Meet Princess Hannah!
by Allison
Move over, Kate Middleton, Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region has its own princess in the spotlight. Our very own Hannah Thompson!
Hannah spoke as the Ambassador for our organization’s 34th Annual Benefit Gala, “A Royal Affair” on April 14th at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago. Hannah has been a member of the Easter Seals family for four years, receiving physical therapy services. She comes to Easter Seals to walk on the treadmill to strengthen her body due to Cerebral Palsy and three different movement disorders, but she says her favorite part of therapy is the time she gets to spend with her therapists, Joanne and Celine, having girl talk.
Hannah, 21, is a senior at Elmhurst College, majoring in communications. When she graduates this spring, she aspires to become a professional speaker. She is already well on her way, having given speeches at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and the American Pediatric Association. She is also an accomplished writer, having been published in Chicago Special Parent Magazine last summer.
Other than being a student and speaker, Hannah is a proud member of her sorority, Phi Mu, and is involved in the Catholic Church. Like most college students, Hannah also can be found socializing in the cafeteria and grabbing a white chocolate Frio at the campus coffee shop. And with everything else going on, she somehow manages to keep up a blog chronicling her college adventures.
Other notable royalty at this year’s “extrava-gala-ganza,” were our generous sponsors Lisa and Fred Barbara, Exelon Nuclear and Schneider Electric. Bob Jank was recognized with the 2012 Carol and Jack Sanicki Crystal Heart Award in honor of his years of service and support.
A huge thank you to everyone involved — the gala was a record-setting event for us, grossing nearly half a million dollars to help children with disabilities receive the services they need!