Will County Children's Advocacy Center Honors Several Heroes

October 9, 2019

'Real Heroes Don't Wear Capes' featured keynote speaker Scott Cross who broke his four-decade silence to courageously testify that former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert molested him in a high school locker room when he was a teenager.

By John Ferak, Patch Staff
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JOLIET, IL —On Wednesday night, the Will County Children's Advocacy Center honored individuals, businesses and organizations who have gone above and beyond for children who have endured severe physical abuse, sexual abuse, sexual exploitation, neglect, and exposure to violence.

"Real Heroes Don't Wear Capes" took place at the Joliet Golf Club, 1009 Spencer Road.The keynote speaker for the evening was Scott Cross who broke his four-decade silence to courageously testify that former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert molested him in a high school locker room when he was a teenager.He spoke about his experience as a survivor, and the importance of supporting the work of the Will County Children's Advocacy Center.Sponsors, and volunteers of the Center's annual "Men Who Cook" fundraiser were also acknowledged.

Founder's Awards were presented to John Bays, President of Bays Investment Corp.; Chicagoland Speedway represented by Scott Paddock, President, and a posthumous award honoring Ed Czerkies founder of Czerkies Construction.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh received the Glen Marcum Selfless Dedication to Community Award.

Multi-Disciplinary Team Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to  Detective Shawn Filipiak of the Joliet Police Department; Rosa Frias, Child Protection Investigator with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and Mary Fillipitch, Chief of the Sex Crimes Unit in the Will County State's Attorney's Office.

The Heroic Volunteerism Award was presented to Alan and Nancy Nowacki, owners of Nowacki Insurance Agency.

Heroic Service Awards were presented to the Plainfield Junior Woman's Club represented by President Kristen Robertson, Joliet Central High School Key Club and the Joliet West High School Students of Service Club.

Heroic Philanthropy Awards were presented to the Animal Care Center of Shorewood represented by co-owners Dr. Tony Kremer and Dr. Robert Buchanan, and to CITGO Lemont Refinery Vice President and General Manager Dennis Willig.

Village of Frankfort Mayor Jim Holland and Will County Board Member (District 1) Laurie Summers, received Heroic Action Awards.

"We (honored) those who have provided significant philanthropic and volunteer support," said Will County State's Attorney James W. Glasgow, who founded the Center as a non-profit organization in 1995 to provide forensic interview, victim advocacy, and trauma-therapy services.