Our mission: Honor Flight Chicago was founded to recognize our veterans – most specifically our WWII veterans – with a day of honor, remembrance and celebration from a proud and grateful nation.
Honor Flight Chicago is a 501c3 non-profit organization, founded in February 2008. Four Chicago women asked themselves what they could do to honor and thank our veterans – especially our WWII vets, whose courage and determination to do the job they were sent to do still echoes down the years.
The founding members have assembled the talents and commitment of a group of people who share their love and respect for our veterans, dedicated people who are working to deliver on the promise of Honor Flight. Honor Flight Chicago is very proud of its staff of over 350 volunteers and guardians. Without these dedicated individuals, we would not be able to serve our veterans in the capacity we do. Our volunteers and guardians work year round through veteran outreach, community and school education, fundraising and public relations.
Honor Flight Chicago is a 501c3 non-profit organization, founded in February 2008. Four Chicago women asked themselves what they could do to honor and thank our veterans – especially our WWII vets, whose courage and determination to do the job they were sent to do still echoes down the years.
The founding members have assembled the talents and commitment of a group of people who share their love and respect for our veterans, dedicated people who are working to deliver on the promise of Honor Flight. Honor Flight Chicago is very proud of its staff of over 350 volunteers and guardians. Without these dedicated individuals, we would not be able to serve our veterans in the capacity we do. Our volunteers and guardians work year round through veteran outreach, community and school education, fundraising and public relations.
View our documentary to see what we’re about.
If you are interested in becoming one of our staff members, please click here for a volunteer application.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Mary E. Pettinato, President and HFC Founder
Mary Pettinato is Founder, President and CEO of Intron Corporation; a 15-year-old Chicago based healthcare and leasing company. In addition, Mary is the proud daughter of a WWII Veteran. She began her volunteer career at age 14 as a Candy Striper at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Mary’s volunteer efforts have ranged from serving those who have sacrificed much to defend our country to volunteer boards in the Chicago community, including Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago.
Dominic Sanfilippo, Vice President
Dominic is a U.S. Navy Submarine Service veteran, having served six years aboard the nuclear-powered Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine, U.S.S. Kentucky. There he was assigned to the Engineering Department, operating and maintaining the ship’s nuclear propulsion plant. Upon separating from the Navy, Dominic went to work as firefighter and paramedic in the Chicagoland area. Dominic is now volunteering with Honor Flight Chicago in memory of his grandfather, who was both a Navy Machinist’s Mate First Class in WWII aboard the U.S.S. Buckingham, and a firefighter.
Suzanne Stanits, Secretary and HFC Founder
Suzanne has been with American Family Insurance for 27 years and spent eight of those years as the company's first female District Sales Manager before moving back into her own agency. She was a start-up member and fundraiser for OROC Chicago and is President of her townhouse association. Suzanne is the proud wife of Vietnam Veteran Rick Stanits and blessed daughter of WWII Veteran Vernon Hardt, who served with the Army in New Guinea. She is an active volunteer in her church. Suzanne and her husband live in Chicago's northwest suburbs.
William Hassett, CPA, Treasurer
Bill is managing director in RSM McGladrey’s National Real Estate Group and provides audit, tax, and business consulting services for real estate developers and investors. Bill is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Illinois CPA Society Real Estate Special Interest Group, National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, and the Illinois Housing Council. He is also Board President emeritus of DuPage PADS, the emergency shelter and supportive housing provider in DuPage County. His volunteer work at DuPage PADS included active involvement on the development, governance and government relations committees.
Francis R. Bailey
Frank served with the United States Marine Corps, Third Marine Air Wing during WWII serving as a Sergeant in the South Pacific on the island of Emaru and in the Philippines on the Island of Mindanao. Upon his return to the States, he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad for 35 years, the last ten years as a Train Dispatcher for the East Coast region. Retired in 1975, Frank is a FCC licensed Amateur Radio operator and volunteers with the Lake County Illinois Races Group, an organization that assists in Emergency Communication for Lake County.
Read Boeckel
Read, his wife, and grown children live in the western suburbs. Read is employed by Midwest Medical Supply and has been selling medical supplies for over thirty-five years. Other fundraising interests are The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and The Les Turner ALS Foundation. Read's father, an Honor Flight participant, served in the Pacific during World War II with the Army Air Corps. Read proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Experiencing the World War II Memorial with his dad and other World War II veterans has been a life changing experience.
Jill Golden
Jill spent 20 years in Sales for Fortune 500 companies before starting her own retail business. Most recently she completed a Masters in Social Work from Loyola University in 2008, supplementing a long history of volunteer work in the NFP sector. She had six great uncles who served in WWII – all at the same time and is forever grateful for what they and other soldiers sacrificed for all of us. Jill is fortunate to split her time between Chicago and California with her husband and two children.
Bette J. Nahas
Bette is an Assistant Vice-President at Harris Bank where she has been for over 20 years. Bette is an appointed member of the Chicago commission on Human Relations - Advisory council on Women. Involved with Honor flight Chicago since its inception, Bette works tirelessly with the veterans in honor of her father, a retired Colonel in the USAF and a WWII hero. Bette is a proud life long resident of Chicago.
Doug Roth
Doug Roth has extensive experience in restaurant development and operations coming from three generations of restaurateurs who spanned the last century. He has co-owned Bistro 110 and Blackhawk Lodge along with being involved with his family’s restaurant, Don Roth’s, in Wheeling. He is currently working with Joseph Freed and Company to develop the food and entertainment concepts for Block 37 and the Sullivan Center (the old Carson Pirie building). Doug’s interest in Honor Flight Chicago stems from hearing captivating stories from his late father, Don Roth, of his Marine Corp service. Doug graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Economics. He has twin sons and lives in the northern suburbs.
Steven Schaefer
Steven is a United States Army Veteran who served two plus tours of duty in Vietnam, and is medically retired after receiving four Purple Hearts. Steven has been active in Veteran Service organizations for the last 30 years. He continues to serve his community as he has served his country. Currently he is VFW Post Commander, District Post Commander and the VFW State Youth Activities Director. He also publishes a monthly newsletter and maintains the website for his VFW Post. Steven has been a resident of Des Plaines, Illinois for the last 10 years, and is President of the Lake Park Memorial Pavilion Committee. He is retired from owning his own Painting and Home Improvement business, and he is an active member of his local church.
Duane Werth
Duane is a Vietnam veteran having served with the US Navy 1962-1966. His squadron, VA-75 aboard the USS Independence was the first A6A squadron to serve combat in Vietnam. He attended Kent State University. Duane serves on the Board of Directors of Heartland Voices and DuPage Pilots Association. He is active in the local Elgin community and First United Methodist Church.
Mary E. Pettinato, President and HFC Founder
Mary Pettinato is Founder, President and CEO of Intron Corporation; a 15-year-old Chicago based healthcare and leasing company. In addition, Mary is the proud daughter of a WWII Veteran. She began her volunteer career at age 14 as a Candy Striper at Bethesda Naval Hospital. Mary’s volunteer efforts have ranged from serving those who have sacrificed much to defend our country to volunteer boards in the Chicago community, including Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago.
Dominic Sanfilippo, Vice President
Dominic is a U.S. Navy Submarine Service veteran, having served six years aboard the nuclear-powered Fleet Ballistic Missile Submarine, U.S.S. Kentucky. There he was assigned to the Engineering Department, operating and maintaining the ship’s nuclear propulsion plant. Upon separating from the Navy, Dominic went to work as firefighter and paramedic in the Chicagoland area. Dominic is now volunteering with Honor Flight Chicago in memory of his grandfather, who was both a Navy Machinist’s Mate First Class in WWII aboard the U.S.S. Buckingham, and a firefighter.
Suzanne Stanits, Secretary and HFC Founder
Suzanne has been with American Family Insurance for 27 years and spent eight of those years as the company's first female District Sales Manager before moving back into her own agency. She was a start-up member and fundraiser for OROC Chicago and is President of her townhouse association. Suzanne is the proud wife of Vietnam Veteran Rick Stanits and blessed daughter of WWII Veteran Vernon Hardt, who served with the Army in New Guinea. She is an active volunteer in her church. Suzanne and her husband live in Chicago's northwest suburbs.
William Hassett, CPA, Treasurer
Bill is managing director in RSM McGladrey’s National Real Estate Group and provides audit, tax, and business consulting services for real estate developers and investors. Bill is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), the Illinois CPA Society Real Estate Special Interest Group, National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, and the Illinois Housing Council. He is also Board President emeritus of DuPage PADS, the emergency shelter and supportive housing provider in DuPage County. His volunteer work at DuPage PADS included active involvement on the development, governance and government relations committees.
Francis R. Bailey
Frank served with the United States Marine Corps, Third Marine Air Wing during WWII serving as a Sergeant in the South Pacific on the island of Emaru and in the Philippines on the Island of Mindanao. Upon his return to the States, he worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad for 35 years, the last ten years as a Train Dispatcher for the East Coast region. Retired in 1975, Frank is a FCC licensed Amateur Radio operator and volunteers with the Lake County Illinois Races Group, an organization that assists in Emergency Communication for Lake County.
Read Boeckel
Read, his wife, and grown children live in the western suburbs. Read is employed by Midwest Medical Supply and has been selling medical supplies for over thirty-five years. Other fundraising interests are The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training and The Les Turner ALS Foundation. Read's father, an Honor Flight participant, served in the Pacific during World War II with the Army Air Corps. Read proudly served in the U.S. Marine Corps. Experiencing the World War II Memorial with his dad and other World War II veterans has been a life changing experience.
Jill Golden
Jill spent 20 years in Sales for Fortune 500 companies before starting her own retail business. Most recently she completed a Masters in Social Work from Loyola University in 2008, supplementing a long history of volunteer work in the NFP sector. She had six great uncles who served in WWII – all at the same time and is forever grateful for what they and other soldiers sacrificed for all of us. Jill is fortunate to split her time between Chicago and California with her husband and two children.
Bette J. Nahas
Bette is an Assistant Vice-President at Harris Bank where she has been for over 20 years. Bette is an appointed member of the Chicago commission on Human Relations - Advisory council on Women. Involved with Honor flight Chicago since its inception, Bette works tirelessly with the veterans in honor of her father, a retired Colonel in the USAF and a WWII hero. Bette is a proud life long resident of Chicago.
Doug Roth
Doug Roth has extensive experience in restaurant development and operations coming from three generations of restaurateurs who spanned the last century. He has co-owned Bistro 110 and Blackhawk Lodge along with being involved with his family’s restaurant, Don Roth’s, in Wheeling. He is currently working with Joseph Freed and Company to develop the food and entertainment concepts for Block 37 and the Sullivan Center (the old Carson Pirie building). Doug’s interest in Honor Flight Chicago stems from hearing captivating stories from his late father, Don Roth, of his Marine Corp service. Doug graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Economics. He has twin sons and lives in the northern suburbs.
Steven Schaefer
Steven is a United States Army Veteran who served two plus tours of duty in Vietnam, and is medically retired after receiving four Purple Hearts. Steven has been active in Veteran Service organizations for the last 30 years. He continues to serve his community as he has served his country. Currently he is VFW Post Commander, District Post Commander and the VFW State Youth Activities Director. He also publishes a monthly newsletter and maintains the website for his VFW Post. Steven has been a resident of Des Plaines, Illinois for the last 10 years, and is President of the Lake Park Memorial Pavilion Committee. He is retired from owning his own Painting and Home Improvement business, and he is an active member of his local church.
Duane Werth
Duane is a Vietnam veteran having served with the US Navy 1962-1966. His squadron, VA-75 aboard the USS Independence was the first A6A squadron to serve combat in Vietnam. He attended Kent State University. Duane serves on the Board of Directors of Heartland Voices and DuPage Pilots Association. He is active in the local Elgin community and First United Methodist Church.
The volunteers of Honor Flight Chicago are what make it such an incredible organization. With no paid employees, everything that goes into the veteran’s day of honor comes as a direct result of the generous donations of the time and talents of the volunteers. As you can imagine, the continued success and growth of Honor Flight Chicago is dependent on the expansion of our volunteer workforce, especially in a few key disciplines. If you would like to join Honor Flight Chicago as a volunteer please fill out and submit the Volunteer Application.
Honor Flight Chicago volunteers can help in several ways:
Help support us at our fundraising and special events
In office assistance with data entry and administrative duties
At home help with mailing preparation and phone calls
Airport Honor Flight Support at Midway in morning and evening
Run your own fundraising event with our support and assistance
Special volunteer assistance needed in the following areas:
Graphic Designers
Printers
Photographers
Videographers
Grant Writers
Data Entry
Web store sales experience
There are also several committees available to volunteers if you should choose to become more involved in this amazing cause. Committees include Logistics, Communications, Fundraising, Veteran Outreach and Volunteer. Each committee covers a portion of what goes into each Honor Flight, under the direction of a committee chair, and works together to provide the best possible experience for our veterans at their National World War II Memorial.
Thank you for you interest in volunteering with Honor Flight Chicago, please feel free to contact Amy Malinosky, the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@honorflightchicago.org with any questions or comments you may have.
Honor Flight Chicago volunteers can help in several ways:
Help support us at our fundraising and special events
In office assistance with data entry and administrative duties
At home help with mailing preparation and phone calls
Airport Honor Flight Support at Midway in morning and evening
Run your own fundraising event with our support and assistance
Special volunteer assistance needed in the following areas:
Graphic Designers
Printers
Photographers
Videographers
Grant Writers
Data Entry
Web store sales experience
There are also several committees available to volunteers if you should choose to become more involved in this amazing cause. Committees include Logistics, Communications, Fundraising, Veteran Outreach and Volunteer. Each committee covers a portion of what goes into each Honor Flight, under the direction of a committee chair, and works together to provide the best possible experience for our veterans at their National World War II Memorial.
Thank you for you interest in volunteering with Honor Flight Chicago, please feel free to contact Amy Malinosky, the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteering@honorflightchicago.org with any questions or comments you may have.
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Honor Flight Chicago has been recognized by the State of Illinois as a Homefront Hero for its patriotism, community spirit and willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty to support our brave troops and their families. Former Lt. Governor Pat Quinn presented the award September 7, 2008.
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