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2022 Governor's Hometown Awards

Governor's Cup Winner

O'Fallon Police Department

O'Fallon Police Department

The winner of The Governor's Hometown Award was chosen by a panel of six (6) judges who were given 45 minute presentations by each of the finalists. After much consideration by the judges, the winner of The 2022 Governor's Hometown Award was O'Fallon Police Department Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) for Special Olympics Illinois. For the next year, The Governor's cup will be displayed at the O'Fallon Police Department and will have their 

name engraved on it as the 2022 winner. Below is a short description of the O'Fallon Police Department's efforts:

"The O'Fallon Police Department Law Enforcement Torch fundraising efforts benefit 23,000 athletes with intellectual disability throughout the State of Illinois. The O'Fallon police department participates in a variety of events that raise money for Special Olympic Illinois. Special Olympic Illinois provides inclusive athletic competition and training that is provided free of charge."

To learn more, please visit: Special Olympics Illinois

Governor's Cup Finalists

Tiny Home

Tiny Home

Tiny Home was nominated for The Governor's Hometown Award by Ashley Metelko in the project category of Veterans and Military Families. They were chosen as one (1) of four (4) finalists for The Governor's Cup and received honorable mention for their project described below:

"The Central Illinois Veterans Commission (CIVC) was formed in December of 2018. The mission 

statement of the organization is "to provide Central Illinois veterans with the tools and support systems to enable them to move forward to obtain permanent sustainable housing". A major project over the last year has been to build small homes that can be given to veterans who qualify mortgage free, and who would otherwise not have a home of their own. The first home was built and awarded in Lincoln, Illinois in July of 2021. The second home was built and awarded in Lincoln, Illinois in May of 2022 and the third home is currently in progress and projected to be completed in July 2022."

To learn more, please visit: Central Illinois Veterans Commission

VetsRoll, Inc.

VetsRoll, Inc.

AmeriCorps is your moment to take the path less traveled, to break VetsRoll, Inc. was nominated for The Governor's Hometown Award by Mark Finnegan in the project category of Veterans and Military Families. They were chosen as one (1) of four (4) finalists for The Governor's Cup and received honorable mention for their project described below:

"VetsRoll, Inc® has operated annually since February of 2010, serving not only the IL/WI Stateline region Veterans, but also Veterans who have traveled to South Beloit from 37-States. Even though our core function of an all-expenses paid 4-day trip to Washington was shuttered due to COVID, we continue to celebrate America's senior Veterans on a nearly daily basis, through funeral escorts, repatriation escorts, landmark birthdays, etc. More than 2000 heroes have enjoyed this nationally unique program at zero cost to the participants!"

To learn more, please visit: VetsRoll

Volunteer Pop-Up Program

Volunteer Pop-Up Program

The Volunteer Pop-Up Program was nominated for The Governor's Hometown Award by Anna Bakker in the project category of Environmental Stewardship. They were chosen as one (1) of four (4) finalists for The Governor's Cup and received honorable mention for their project described below:

"Our Volunteer Pop-Up Program started as a result of Covid since many of our regular volunteers were displaced and extra burdens were placed on staff, so the program was created to engage volunteers during a time of hardship to assist staff with various projects around the district. Volunteers "pop-up" all over DuPage County Forest Preserves to help tackle various projects to assist staff. These projects include mulching, seed harvesting, prairie building, weeding, wetland maintenance, brush cutting, litter pickups, painting, fence removal, and other beautification or conservation efforts. In 2021, the Volunteer Services Department at the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County hosted 115 Pop-Up Volunteer Events, with over 1,000 volunteers, for a total of 2,169 service hours. The total monetary value that Pop-Up Program volunteers provided in service is equal to saving Illinois taxpayers $67,173.93. (Independent Sector, 2022)" 

To learn more, please visit: Forest Preserve District of DuPage County