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Special recognition honoring April Soulak-Andrews, founder of The Penny’s Purpose, for her deep commitment to giving.
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SPECIAL RECOGNITION
WHEREAS, April Soulak-Andrews, a lifelong resident of Antioch, has made giving back to the community she loves a core part of her life, with the importance of service to others instilled in her by her mother, Penny Soulak, and grandmother, Carol Jurgensen; and
WHEREAS, April’s grandmother and mother were devoted volunteers at several local organizations in Antioch, and inspired by this family tradition of volunteerism, she founded The Penny’s Purpose in loving tribute to her late mother to bring the gift of giving to those in need, offering warmth and comfort through handmade blankets and other acts of kindness; and
WHEREAS, The Penny’s Purpose’s mission - “Learn to give, even when blessed with less” was directly inspired by how Penny lived her life, and is meant to inspire volunteers, donors, and community members to reach out to neighbors experiencing hardship and to embrace the value of compassion and service; and
WHEREAS, through its blanket-making and blanket gifting programs, The Penny’s Purpose has provided tangible comfort to individuals and families in need in Lake County and Kenosha County, Wisconsin, while fostering community connection, volunteerism, and generosity; and
WHEREAS, The Penny’s Purpose engages the community in hands-on activities to make no-sew fleece blankets and provides the opportunity to sponsor, donate, or make a blanket, allowing individuals of all ages to give, collecting more than 12,500 blankets since its founding in 2019; and
WHEREAS, beyond her charity work, April works at a life safety company and previously served as an Emergency Medical Technician for the Lake Villa and Antioch Fire Protection Districts and was a Lake County Fire Department Honor Guard; and
WHEREAS, a sports fan, April enjoys watching the Chicago Cubs, Milwaukee Bucks, and Notre Dame with her husband of 13 years, Greg, and her two sons, Jake and Adam, in her free time, while trying to live every day as grateful, thankful, and blessed.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RECOGNIZED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that April Soulak-Andrews and The Penny’s Purpose, highlighted by Board Member Linda Pedersen, be commended for their outstanding contributions, unwavering support, and community outreach to the residents of Lake County and beyond.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on November 18, 2025.