2014 Valor Awards

May 8, 2014 in I On Luxury Lifestyle

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The 2014 Valor Awards Ceremony and Reception (at Maggiano’s Banquet Hall, 111 W. Grand Ave.) recently honored those significant individuals who courageously performed extraordinary acts of heroism; above and beyond the call of duty, to save lives or prevent tragedies from happening.

The 100 Club of Chicago is a proud organization whose practice is to provide assistance (financial and otherwise) to the families of fallen police officers, firemen, and paramedics who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty with the 2014 Valor Awards.

Chief Al Kiefer, 2014 Valor Award Winner and Fire Dept. dog Brady

Fire Commissioner Jose Santiago with Deputy Fire Commissioner John McNicholas

Joe Ahern, James O’Connor 100 Club Board President, Ed Weil, Jr. 100 Club Board Member

Superintendent Garry McCarthy, Joe Ahern, and others.

Superintendent Garry McCarthy, with Chicago Police Department Honor Guard

After the Presentation of Colors by Mike Ostrowski and the Chicago Police Dept. Honor Guard, Charlie Menghini played a stellar version of the National Anthem on his trumpet. Following an introduction of the evening’s guests by Tom Cashman and an invocation by Rabbi Moshe Wolf, 100 Club C.E.O. Joseph Ahern took to the podium for a presentation in memory of advertising pioneer Jim Schmidt. Along with co-worker Mark Mitten, Jim worked endlessly to develop the 100 Club’s Emmy Award-winning Public Service Announcement (in 2012), which included Hollywood celebrities Dennis Farina, Gary Sinise, Dennis Franz, and Tom Dreesen among others.

After Tom Cashman and Jim O’Connor presented awards to various Police and Fire Department personnel, Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy narrated the remarkable actions of Sergeant James D. Cascone, who was rewarded with a plaque, a watch, and a medal. The F.B.I.’s division in Chicago was well represented by Matthew Desarno, who emphasized the valiant efforts of Special Agents Walker, Stakem, Osborne, and Bloss to this captive crowd. These four F.B.I. Special Agents heroically stopped a bank robbery (while in progress) in Richmond, IL and were rewarded in the same manner as James Cascone. Not to be overshadowed was the Chicago Fire Dept., with Commissioner Jose Santiago acknowledging Captain Mauricio Rodriguez and Captain Kiefer for their exceptional service at the 2014 Valor Awards.

A special thanks go out to generous sponsor J.P. Morgan Chase (James V. Gilliam, Vice President) along with 100 Club’s C.E.O. Joe Ahern, whose never-ending work made this event possible. Overall, this special evening was highlighted by some very brave men who quickly responded to emergency situations and instinctively rose to perilous challenges on a moment’s notice which resulted in saving countless civilian lives.

Hope you enjoyed the photos of the 2014 Valor Awards

About Jim Wattron

Jim graduated from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, with a degree in Business Administration. Jim has worked with the team from the beginning and he consistently strives for innovation with refreshing topics that inspire readers with context of new adventures and happenings, locally and internationally. Read more from this author.