Dan Cotter and Mike Abramson
Lifting to Lend a Hand
For four years and running Dan Cotter (left) has lifted in a powerlifting competition and raised over $50,000 for the Lend-A- Hand Program. Dan also enlisted newcomer Mike Abramson (right) to compete and raise funds. Dan Cotter says, “Mike is a Junior National champion in his weight class and has been instrumental in helping me get stronger and better technique-wise in the gym.”
LAH Executive Director, Karina Ayala-Bermejo says, “We are extremely proud to have Dan on the Lend-A-Hand Executive Board. "Dan and Mike’s gigantic biceps and enormous hearts raise funds so that inner city kids can participate in one-on-one mentoring programs.”
To make a pledge per pound lifted for the 2008 lifting competition, click here.
Michael Hayes
2005 My Hero Award Recipient
“Being a mentor gives a child an invaluable resource in their educational and life journey. We all have an investment in the success of our children's future and serving as a mentor is an excellent way to help them achieve success. I have been blessed with an incredible mentee, Kevin. Through our years together, I have learned just as much from him, as he has learned from me. I strongly encourage all to get involved with the Lend-A-Hand Progam and with tutoring/mentoring programs as it is a rewarding experience and will make our community a better place."
--Michael A. Hayes, Esq.Vice President Marsh USA Inc.
Gary S. Caplan
Chicago Lawyer Gary S. Caplan Makes a Difference
Chicago lawyer Gary S. Caplan was in his early thirties when he and five childhood friends met and talked about ways of giving back to their community. Soon after, he and his friends founded College Bound, a not-for-profit organization to help kids fund their college educations. Nearly ten years after its 1996 founding, College Bound merged with Scholarship Chicago, a larger tutoring, mentoring, scholarship and assistance organization dedicated to helping children. Caplan remains on the board and also sits on the Executive Board of the Lend-A-Hand Program.
