back Wayne Chesson for another term as a Board Member, and Carter Larry, who has completed six years of service, will also be returning following his term rotation.

We are excited to introduce Valerie Mammie as a new member of our Board, where she will serve on the Human Resources Committee. Valerie is the Benefits Manager at Silver Cross Hospital.

We also welcome the return of Donald Theobald, who will continue to share his expertise as part of the Budget & Finance and Audit Committees.

With remarkable leaders, we are fortunate to have many other dedicated Board Members contributing to the mission of Easterseals Joliet Region. We invite you to learn more about their work and impact by exploring their bios.

Staff Recognition

Alongside the dedication of our Board Members, the mission of Easterseals Joliet Region could not be realized without the commitment of our staff—many of whom have served faithfully for numerous years. During the evening, we took the opportunity to extend our heartfelt gratitude to them for their outstanding service and unwavering dedication to advancing our mission.

Acknowledging Vanessa Hunter

Vanessa Hunter is recognized as an Easterseals Legacy Professional in honor of her remarkable 38 years of dedicated service as she prepares for retirement. Throughout her tenure, Vanessa has been instrumental in developing the agency’s Residential and Social Services programs, including CILA, foster care, and home-based services.

Volunteer of the Year

Each year, Easterseals Joliet Region hosts numerous events that require extensive planning and the support of dedicated volunteers. Among these remarkable individuals, Linda Atkinson stands out. During the evening, we had the privilege of honoring her as our Volunteer of the Year. From the Celebration of Giving to the Guns and Hoses Baseball Event and many others, Linda has generously devoted her time and energy to ensure the success of our events. We are deeply grateful for her commitment, her consistent presence, and the countless hours she has sacrificed in support of a cause greater than herself. Our mission and events would not be possible without dedicated volunteers like Linda.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who attended and to everyone whose contributions—whether through leadership, service, or support—continue to strengthen Easterseals Joliet Region. Together, we are making a lasting impact in the lives of individuals and families in our community. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission.