Schaumburg Business Association honors biggest contributors
Schaumburg's business community celebrated 2017 Friday night by recognizing its most significant contributors.
The Schaumburg Business Association's 16th annual Toast of Schaumburg gala at the Renaissance Hotel emphasized the village's role in the world marketplace with entertainment that included a variety of international musicians and dancers.
“We certainly have a global influence,” SBA President Kaili Harding said. “We are here to positively impact the world.”
The association's most prestigious annual award — the Brian H. Burke Business of the Year — went to 11-year member AmCheck Payroll HR Benefits for embracing the principles of the organization established by its founding chairman.
Representatives of AmCheck — which supports such charities as Adopt A Child, Toys for Tots and Feed My Starving Children — said they were honored to be nominated alongside the beautiful venue for the event and Burke's own company, Links Technology Solutions Inc.
Other award winners were Carlos Madinya of Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Schaumburg for Leader of the Year and Richard Eisenhuth of HomeTrust Mortgage for Volunteer of the Year.
Itasca Bank & Trust Co. won Rookie of the Year, the association's award for the company that shows demonstrates an extraordinary level of involvement during its first year as a member.
The SBA also presented its two scholarship winners, college freshmen who proved worthy of benefiting from fundraising begun at last year's Toast of Schaumburg.
Lydia Schiller, a 2017 graduate of Barrington-based Classical Consortium Academy, is using her $2,500 scholarship to begin her quest for law school at Harper College in Palatine.
“For me, this scholarship is the difference between having a dream and having a plan,” she said.
Gianfranco Torres graduated from Fremd High School in Palatine this spring and is majoring in international business management with a minor in Spanish at the University of Illinois. He thanked the association for the ability to focus on his classes rather than his finances and shared what he'd learned about how philanthropy enhances a community and the individuals who practice it.
“Aren't they great?” Harding said of the two scholarship winners. “To see the talent we have in this local area!”
She threw down the challenge for members to raise enough money this year to award more than two scholarships next year.