Nicor Gas and The Adler Family Receive 2024 Chicagoland Habitat Hero Awards

9th annual Habitat Hero event raises over $1.1 million to build and repair affordable homes

CHICAGO (June 18, 2024) — Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity honored Nicor Gas and The Adler Family on June 13th at its ninth annual Habitat Hero Award Dinner, recognizing decades of leadership and commitment working with Habitat in the Chicago area and beyond.

Over 320 guests gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago to toast the honorees and help celebrate the heroes that help Habitat for Humanity build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter. WGN anchor Micah Materre returned as master of ceremonies for the event. “The theme of this evening is ‘Building Sustainable Futures.’ And these two honorees have been pivotal in creating sustainability for families and communities – each in their own way.”

“Habitat for Humanity is more than a housing developer. It’s a movement,” said Aaron Erter, CEO, James Hardie. “It’s a joining together of donors and builders and volunteers and families and public officials and more to achieve the shared goal of ensuring that our neighbors have a stable, affordable place to live.” Aaron served as co-chair of the event along with Meena Beyers, Vice President, Business & Community Development, Nicor Gas; Alex Jacobs, CEO, Wintrust Mortgage; and Chicagoland Habitat Board Chair Gloria Materre, Managing Director, EnTrust Realty Advisors and Principal Attorney, Materre & Associates, PC.

For nearly 40 years, Habitat for Humanity has had a local presence in the Chicago area across Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties. Chicagoland Habitat is a support organization to seven local Habitat affiliates across six counties, helping to raise awareness, support capacity building, and provide resources.

Nicor Gas was honored for partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build 30 net zero homes in Aurora and Carpentersville, which will feature smart building exteriors, energy efficient heating and cooling, and back up energy solutions. “Together, Habitat for Humanity and Nicor Gas are building the first ever affordable net zero neighborhood in the state of Illinois and in the nation,” said Wendell Dallas, President and CEO of Nicor Gas. “It is our common belief that all people regardless of income level should have the same opportunity to live a sustainable lifestyle.”

Chris Adler, owner of Adler Roofing & Sheet Medal, accepted the award on behalf of The Adler Family, which was celebrated for its role in founding the Will County Habitat affiliate in 1988 and its ReStore in 2010. Chris stated, “Our family is honored to partner with Habitat, and I’m urging you to get more involved with Habitat in your own communities.”

The evening featured a video of Olimpia and the sustainable future she and her children now have through her new Habitat home – built with accessible design and purchased through an affordable mortgage. The event was capped off by a paddle auction that raised over $100,000 to support Habitat for Humanity in the region and generously matched by The Edwardson Family Foundation.

Sponsors include Wesco International (Presenting Sponsor); Edwardson Family Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, and Nicor Gas (Region Builders); Ted and Ann Dosch, Aaron and Mona Erter, Chris and Carmela Griffin, USG, and Wintrust (Community Builders); James Hardie (Neighborhood Builders); Nancy and J.C. Anderson, Aon, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, Busey Bank, Deloitte, Melissa and Alex Dorko, The Eck Family Foundation, Paul and Mary Finnegan, Bill and Kim Galvin, Bill and Anne Marie Geary, ITW, Chuck and Judy Murphy, Northern Trust, Ashlee and Nathan Pforr, Srinivas and Ashwini Ramadath, Scott and Angel Ramsbottom, Anthony and Leslie Scattone, Bill and Carol Standish, and True Value Company (Home Builders); and J.L. Adler Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Baker McKenzie, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP, Dru and Bill Bergman, Kelly and Carla Bufton, Steve and Cindy Cruise, Elevate Private Wealth Management, Tony and Karin Gambell, Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, Informative Research, Joliet Firefighters, Chris Kempa, Kevin and Abby Laczkowski, Old National Bank, Kevin and Michelle Sachs, Kristin and Jeff Slavish, The Denise & Rod Smith Charitable Trust, Brian and Darci Tauke, and Chris Wagner and Sarah Brachle Wagner (Family Builders).

For more information, visit www.chicagolandhabitat.org/habitathero. #HabitatHero #SustainableFutures

About Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity

Chicagoland Habitat for Humanity was created as a support organization for Habitat for Humanity affiliates in the Chicagoland area, with a goal of significantly increasing the number of families served in the Chicagoland region. Habitat is committed to creating opportunities for individuals and families to thrive; to revitalizing neighborhoods and building communities; and to helping transform generations through home ownership. We do this by making housing affordable to hardworking people without access to conventional financing and offer individuals a hand up, fueled by our belief in dignity, self-sufficiency, collaboration, and hope. To learn more, visit chicagolandhabitat.org.