2018 Governor's Hometown Awards

Who would lie about their age to go to war at the age of 16 because they felt a sense of duty to their country? This is what close to 8,000 visitors experienced when they visited the Vietnam Moving Wall. The group had signs to educate as well as a field of close to 3,000 American flags to signify the losses from Illinois. It was truly a moving experience for all.

were those that kept a dream of restoring this building to its former glory and purpose, but also useful and beautiful far into the future. Besides the dream, it would take a lot of money, volunteer effort and time. A group was formed to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Aviston and once the celebration was concluded, the group kept working to restore the old Village Hall, now called Vintage Hall. It is now a beautiful building that can be used for meeting up to 75 people, bringing the past and future together.

Protection District, Lemont Park District, Lemont Police Department and members from across the community. The Haunted Central event raised over $18,000 in ticket sale profits and hosted over 2,000 guests over the two-day event. The proceeds from the event funded innovative educational programs through the Educational Foundation and helped local families in need through Hope & Friendship Foundation.

rich history of collaboration addressing need in the community with combined resources and volunteer efforts resulting in significant impact. In addition to meeting short term needs of re-purposing blighted green space, re-establishing a senior center and creating an impressive horticultural footprint; we are addressing long term needs by expanding our food network for needy families and acting as a catalyst for our Family + Community Resource Network. The ½ acre site is a point of pride in the community and an outstanding example of cooperation, community support and enduring outgrowth.

home to recent immigrants and hard-working families, would benefit from security provided by additional lighting around their homes. The Neighborhood Group Support Initiative developed a plan to purchase security lighting systems, and with the assistance of volunteers from the non-profit Rebuilding Together Aurora agency, the lights would be installed for free at 130 homes in lower-income neighborhoods. The “Lighting Up Our Neighborhoods” project already has shown success, and has enabled hundreds of Aurora residents to once again feel safe and secure in their homes.

teams and groups, as well as town departments like Public Works and the Water Department, to make this day a great success. Officials also ask residents to use the week prior to the event date to place unwanted trash in the alleys for a special pickup operation. At the end of the event day, there is a large picnic in the park where most of the lunch items are donated from businesses in the area for the program.

growing seeds indoors and how to transplant them to the garden. Finally, she assisted the children with harvesting and tasting their produce.

additional funds needed to complete the project. This wish will forever provide joy to children for years to come.

students, 150 high school students, and 140 residents participated in programs: the Little Free Library, Community Garden, Tanglewood Summer Camp, and Every Hand Makes a Difference Weeks.

guidance counselor for verification of need and entry into the program. The majority of students are on free/reduced lunch, homeless, or emancipated. Volunteers staff a room housed in the high school. Students in need “shop” the room to receive needed items at no charge. All items are donated by the community. The key to the success of the room is the Facebook page where the community learns of desired items for donation. In 2017 over 130 students were enrolled in the program and shopped monthly to stock up on essential items.

opened December 15, 2017. The Loft opened with ten artists and is now home to more than 50 including several alumni. The Development Corporation and the City Council wanted to develop an arts, cultural and entertainment district-the only one of its kind in the region. In June 2017, the Council approved a resolution establishing such a district which is initially promotional, but the development corporation is working to create financial incentives for entities that decide to establish a business within the district. The unique success of the Loft 112 is based on using all volunteer staff.

strengthening the connection between themselves and military veterans in the area. With the cooperation of the Mundelein Police Department, schools, and private businesses, the event was planned and executed. MASC students got the opportunity to serve and interact with over 175 veterans and their families. The event was successful and MASC students were able to demonstrate their respect and admiration for the sacrifice all military veterans make to our community and our country. MASC students have made a commitment to continue this event for coming years.

lives and their families that “we will never forget” and a reminder that we all have a role and responsibility to keep our homeland safe and pledge that a tragedy such as 9/11 will never happen again. Over 12,000 people attended the events and walked through the flags. Survivors and families of those lost openly wept at the flags of friends and loved ones. Police, fire and airline personnel paid silent tributes to their brothers and sisters who perished saving others.

by their imagination and ingenuity. Together, parents and their children are immersed in nature as they comfortably explore, experiment, socialize, and manipulate the environment. The playscape provides a multitude of accessible play opportunities for a variety of physical, mental, cognitive, and emotional abilities. There are four main features or “anchor pieces” as well as additional play features that change with the seasons. Hundreds of volunteers, program participants, and the general public participated in meetings, special fundraising events, planning & design meetings, and donated either funds or in-kind materials and play things to make the playscape a reality.

paper products, turkeys, pies, and many other food and monetary donations. Though this was not created as fundraiser, the costs are usually always covered. Overages were saved as start-up money for next year. The word “need” requires something essential. Maybe it’s a meal, or maybe it’s companionship. Over 300 free meals were served last year to those in need by the Waterloo Lions Club and community volunteers.

spent to restore the train depot to its near original state. Volunteers were utilized in installing a new roof, ceiling, walls, windows, flooring and painting the exterior. Railroad tracks and a replica of a mailbag catcher were added to the front of the depot to make it as authentic as possible. The original pot-bellied stove and safe that were used in the depot were refurbished and put back in the depot.

community pride. Fall Into Stockton is an annual event whose sole purpose is to support and highlight local businesses and increase economic development in the community. The Stockton Chamber has been the sponsor of this event, in its current form, since its inception in 2011. Each year, the event grows in business participation as well as public attendance. Throughout the years, the Chamber has made it their priority to incorporate all its members in the events during the year. Fall Into Stockton fills the streets of downtown with businesses, entertainment and specialty foods. The Chamber strives to integrate business and entertainment all in one through this ever growing event. The goal is, and always has been, to bring the general public, as well as capturing the neighboring communities and tourist population, to our small community in order to experience the business opportunities outside the "normal" venue and business week.