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Thomas A. Demetrio Presents the Partnership to
Educate & Advance Kids (PEAK) with Mentoring
Award of Excellence
CHICAGO (February
24, 2010) – The Partnership to Education and
Advance Kids (PEAK)
today was
presented with the 2010 Thomas A. Demetrio Award
of Excellence for the “Most Exemplary
Established Mentoring Program in the Chicago
Area.”
PEAK is a
non-profit organization, which provides
mentoring services and scholarships for at-risk
Chicago youth to attend Holy Trinity High
School. During its 12 year existence, PEAK has
helped nearly 200 youth to receive a quality
education along with the support and guidance of
adult role model mentors. The Demetrio Award is
a $10,000 award funded annually by the law firm
of Corboy & Demetrio, P.C. and awarded through
the Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program.
The Lawyers
Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program was created by The
Chicago Bar Association and the Chicago Bar
Foundation in dedication to the lasting memory
and generosity of Judge "Abe." Their mission is
to promote one-on-one mentoring relationships
that foster consistent, long-term bonds between
the mentor and young person. In 1994, Thomas A.
Demetrio created the Lend-A-Hand Award of
Excellence, with a desire to impact the lives of
Chicago’s underprivileged children by
recognizing the efforts of exceptional
tutor/mentor programs in the Chicago
communities. Since its founding, Lend-A-Hand
has awarded close to $750,000 in grants and
positively affected the lives of tens of
thousands of youth throughout the Chicagoland
area.
This year, PEAK
was amongst 40 grantees that applied for funding
through the Lend-A-Hand program. Each of those
grantees was eligible for the Demetrio Award,
but PEAK was one of four finalists to be
considered. What distinguished PEAK from the
other programs that applied for the grant, was
“the four year commitment of their volunteer
mentors, who offer consistent mentoring for the
students throughout their high school career,”
said founder Thomas A. Demetrio. “I don't
often come to the presenting ceremony, but when
I got to know what PEAK does with Holy Trinity,
I had to be here. Our focus has become to try
to help those programs that deliver consistency,
and I must tell you, bar none, the PEAK program
is the finest I've ever come across. It is my
honor to be affiliated not only with such a
great high school with the history of Holy
Trinity, but also with the wonderful mentoring
program of PEAK."
Mr. Demetrio went
on to say to the students, "If fortunate enough,
everyone should have a mentor at some point in
their life, and PEAK is providing that
opportunity for each of you. Someday, it will be
your turn to LEND-A-HAND.”
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