Park Ridge Community Star: Adai Karuthalackal

Information submitted by the Park Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Whether he’s promoting the charity basketball game to raise funds for Lutheran General Hospital, or on the volleyball court leading his team, Adai Karuthalackal sets the standard as an exemplary scholar athlete carrying a current GPA of 4.27. He helped students struggling with depression through a program he designed in cooperation with Erika’s Lighthouse, a local organization that educates about depression.  While most students who tutor before or after school are paid, Adai volunteered every Thursday morning at 7 a.m. to help other students out of the goodness of his heart.  On the week-long Lyceum service trip to southern Indiana this past summer, Adai stood out always the first one in and the last one out, never complaining and always with a smile on his face even through some of the work was difficult and dirty.  He also volunteers at his church where he has served in soup kitchens, prepared meal packs for Haitian children, raised funds to assist with Haiti’s 2010 earthquake.

The dinner honoring the Community Stars will be held at Rosewood Restaurant in Rosemont on Saturday, January 25. Tickets are $75 if purchased by year end and $85 in 2014. The Chamber is also accepting donations of gift certificates and other prizes for the raffle and silent auction at the dinner. Contact the Park Ridge Chamber for more information atinfo@ParkRidgeChamber.org, call 847.825.3121, or mail to 720 Garden St, Park Ridge, IL 60068.