On Thursday, March 10, Cook County celebrated the 25th Annual Unsung Heroine Awards with a robust virtual program that included a retrospective on past winners.
This year's Unsung Heroine in the 14th District is Michelle Valiukenas, a mother who co-founded The Colette Louise Tisdahl Foundation with her husband. The Foundation is a nonprofit that improves outcomes of pregnancy and childbirth by supporting families dealing with the loss of a child. Their flagship program financially assists families coping with high-risk and complicated pregnancies, NICU stays, and loss. To date, the organization has helped over 1,000 families in 42 states and given away almost $1 million in grants.
Michelle co-leads a support group for parents who have lost babies, participates in Mom Congress, and advocates for legislative change on maternal and infant health issues. In an effort to build awareness and advocate for change, Michelle actively shares her own story of loss and other families she has supported.
Michelle is the proud mom of three: Sweet Pea, who she lost to miscarriage, her daughter Colette Louise who she lost at nine days old, and her only living child Elliott Miguel, who is 18 months old. Michelle lives in Glenview with her son Elliott, her husband Mark, and dog Nemo.
Please join me in congratulating Michelle for her incredible work in the 14th District and beyond!
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