Hailed as the gold standard of giving by the Midway Chamber of Commerce leaders
By Tim Hadac
Southwest Chicago Post
A Southwest Side business leader best known for serving others has himself just been served with an honor by the Midway Chamber of Commerce.
Geno Randazzo of All Exterior Contractors will serve as grand marshal of the MCC’s 2026 Patriot’s Day Parade, set for Thursday, June 25.
The parade is set to step off at 7 p.m. at Archer and Parkside, heading west to Kennedy High School, where it will disband.
“This is quite an honor for me. It’s humbling, and I’m grateful,” Randazzo said. “Especially in the year in which we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence—this has a great deal of meaning for me.”
Best known as a highly successful roofer who has repaired/replaced roofs on nearly 500 homes and businesses in the Midway area, Randazzo has expanded his business in recent years to include interior remodeling—everything from the smallest repairs to whole-house restorations after fires and floods.
But beyond his success as a one-stop shopping resource for everything relating to exteriors and interiors of homes and businesses, Randazzo has earned quite a bit of respect and admiration for his support of local schools, churches, veterans’ posts, senior citizen clubs, Scout troops, Little Leagues and other youth athletic associations, and police and fire causes.
Several years ago, he founded the Midway Cool Kids Club, a social group designed to help build the self-esteem of boys and girls with disabilities.
Randazzo also is known for purchasing and distributing meals to local senior citizens who are alone on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
In all his charitable giving and community service, he has been joined by his wife and business partner, Margarita.
“Geno is incredibly deserving of this honor because he has spent years consistently showing up for our community, often quietly and without expecting recognition,” Midway Chamber of Commerce President Mary Ellen Brown said. “Whether helping launch events like the Back to School event, supporting projects such as the Veterans Triangle, collaborating with local businesses or stepping forward when a neighbor is facing hardship, Geno never hesitates to help.
“He is a true friend to the community, someone people know they can count on, and this honor is a wonderful way to recognize the many ways he has served others over the years.”
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| Randazzo is well known for helping others in need. |
MCC Board of Directors member Al Cacciottolo also weighed in.
“It’s nearly impossible to overstate the positive impact on the Midway area that Geno has had over the years,” Cacciottolo said. “Geno is a businessman with a heart. He gives and gives and gives. In that regard, he’s the gold standard in our local community; and by naming him grand marshal the Chamber salutes him and also hopes that other business owners follow his example.”
The same day the grand marshal accolade was announced, Randazzo said he wanted to share the spotlight with others.
Specifically, he has chosen to salute the Midway area’s cancer survivors, as well as family and caregivers of cancer patients.
To that end, he has rented a double decker bus that will ride directly behind the grand marshal car. He plans to fill the bus with men, women and children whose lives have been affected by the disease.
“I know we all agree that cancer is so horrible,” he said. “Nobody deserves a break more than someone fighting cancer or whose loved one is fighting cancer. I want to use my role in the parade to help motivate people to donate their time and talents to cancer research and cancer-related charities.”
At his own expense, Randazzo is supplying 300 shirts for the cancer survivors or anyone wanting to walk in remembrance of a loved one. The bus is for those unable to walk the route, he added.
He also plans to have a digital mobile truck which has videos on both sides where Randazzo will be displaying a slide show of photos from the survivors/victims of cancer.
“I just really want them all to know they are not alone throughout this battle,” he said. “I will be ordering shirts for them and need sizes and quantity for their party”
Those interested in participating with Randazzo are encouraged to click this link: https://www.facebook.com/share/18WVo2taS5/.
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