Former Gov. Jim Edgar to be presented with Sterling Friendship Award

Former Illinois Governor Jim Edgar will be presented with Friendship Senior Option Foundation's Sterling Friendship Award on Friday, Sept. 26.

The prestigious honor recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of seniors in our society.

"Each honoree advocates positive perceptions of aging through their actions, demonstrating a history of advancing knowledge and improving the world around them," said Friendship Senior Options president/CEO Stephen A. Yenchek.

For 30 years, Edgar devoted himself to state government service. He served as an Illinois State Representative, followed by Secretary of State, before being elected to two terms as governor. When he left office in 1998 it was with the highest approval rating in state history. While in the gubernatorial office, Edgar is credited with having successfully negotiated hundreds of dollars in budget cuts, reducing the state's deficit and leaving an unprecedented $1.5 billion in the treasury. His accomplishments also include welfare reform, funding for school children and a strong adoption initiative.

Edgar is now a distinguished fellow at the University of Illinois' Institute of Government and Public Affairs where he spearheads the Edgar Fellow Program. He serves on several corporate and nonprofit boards and is president emeritus of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation.

Former recipients of the Sterling Friendship Award have included Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson, Merri Dee, Willard Scott, Dr. Joyce Brothers, Ray Meyer and Art Linkletter. "I am very honored to be recipient of an award that so many distinguished Illinoisans have received in the past."

The award will be presented to Edgar at Friendship Senior Option Foundation's Sterling Friendship Award Dinner, which is an annual fundraising event. Proceeds will be used to support benevolence, education and the arts, and capital improvements for Friendship Senior Options and its two retirement communities, Friendship Village in Schaumburg and GreenFields of Geneva.

The 2014 Sterling Friendship Award Dinner will be held on Friday, Sept. 26, at Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates. Former Sterling recipients Merri Dee, Al Larson and Tom Jaeger will be present. For further information about the event, call (847) 490-6254.

Friendship Senior Option Foundation was established to create an environment that fosters philanthropic giving and volunteer service opportunities in support of Friendship Senior Option's caring mission to serve the needs of older adults. Friendship Senior Options' two retirement communities are Friendship Village of Schaumburg (www.FriendshipVillage.org) and Greenfields of Geneva (www.GreenFieldsOfGeneva.org). For additional information visit www.FriendshipSeniorOptions.org.