Ela Township's 55 Plus receives state's top honord
Each year, the Association of Illinois Senior Centers recognizes one senior center that demonstrates an outstanding commitment to helping seniors maintain and improve their mental, physical and emotional health.
This year, Ela Township's "55 Plus" program received the association's highest honor, the "Mind, Body and Spirit" award.
Susan Dillon, director of Adult and Senior Services for Ela Township, accepted the award at the association's 2016 conference in Joliet in February on behalf of her dedicated staff, which includes Connie Bellio, Jim Dalbec, Lisa Gaggiano, Lynn Neumaier, Kim Piers and Laura Zickuhr.
"I always knew that our senior center was exceptional, and Susan Dillon has done nothing but increased all our programs and made them the top in the state. Ela Township is so proud to have this honor," Supervisor Lucy A. Prouty said.
The Ela Township Community Center in Lake Zurich, which houses the Ela 55 Plus program in addition to youth programs, opened just four years ago in the former post office building. The township previously operated a one-room community center at the Foglia YMCA.
In the five years Dillon has served as director, Ela 55 Plus has grown exponentially in relation to services, programs and membership.
Ela 55 Plus offers health and wellness programs, educational classes, recreational activities, special events, men's only programming, lunch cooked on-site, day and long distance trips, a salon/barber shop and more. The staff also includes a senior resource specialist and a registered dietitian/nutritionist.
"None of this would be possible if I did not have the support of the Ela Township Board," Dillon said. "They have really given me my wings. I have yet to hear them say, 'Nah, that's not such a good idea, let's pull back.'
"We're changing the face of what a senior center looks like, not just from a staff standpoint but a membership standpoint. I've had situations where I've had to say, sorry, you can't join, you're not 55 yet."
Tracey Colagrassi, president of the Association of Illinois Senior Centers, stated, "What the township and the program has done for the residents in and around this area in such a short time has been remarkable. That's giving credit to Susan and the staff in the development of the program and how they take the feedback of the participants to heart. That's the element of a good, holistic program, and that's what mind, body and spirit truly is.
"They're addressing the needs of residents holistically through enrichment, lifelong learning and nutrition. Because they've been so innovative in such a short period of time, that's why we wanted to award them," she said.
To learn more, stop by the Ela Community Center, 380 Surryse Road, Lake Zurich; visit www.elatownship.org/seniors; or call (847) 438-9160.