Hoffman Estates wins Governor’s Hometown Award for sports festival
The village of Hoffman Estates, in partnership with the Alexian Brothers Health System, has been awarded the 2013 Illinois Governor’s Hometown Award for its Alexian Brothers Fitness For America Sports Festival.
It is the second year in a row that the village has received this honor.
The sports festival is a full weekend of inline skating and running events for all fitness levels. This year’s event took place in July on the AT&T corporate campus in Hoffman Estates.
This is the village’s sixth Governor’s Hometown Award. In 1989, the Veterans Memorial site received the award; in 1993, the village was honored for its Children’s Advocacy Center; in 2000, Illinois recognized the Arts Commission’s Summer Concert Series; in 2003, the Arts Commission won again for its Quilt Show; and, in 2012, the village and Schaumburg Township Elementary School District 54 were acknowledged for their Community Resource Centers.
The latest award was announced Nov. 5 at the Illinois Executive Mansion in Springfield, and was presented to the village on Nov. 18 at the village board meeting.
“Health and wellness has been both a significant national focus with the first lady’s Let’s Move campaign, as well as a local focus in our schools and park districts,” said Hoffman Estates Mayor William McLeod. “Hosting the Alexian Brothers Fitness for America Sports Festival has been a wonderful way to bring our community together to highlight the importance of fitness and well-being.”
Since 2007, the village has hosted the second largest inline skating marathon in the nation. In 2012, the event expanded to a multiday fitness festival and expo. The expo was designed to host amateur and professional athletic events and to engage kids and their families in a healthy lifestyle. Additional highlights included the Luigino Chicagoland Inline Tour; half marathon and 10K skate; Sunset Half Marathon run; and 10K run and 5K run/walk.
Thanks to the Alexian sponsorship, all kids events are free, which encourages families to get up, get outside and get active. Bringing in participants who may not otherwise participate in fitness or community events is a core mission of Alexian and the Hoffman Estates Park District.
“The success of Alexian Brothers Fitness for America Sports Festival goes to show that the partnership between the village of Hoffman Estates and the Alexian Brothers Health System is one that works cohesively to support and promote the importance of overall health and wellness,” said Sara Odland-Beyna, Alexian Brothers Health System director of Community Relations. “Our involvement with the event has been a natural fit. The Governor’s Hometown Award win certainly is icing on the cake for us.”
This year, about 175 volunteers donated more than 700 hours of service, impacting over 2,000 participants and spectators. The Hoffman Estates Park District helped promote the event.
The event also partners with nonprofit organizations for fundraising opportunities. At the end of the festival, a check is given to participating nonprofits for the total number of volunteers and hours they provided. In 2012, the sports festival presented Special Olympics Illinois, a featured volunteer group, with a check for more than $100,000. This year, the event raised funds for the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northwest Cook County, a Hoffman Estates-based charity that provides counseling and care to children affected by sexual and physical abuse.
For more information, contact Director of Tourism Linda Scheck at (847) 781-2664, or linda.scheck@hoffmanestates.org