Governor's Home Town Awards Announced

Lt. Governor George Ryan presents Peoria with a First Place Plaque. They were also awarded the Governor's Cup which is a traveling trophy awarded the Grand Prize Winner.

The 1990 Governor's Home Town Awards Program has been completed with the awards presented at a banquet held in Springfield on June 27th.

The Home Town Awards Program honors all of the outstanding community volunteer projects which take place in Illinois which enhance the quality of life and contribute to the economic success of its citizens.

Projects are grouped by population and compete in the general category or the special categories of youth involvement, senior activities, or economic development. Teams of two volunteer judges visited selected projects during May.

This year, the Governor's Cup was awarded to "The House of Dreams" project submitted by the Easter Seal Rehabilitation Center of Peoria. Many volunteers became involved in a project which provided funds in excess of $250,000 for operation of the rehabilitation center. A realtor donated the building lot, an architect drew up the plans, and suppliers donated materials for the home. Labor provided their skills, from laying the concrete blocks of the foundation to painting and applying wallcoverings to the completed 3,000 square-foot luxury home. Funds realized from the sale of the home will help children and adults receive the rehabilitation services they need to lead rich and rewarding lives.

Winners by each population category are:

Category I (population to 1,099)

General: Goreville/Johnson County, 1st Place — Eagle Point Bay Community Service Group Crime Watch, ambulance, health and recycling programs.

Category II (population 1,100 to 2,999)

General: LeRoy/McLean County, 1st Place — Volunteers established an ambulance service.

Category III (population 3,000 to 5,599)

General: Cairo/Alexander County, 1st Place — Cairo Independent Ambulance Service, Inc.

Category IV (population 5,600 to 9,599)

General: Chillicothe/Peoria County, 1st Place — Volunteers helped to renovate an old school into the Pearce Community Center.

Category V (population 9,600 to 15,599)

General: Romeoville/Will County, 1st Place — "Safety Town" teaches children safety.

Category VI (population 15,600 to 26,999)

General: Brookfield/Cook County, 1st Place — Volunteers redeveloped Kiwanis Park for little league baseball and T-ball.

Category VII (population 27,000 to 73,999)

Fulton County, 1st Place — Volunteers formed Fulton County Ambulance Service, Inc., responding to 1,674 calls in just one year.

Category VIII (population 74,000 to 658,999)

General: Peoria/Peoria County, 1st Place — Easter Seal House of Dreams, built by volunteers with donated materials, raised more than $250,000.

Category IX (population over 659,000)

General: Chicago/Cook County, 1st Place — Holiday Giving Tree encourages shoppers to purchase gifts for the needy at the holiday season.

Page 20 / Illinois Municipal Review / August 1990