Hanover Park Sister Cities committee named one of world's best

Hanover Park's Sister Cities Committee has been around for 25 years, and was one of the first in Illinois to form a partnership with a city in Africa.

Its efforts will be recognized on a global scale later this month when committee members accept Sister Cities International's Best Overall Program award for cities with a population between 25,001 and 50,000.

"The quality relationships our Sister Cities Committee is making is just marvelous to see," Hanover Park Village President Rod Craig said. "I'm excited to see them receive this award they've worked for."

Hanover Park has two sister cities; Cape Coast, Ghana and Valparaiso in Mexico's state of Zacatecas. The committee's chair, Linda McCance Packham, said members try to visit Cape Coast, where they've helped bring to life a playroom at a children's hospital, once a year. The playroom, Packham said, is believed to be the only indoor playroom in Ghana.

"The facility was first envisioned in 2005 when ward nurses asked our visiting sister cities members to help fulfill this dream for their young patients," Hanover Park's submission for the award states.

The Hanover Park committee also helps provide funding for the village's namesake school in Cape Coast, Hanover Park Primary Day School. The school recently received a fresh coat of paint and shutter and roof repairs.

Packham, a Hanover Park resident since 1978, has been chair of the committee since the early 1990s.

Growing up in a family that enjoyed travel, Packham said she's always appreciated interacting with people from different cultures.

Hanover Park formed its relationship with Valparaiso in 2010. In 2015, the village partnered with a sportswear distributor, and with a donation from a Hanover Park family, sent soccer jerseys that include the Hanover Park logo and game balls to the local boys soccer team. Jerseys are required for the high school boys' participation in the intracity leagues.

The Hanover Park committee also helps to fund Valparaiso's Jesus Gonzales Ortega School, which is the only school in the city that accepts special needs students.

Municipalities across the country submitted essays outlining what sets their sister cities committee apart from the others, said Sister Cities International Executive Assistant Shelby Bunker. Hanover Park beat out 53 other committees for its award.

In past years, Hanover Park has been named Illinois Sister City of the Year, and has received awards for its shipment of medical supplies and textbooks to Ghana.

The committee will accept the award at the Lou Wozar Diplomatic Awards ceremony and dinner July 16 in Washington, D.C. The awards ceremony is part of the Sister Cities International's 60th Annual Conference.