Carol Valentino-Barry

Carol Valentino-Barry, a founding member and past president of the Norridge-Harwood Heights Kiwanis Club, also leads Mentoring Mission, a nonprofit guiding high school students to build career skills, explore aviation, and serve their communities. With roots in Abruzzi and Campania, she reflects the Italian tradition of giving back, carrying forward the values of hard work, leadership, and service by both mentoring students and serving with them in the community.

Kiwanians celebrate Pontarelli

On June 23, members of the Norridge-Harwood Heights and Montclare Elmwood Park Kiwanis Clubs came together to celebrate a living legend: Ross Pontarelli, who has been a proud and active member of Kiwanis for 54 year s— and counting. Ross’s journey began in Rocchetta al Volturno, Italy, where he was born Rosinto Antonio Pontarelli on March 3, 1931. As a young boy, he witnessed the rumble of World War II firsthand — bombs falling not far from his village near Monte Cassino. At 20, he left Italy for North America, eventually settling in Chicago in 1955 with determination, a drive to serve, and only basic English. He made …

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