Park Ridge Mother-Daughter Duo Receive Point of Light Award

For mother-daughter duo Kim and Kate Quintero of Park Ridge, volunteering together has helped strengthen their commitment to one another and to Chicagoans in need.

In recognition of their volunteer service, Kim and Kate received the prestigious Daily Point of Light Award on April 4, 2023. This honor is presented by Points of Light, a nonpartisan, global nonprofit organization that inspires, equips and mobilizes millions of people to take action that sparks change and improves the world.

Years ago, Kim wanted to teach her 7-year-old daughter about the world’s complex challenges and nurture an interest in civic action. They began volunteering with The Honeycomb Project, a local nonprofit that puts kids at the forefront of social change.

During their first project with Honeycomb, the Quinteros, alongside other families, made beds and handcrafted toys to help animals at the Anti-Cruelty Society stay active and healthy.

Since then, Kim and Kate have established a tradition of regularly volunteering together, attending dozens of Honeycomb projects across the city. They have assembled craft kits for hospitalized children, made floor pillows for people transitioning from homelessness, cleaned up city beaches while learning about pollution and more.

For the past several years, they have taken on a leadership role, helping set up a free outdoor market in the Humboldt Park neighborhood and assisting families in finding basic necessities, such as clothing, housewares, car seats, children’s books and toys.

Kate, now a sophomore at Maine South High School, was accepted into The Honeycomb Leadership Corp (HLC) for teens and parents who wish to build their leadership skills through service.

In 2022, after the Quinteros experienced a house fire that destroyed the majority of their belongings, they continued volunteering. As they emerged from a personal tragedy, they needed to focus on what made them happy and gave them purpose – and giving back to others does that. During that challenging year, the Quinteros logged more than 50 service hours.

Kim's upbringing prioritized giving back. She has always enjoyed helping others and aims to set a good example for her daughter. She exposed Kate to volunteer opportunities at a young age, and today Kate has genuine empathy for those less fortunate and a passion for improving her community.

For more information about The Honeycomb Project and a schedule of upcoming volunteer opportunities for families, visit thehoneycombproject.org.