Debbie Paliferro was the president of the Montclare Elmwood Park Kiwanis Club for 2016, and she said she can’t imagine a better person to fill her shoes than Gabe Caporale.
Caporale, who is also involved in a slew of other community organizations, earlier this year was inducted as the new president of the club at an event at Rivers Cafe in River Grove.
“I’m excited, and I think the Kiwanis Club is going to have the best president ever because of his years of experience,” Paliferro said. “He belongs to many clubs and does so many wonderful things.”
Caporale had been the club’s vice president. He was the past president for the Montclare/ Elmwood Park Chamber of Commerce and Elmwood Park Lions Club, fourth degree for the Knights of Columbus, past chairman and president for the Columbian Club of Chicago, member of the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans, a treasurer for Elmbrook senior residence and treasurer for Casa Italia.
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“I’ve been in the Kiwanis Club for 15 years,” he said. “I wanted to join because I know it helps the needy and underprivileged people.”
Caporale, who said he has lived in Elmwood Park for 53 years, said his goal for the 2017 year is to increase membership. Past president Roseanne Eiternick said Caporale has a lot of connections and always gets things done.
“He sets his mind on what he wants to do,” she said. “He will follow all the way through.”
The Kiwanis Club does several fundraisers throughout the year such as Breakfast with Santa, which is coming up on Dec. 3 at St. Celestine, as well as Go Baby Go, breakfast with the Easter Bunny and a bowl-a-thon to help in the fight against spina bifida.
“We have added some new fundraisers, such as a car show,” Paliferro said.
Paliferro will be the lieutenant governor for the Kiwanis Club division. She said she will also be starting a new Kiwanis Club for the Norridge and Harwood Heights area.
She is also proud that the club reached its goal of purchasing a wheelchair for a young lady. She said it “filled her heart with joy” that the club could purchase it for her.
“There are so many things in this world to donate to, but be generous because the Kiwanis Club does a lot of good for a lot of kids,” Paliferro said.
Maryann Pisano is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.