The winners \u2014 an individual and an organization in each category \u2014 stand out among hundreds of nominees selected for embodying one or more of the FECK principles. They were chosen by a board of judges from online submissions at giveafeck.com\/awards<\/a> Ebert said.<\/p>\n The awards \u2014 four in all \u2014 will be given on Saturday evening at a ceremony at the Ritz-Carlton, Chicago at Water Tower Place.<\/p>\n The ceremony coincides with the Day4Empathy<\/a>, which marks the anniversary of Roger Ebert\u2019s death. Since 2018, the Day4Empathy reinforces Ebert\u2019s embrace of the universal principles of empathy, humility, compassion and paying acts of kindness forward, Chaz Ebert said.<\/p>\n Honorees from the Chicago area include Riverdale native Jayera Griffin<\/a>, 22, who is being recognized for compassion.<\/p>\n In May, she\u2019ll graduate from Western Illinois University and become an elementary school teacher in her hometown. Griffin said she started doing community service when she was a toddler. Since she was a teenager, she\u2019s organized free laundry days for her community, so her fellow students could have clean clothes for school. In college, that morphed into her providing free detergent for those washing their clothes.<\/p>\n Her efforts have also included initiatives like organizing CPR and AED training for youths, collecting clothing for seniors, and organizing school supply drives and holiday programs for neighborhood families.<\/p>\n Griffin said her father, Michael, nominated her for the award. The award, she said, is so surreal.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce I get there, I\u2019m probably going to start crying \u2014 I\u2019m a big crybaby with things like these,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n When asked how to increase the FECK-ness in the world going forward, she responded that staying true to your values is the most important, not what\u2019s online.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re doing what you believe is right, then that\u2019s the only thing that matters \u2014 doing what you can to help someone,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n![\"David](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/ECN-L-luplow-01-e1774650324909.jpg\")
David Luplow Jr., of South Elgin, drops off gifts for the South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District’s Toys for Tots campaign in December, in this photo posted on the village of South Elgin’s Facebook page. (Village of South Elgin)<\/p>\n