President Barack Obama will bestow the highest civilian honor on two Chicago women when he hands out the the Presidential Citizens Medal Wednesday.
Obama will hand out the awards Wednesday to Chicagoans Daisy Brooks, 72, and Lisa Nigro, 49 -- along with 11 others -- for their inspiring charitable work, reports the Chicago Tribune.
Brooks founded Daisy’s Resource and Developmental Center, a North Chicago facility with programs to help pregnant girls ages 12 to 21 with education and vocational training, White House officials said.
Nigro owns Inspiration Café located in Uptown, which provides restaurant-style meals plus support services to homeless men and women. Nigro, a former Chicago Police officer, founded the café in 1989.
The Presidential Citizens Medal was established by President Richard M. Nixon in 1969 as a tribute to exemplary service by any citizen. The medal has been handed out to a range of people, from actress Elizabeth Taylor to sports legend Muhammad Ali as well as less celebrated citizens.
The other 2010 Citizens Medal recipients are: Betty Chinn, of Eureka, Calif.; Roberta Diaz Brinton, of Los Angeles; Cynthia Church, of Wilmington, Del.; Mary K. Hoodhood, of Grand Rapids, Mich.; Kimberly McGuiness, of Cave Spring, Ga.; Mary Ann Phillips, of Star Valley Ranch, Wyo.; Elizabeth Cushman Titus Putnam, of Shaftsbury, Vt.; and Myrtle Faye Rumph, 78, of Inglewood, Calif.
The President, oddly enough, will then board a plane for Chicago to celebrate his birthday.
