Westmont names Hank Anzelone Citizen of the Year award winner

WESTMONT — Community service is very important to Hank Anzelone, as he is involved in many groups in Westmont.

And while Anzelone said he doesn't do it for the attention, he admits it is nice to be recognized by people in the community.

Anzelone was named the 2012 Westmont Citizen of the Year during the annual Westmont Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau's Community Awards Dinner March 11 at the Oak Brook Marriott Resort in Westmont.

Anzelone's body of work includes coordinating food drives during the Westmont Holly Days annual holiday festival, but it's his role at the People's Resource Center in Westmont, a social service organization that serves hundreds of families, for which he may be best known. He works year-round to solicit food drives to benefit the PRC pantry.

"For me, it isn't about personal gain," Anzelone said. "It has always started with family, as my family was always very active in service and trying to help people. It rubbed on me in a big way."

Currently, he is working to solicit prom and formal dresses for the PRC's upcoming Prom Dress Drive, which provides free dresses for girls to attend their high school prom. Last year, more than 100 girls benefited from the Prom Dress Drive.

Another cause of Anzelone's is the fight against cancer. He participated in the St. Baldrick's Foundation fundraiser held at Holy Trinity Saturday. He got his head shaved to raise money for childhood cancer research.

While his hair may be shorter, his trademark beard remains.

"The beard," he said, "would've cost extra."

Also honored during the Community Awards Dinner March 11 were Westmont Junior High School teacher Laura Riley, who was named Westmont Educator of the Year; detective Jeff Borgardt as Public Safety Office of the Year; and Phillip's Flowers and Gifts, which was named the winner of the Dick Busse Business of the Year Award.

Resident Linda Sobotka was also recognized with the Westmont Rotary Club's Paul Harris Award, the highest award from Rotary International.

The two other nominees for the 17th annual Citizen of the Year were Bob Fleck and Rose Yauk.

About Hank Anzelone
Age: 64
Residence: Westmont
Occupation: Site coordinator at the People's Resource Center in Westmont; retired United Airlines worker
Community service work: Active volunteer with the Westmont Knights of Columbus, Holy Trinity Catholic Church, and the Westmont Special Events Corporation.