Peers Honor Village Official for Charitable Efforts

, was once again honored by her peers when the Illinois City/County Management Association paid tribute to her community service efforts in June.

A month ago she was given the association’s outstanding service award as one of the top municipal management officials in the state.

This time Maltas’ nine-year effort as a fundraiser to fight cancer brought her recognition. Her Relay For Life team of family members, Courtney’s Crusaders, has raised over $120,000 in that time to fight the disease.

Both the profession and fundraising are family efforts. Maltas’ sister, Kendal, works in the Northbrook village manager’s office, had the honor of presenting the award to Jenny. Thoughts of their mother, who lived for years with the disease before dying from it, were never far away.

“My mom would have been very proud that I received the award as she always said that she could tell how much she meant to me by how much time I dedicated to fundraising and working to find a cure for cancer,” Jenny Maltas said. “Even though she lost her battle last year, I don't intend to stop fundraising until we find the cure.”

In the past two years, the group has collected more than $50,000 as the top Relay for Life fundraising unit in Illinois. Jenny Maltas finds support from her colleagues in the profession.

“The people who work for the communities in Illinois are dedicated professionals who have always been incredibly supportive,” Jenny Maltas said. “Many of the members of the association are annual donors to my family's Relay for Life Team Courtney's Crusaders.”

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