Gov. Quinn proclaimed October 15, 2013 to be Downers Grove North High School Day in Illinois in honor of Anne Wagner and the classmates who rallied to support her. Anne, who has Down syndrome, missed half of her sophomore year and almost all of her junior year in high school after being diagnosed with leukemia. After returning to school in her senior year, students organized a successful social networking drive to elect Anne as Homecoming Queen.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Proclaiming Downers Grove North High School Day in Illinois.
On April 6, 2013, Anne Smedinghoff, a young American diplomat from River Forest who graduated from Fenwick High School in Oak Park, lost her life in Afghanistan while delivering books to young children.
View Chicago Tribune's "State Department diplomat with Chicago ties killed in Afghanistan".
On May 14, 2009, Gov. Quinn honored six firefighters who were killed in the line of duty and 40 firefighters who showed outstanding bravery and service to their communities.
In 2014, Pat Quinn of Yonkers, New York, started a nationwide movement called the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The Ice Bucket Challenge went viral online in the summer of 2014 as videos were posted of individuals dumping ice water on their heads to raise awareness and funds to fight ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, and challenged others to do the same within 24 hours.
Gov. Pat Quinn took the Ice Bucket Challenge, challenging several White Sox players to do the same, and also met with the Pat Quinn of Yonkers, New York -- the man who started the challenge -- to keep raising awareness.
The Ice Bucket Challenge raised $115 million for ALS research in 2014. Since then, more than $500 million has been raised.
On May 21, 2010, Gov. Quinn signed legislation providing adopted adults greater access to copies of their original birth certificates without having to get a court order. The new law also helped adopted adults learn more about their birth families, including medical histories. The legislation has been recognized as the most expansive adoptee rights legislation enacted in the nation.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Signing Bill Making Birth Records More Accessible to Adopted Adults .
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Signing Law Further Assisting Adoptees’ Access to Birth and Identity Information .
View the Sun Times' "BROWN: State rep, adopted, ‘always wanted a sister,’ now has 3".
On June 26, 2014, Gov. Quinn signed a bill requiring all public schools to develop and implement an anti-bullying policy.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Signing Anti-Bullying Legislation .
Gov. Quinn signed legislation to protect pets from harm, and his dog Bailey joined him for one important bill-signing.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Signing Law to Protect New Pet Owners.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Announcing Legislation to End “Puppy Mill” Sales at Pet Shops.
View the Governor’s Office Press Release of Quinn Taking Action to Strengthen Humane Treatment of Animals Law .