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Berwyn, IL —
Even as a child, Aimee Sordelli couldn't help but do good.
When she sneaked in a trip to McDonald's with a friend's family at age 7 — a small act of rebellion in a family that barred fast food — she came back with a flyer for Ronald McDonald House suggesting she hold her own charity event for muscular dystrophy.
A few weeks later, she organized and hosted her own charitable function in her backyard and raised $40.
From there, it didn't really stop.
Professionally, Sordelli is a Medicare specialist at Loyola University Medical Center who helps seniors keep their medical bills down.
She's also elected to serve as a Berwyn Township trustee. She's appointed to sit on the 708 Mental Health Board. She's been a volunteer for a bevy of organizations including the Seniors Advisory Board for Cook County, Berwyn Main Street, the Depot District Special Events Committee and virtually every volunteer event in town.
“It's Berwyn. You've gotta help Berwyn,” Sordelli said.
Not surprisingly, Sordelli recently was named the 26th-annual Charles E. Piper Award winner by the Berwyn Development Corporation’s Board of Directors. She will be honored on Saturday during a special dinner at Pierre's Banquet Hall.
“It's a huge, huge honor. I'm very proud of my accomplishments this year,” Sordelli said of her recent award. “It's very humbling.”
Sordelli attributes her do-good nature to her father, who was an Episcopal minister.
“I think a lot of it had to do with my upbringing. My family was very community-oriented,” she said. “We were always taught to help people in any capacity that we could.”
Of Sordelli's numerous accomplishments, perhaps the most impressive is beating stage 4 breast cancer.
Sordelli was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer in December 2009, and was given six months to live. She's nearing the two-year anniversary of her diagnosis and is still in remission.
During the eight months of radiation and another eight months of chemotherapy, Sordelli only missed work once: when she tripped on a pillow getting up early for work and broke her arm.
She also didn't miss a single township board meeting and barely slowed down her volunteering schedule.
“I was extremely tired, but I had to keep going. I had to fight,” she said. “I was not going to let it get the best of me, I wouldn't.”
In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many people wanted to help, but didn't know how. Sordelli just did what she could.
“I lived right around the corner from the firehouse on 16th Street, and I just started making them chili,” Sordelli said.
Now, it's become a local tradition for neighborhood members to cook for their emergency service personnel every year on Sept. 11.
When asked what makes her so driven to help, Sordelli just shrugged.
“I just like to make people happy, I guess,” she said.
Even as a child, Aimee Sordelli couldn't help but do good.
When she sneaked in a trip to McDonald's with a friend's family at age 7 — a small act of rebellion in a family that barred fast food — she came back with a flyer for Ronald McDonald House suggesting she hold her own charity event for muscular dystrophy.
A few weeks later, she organized and hosted her own charitable function in her backyard and raised $40.
From there, it didn't really stop.
Professionally, Sordelli is a Medicare specialist at Loyola University Medical Center who helps seniors keep their medical bills down.
She's also elected to serve as a Berwyn Township trustee. She's appointed to sit on the 708 Mental Health Board. She's been a volunteer for a bevy of organizations including the Seniors Advisory Board for Cook County, Berwyn Main Street, the Depot District Special Events Committee and virtually every volunteer event in town.
“It's Berwyn. You've gotta help Berwyn,” Sordelli said.
Not surprisingly, Sordelli recently was named the 26th-annual Charles E. Piper Award winner by the Berwyn Development Corporation’s Board of Directors. She will be honored on Saturday during a special dinner at Pierre's Banquet Hall.
“It's a huge, huge honor. I'm very proud of my accomplishments this year,” Sordelli said of her recent award. “It's very humbling.”
Sordelli attributes her do-good nature to her father, who was an Episcopal minister.
“I think a lot of it had to do with my upbringing. My family was very community-oriented,” she said. “We were always taught to help people in any capacity that we could.”
Of Sordelli's numerous accomplishments, perhaps the most impressive is beating stage 4 breast cancer.
Sordelli was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer in December 2009, and was given six months to live. She's nearing the two-year anniversary of her diagnosis and is still in remission.
During the eight months of radiation and another eight months of chemotherapy, Sordelli only missed work once: when she tripped on a pillow getting up early for work and broke her arm.
She also didn't miss a single township board meeting and barely slowed down her volunteering schedule.
“I was extremely tired, but I had to keep going. I had to fight,” she said. “I was not going to let it get the best of me, I wouldn't.”
In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, many people wanted to help, but didn't know how. Sordelli just did what she could.
“I lived right around the corner from the firehouse on 16th Street, and I just started making them chili,” Sordelli said.
Now, it's become a local tradition for neighborhood members to cook for their emergency service personnel every year on Sept. 11.
When asked what makes her so driven to help, Sordelli just shrugged.
“I just like to make people happy, I guess,” she said.
