GOVERNOR'S HOME TOWN AWARDS RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS BY VOLUNTEERS

SPRINGFIELD, ILL. — Gov. Jim Edgar announced winners in the 12th annual Governor's Home Town Awards competition, recognizing the contributions made by thousands of volunteers whose efforts improve the quality of life in communities throughout Illinois.

"Volunteers are the foundations on which our communities are built," Edgar, who presented the awards, said. "Throughout our state, volunteers are contributing their time, money and talents to make sure important community projects and services are addressed. From counseling youths to building bridges and providing emergency services, their unselfish contributions to their communities are making life better for their neighbors.

"The Governor's Home Town Awards are a way for those of us in state government to recognize and thank these dedicated volunteers for their service. Hundreds of Illinois communities today proudly display road signs commemorating their selection as Home Town Awards winners. This year's winners again show that the spirit of community pride and volunteerism is alive and well in Illinois."

The Village of Hoffman Estates received the top honor for its Children's Advocacy Center project as awards were presented to 54 projects in 46 communities during ceremonies in Springfield.

The Children's Advocacy Center, established in 1988, provides counseling and intervention services to help abused children cope with the judicial system. Its unique services led to rapid expansion of the Center's service area. In just two years, its caseload more than doubled, and the Center was outgrowing its basement headquarters in Hanover Park.

At the same time, the Village of Hoffman Estates was vacating its municipal building — a 150-year-old farmhouse. Village officials offered the building to the Center at a cost of $1 per year. Still, everyone realized extensive renovations would be necessary to convert the dilapidated building into a comfortable and non-threatening environment for children.

Alerted to the need by Mayor Michael J. O'Malley and Center board member Jack Hayes, the Chicago Building Trades Council "adopted" the Center. Skilled tradespeople from 20 local trade unions and their apprentice trade schools donated more than $350,000 in labor and materials to gut and rebuild the 6,000-square-foot facility.

In October 1992, the Center moved into its new home, complete with age-appropriate interview suites and medical examining rooms.

"This project truly brought together the community," Edgar said. "Union tradespeople donated their services. Businesses donated building supplies. Professionals donated architectural and engineering services. Concerned volunteers even donated afghans and silk flowers to help create a home-like atmosphere. In all, 20 union locals and 72 companies and individuals contributed services and materials. We celebrate their efforts in naming Hoffman Estates as winner of the 1993 Governor's Cup as the project most symbolic of the spirit of volunteerism in Illinois."

The Governor's Home Town Awards competition is administered by the Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA), in close cooperation with the Department on Aging and the Lieutenant Governor's Office of Volunteer Services. DCCA Director Jan M. Grayson said winners were selected from a pool of 92 applicants.

"Companies consider quality of life as a chief concern when looking for a place to locate or expand," Grayson said. "These projects remind us that successful economic development depends on an entire community — private citizens as well as businesses, employees, educators and government."

The Governor's Home Town Awards are presented in six categories, based on community population. Projects must involve economic development, community service, community facilities, human enrichment, achievement by youths or achievement by senior citizens. Entries are judged by impartial volunteers on the basis of local need and community participation, as well as results and continuity.

First place winners of general awards, youth awards, senior awards and economic development awards receive a commemorative plaque and road sign proclaiming the community's selection as a winner in

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the competition. Second and third place winners receive a plaque. Winners of honorable mention awards receive a framed certificate noting their achievement. A list of the 1993 winners follows.

1993 GOVERNOR'S HOME TOWN AWARDS

CATEGORY I (population up to 3,000)

GENERAL AWARD
1st Place — Mt. Carroll/Carroll County — The Volunteer Fire Dept. raised funds to buy emergency equipment.

2nd Place — Nokomis/Montgomery County — Volunteers raised funds to build a monument to war veterans from Nokomis.

3rd Place — Heyworth/McLean County — Volunteers donated money and time to clear a donated lot and create a park.

Honorable Mention — Oakwood Hills/McHenry County — Volunteers staged Autumnfest and provided street signs to boost image.

Honorable Mention — Red Bud/Randolph County — Volunteers organized a 125th Anniversary celebration and scholarship fund.

Honorable Mention — Gardner/Grundy County — Santa's Helpers helped low-income families celebrate Christmas.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1st Place — Belgium/Vermilion County — Volunteers donated 250 hours to rebuild a bridge and eliminate a detour.

YOUTH AWARD
1st Place — Leroy/McLean County — Community Action Reaches Everyone (CARE) provides activities for youths.

CATEGORY II (population 3,001 to 12,000)

GENERAL AWARD
1st Place — Antioch/Lake County — 2,000 volunteers gave their time and money to build Centennial Playground.

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2nd Place — Carlyle/Clinton County — Receipts from the annual Street Fair helped build a library addition.

3rd Place — Lawrenceville/Lawrence County — Willing Workers made major repairs to homes of seniors and the needy.

Honorable Mention — Morris/Grundy County — Restart monthly recycling drop-off center is operated by volunteers.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1st Place — Greenville/Bond County — Volunteers raised money to beautify downtown and light the courthouse.

2nd Place — Mt. Carmel/Wabash County — Paint Mt. Carmel helped spruce up the community and improve pride.

YOUTH AWARD
1st Place — Rock Falls/Whiteside County — Students educate the community and peers about dangers of drugs.

2nd Place — Pontiac/Livingston County — Parents and students formed a Wrestling Club, funded through their work.

SENIOR AWARD
1st Place — Sullivan/Moultrie County — RSVP volunteers staff the Thrift Shop six days a week to help the needy.

2nd Place — Glen Carbon/Madison County — Seniors helped restore a cabin and build a bike trail and historic exhibit.

CATEGORY III (Population 12,001 to 17,500)

GENERAL AWARD
1st Place — Batavia/Kane County — A peninsula on the Fox River has been transformed into a scenic Riverwalk.

2nd Place — Marion/Williamson County — Keeping Up With Your Kids helps parents and kids build self-confidence.

3rd Place — Centralia/Marion County — Volunteers help collect recyclables, saving the community more than $40,000.

Honorable Mention — Round Lake Beach/Lake County — The After School Club helps sixth graders improve studies and avoid drugs.

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Honorable Mention — Mercer County — Coalition Against Domestic Violence operates a crisis line and provides shelter.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
1st Place — Fairview Heights/St. Clair County — Pasta Fare gives jobs to people with autism.

2nd Place — Vernon Hills/Lake County — Volunteers participate in committees to determine the course of development.

YOUTH AWARD
1st Place — Ottawa/LaSalle County — Wildside Teen Club gives teens a center for positive activities.

2nd Place — Vernon Hills/Lake County — Children's Garden gives kids a chance to grow vegetables and flowers.

SENIOR AWARD
1st Place — Hickory Hills/Cook County — Senior volunteers help supervise children's activities and park tours.

CATEGORY IV (Population 17,501 to 33,000)

GENERAL AWARD
1st Place — Freeport/Stephenson County — Kids Kastle playground was built with help from 2,000 volunteers.

2nd Place — Zion-Benton Township/Lake County — PRIDE matches youths with adult mentors to keep kids in school.

3rd Place — Kankakee/Kankakee County — Volunteers refurbished the old armory into Kankakee Community Resource Center.

Honorable Mention — Streamwood/Cook County — Volunteers planned, raised funds for and built a Veterans Memorial.

Honorable Mention — Grundy County — Operation St. Nick provides help to needy families at holidays and the start of school.

YOUTH AWARD
1st Place — Oak Forest/Cook County — Arbor Park Middle School students helped clean up and decorate the depot.

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2nd Place — Lindenhurst/Lake County — Operation Snowflake helps youths educate younger kids about drug dangers.

3rd Place — Palos Hills/Cook County — The Youth Board organized a Haunted House to entertain kids at Halloween.

SENIOR AWARD
1st Place — Palos Hills/Cook County — The Senior Advisory Board addresses needs and concerns of senior citizens.

CATEGORY V (Population 33,001 to 86,000)

GENERAL AWARD
1st Place— Oak Lawn/Cook County — The American Red Cross and PTA provide first aid training for Sward School pupils.

2nd Place — Waukegan/Lake County — Volunteers help enforce curfew and patrol streets to cut down on crime.

3rd Place — Elk Grove Village/Cook County — Volunteers staged a mock accident to warn teens against drunk driving.

Honorable Mention — Berwyn/Cook County — The Keep Berwyn Beautiful contest encourages homes and businesses to beautify.

YOUTH AWARD
1st Place — Hoffman Estates/Cook County — Volunteers transformed an old village hall into Children's Advocacy Center.

2nd Place — Harvey/Cook County — Volunteers renovated a donated building into a youth outreach activity center.

SENIOR AWARD
1st Place — Rock Island/Rock Island County — Volunteers organized a recycling program at Spencer Towers high-rise.

CATEGORY VI (Population over 86,000)

GENERAL AWARD
1st Place — Champaign County — Make A Difference Day organized collection efforts to stock homeless shelters.

2nd Place — Cook County — Community organizations and agencies help strengthen the juvenile courts.

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3rd Place — Champaign-Urbana/Champaign County — Food For Families collected 132,000 pounds of food for the needy.

Honorable Mention — Chicago/Cook County — St. Agatha Family Empowerment provides tutoring and help to neighborhood kids.

Honorable Mention — Rockford/Winnebago County — Red Cross Homeless Shelter is supported through volunteer efforts.

Honorable Mention — Peoria/Tazewell Counties — Central Illinois Job Connection helped 125 people obtain employment.

YOUTH AWARD
1st Place — Rockford/Winnebago County — Hand 'n Hand for Homeless Youth collected funds to help runaways.

2nd Place — Chicago/Cook County — Near North Little League helps children from Cabrini-Green have fun and opportunity.

SENIOR AWARD
1st Place — Cook County — Cook County Court Watchers are volunteers that monitor courts and recommend change.

2nd Place — Champaign-Urbana/Champaign County — Willard Airport Goodwill Ambassadors assist visitors. •

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