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The orland park prairie | June 21, 2018 | 9
Orland School D135 Board of Education
Two teachers honored for saving
a life during Orland Days fest
JEFF VORVA
Contributing Editor
AND JAMILYN HISKES
Freelance Reporter
The Norm Meyer Special
Kids/People Day at Orland
Days is usually a happy day
as special needs students
from all over the area have
the festival all to themselves
for a couple of hours.
Thanks to a pair of Orland
District 135 teachers, the
special day was kept happy
and they prevented a potential
death during this year’s
event on May 31.
Center School instructors
Veronica Morales and Sandy
Guendling were honored
with ABCDE Awards by the
district board on June 11 for
their quick thinking in saving
a choking female student
during the event.
“Veronica performed abdominal
thrusts on one of my
students ... she was so calm
and never hesitated to help
the student, which shows
her dedication to kids and
helping others,” Guendling
wrote when nominating Morales
for the award.
“[The student] had a piece
of food lodged in her throat,”
Assistant Superintendent
Lynn Zeder added in a nominating
statement. “Swiftly
and safely, Veronica performed
abdominal thrusts,
allowing the piece of food to
be dislodged and the student
to resume her planned activities.”
Zeder also praised Guendling.
“Sandy acted in a compassionate
way, maintaining
the student’s physical
and emotional well-being,”
Zeder said. “She displayed
immense compassion for the
student following her experience.”
In other news from the
board and Committee of the
Whole meetings
• Like school officials
across the country who are
concerned over safety after
several shooting on cam-
Please see D135, 17
Cancer support applications due July 6
STAFF REPORT
Jeanne’s Journey for
Hope is entering its seventh
year of supporting families
fighting cancer and families
who need financial help
should apply by July 6.
Jeanne’s Journey for
Hope is a charitable organization
formed by three siblings
who lost their mother
to cancer. The group invites
applicants to fill out a form
located at www.jeannes
journeyforhope.org.
The Kurinec siblings
founded Jeanne’s Journey
for Hope in 2012, several
months before their mother,
Jeanne, died of colon
cancer. They are Orland
Park natives: Greg and
Michelle are graduates
of Providence Catholic
High School and Jeff is a
graduate of Sandburg High
School.
The organization is their
way of honoring their
mother’s lifelong passion
for serving others. So far,
the foundation has raised
more than $75,000 to support
the American Cancer
Society and help five families
pay hospital and medical
bills or as income replacement
if the disease has
resulted in a loss of employment.
Last year, the group
raised $26,000 for the family
of Beau Dowling, a
2-year-old with a rare form
of cancer, Stage 3 Neuroblastoma,
which affects the
nerve cells.
This year, the Kurinecs
are aiming to raise at least
$15,000 for a family in
need as they face their own
cancer battle. Preference is
given to applicants who live
in or near the south side of
Chicago and the southern
Chicago suburbs.
“One of the most rewarding
aspects is keeping in
touch with families we have
connected with over the
years,” said Greg Kurinec.
“They become part of our
extended family, and they
come alongside other families
that we have been honored
to help.”
The culmination of this
year’s effort occurs Sept.
15, when the organization
hosts a fundraiser from 2
to 6 p.m. at the Square Celt
Ale House & Grill, 39 Orland
Square Drive in Orland
Park.
For updates, photos of
past events and other information,
visit facebook.com/
JeannesJourneyForHope.
Those who have questions
can email JeannesJourney
4Hope@gmail.com.
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