Morris Daily Herald–”Thank Heavens”
Thank Heavens
By Heidi Terry-Litchfield – hlitchfield@morrisdailyherald.com
JOLIET – Pam Heavens was just a small-town girl with big dreams when she moved from Coal City, where she grew up, to Joliet in 1983.
Heavens, who has a disability which causes the use of a wheelchair, never let the disability stop her.
“I owe it to my dad, who never said ‘no,’” she said at the Will Grundy Center for Independent Living’s annual awards dinner Wednesday night.
When Heavens first moved to Joliet, she worked at Easter Seals, which she credits with the start of what has become WGCIL.
“Easter Seals was instrumental in the charter board when we got finalized to open our center,” she said.
After three years of planning, WGCIL opened its doors in 1989.
For the 20 years since it’s inception, Heavens has been the only executive director at the center.
She was honored at the awards banquet for her 20 years of service and received a congressional record from Debbie Halvorson, which was presented by Nick Allen and Greg Bales; resolutions from Illinois Senator A.J. Wilhelmi and State Rep. Jack McGuire; a plaque from State Rep. Tom Cross; and resolutions from Will County Executive Director Larry Walsh and Joliet Township.