Mundelein program, Grayslake youth center earn Gov.'s award

Three Lake County towns and a church-based program nabbed five top prizes in the 27th annual Governor's Home Town Awards announced this week.

Mundelein's After School Coalition won the highest honor, the traveling Governor's Cup, while Grayslake took home the prize for the first time for its new Oasis Youth Center.

Other winners were: ElderCARE@ChristChurch, a program that offers free and low-cost community-based services throughout northern Lake County for homebound senior citizens with limited financial resources; A-May-Zing Mundelein, a village program helping senior citizens with spring cleanup projects, such as yard work and gutter cleaning; and Buffalo Grove Park District's Buddy Baseball League for children with disabilities.

Mundelein village Trustee Ray Semple said winning the traveling trophy is "fantastic" for the town.

The after-school coalition sounded like a good idea when it was founded, Semple said, "and obviously we're not the only ones that think that."

The coalition sponsors youth events designed to build leadership skills, help kids deal with stress and generally be positive.

"Being proactive is good," Semple said.

Grayslake Mayor Tim Perry said the recognition is huge for the village and a "wonderful" testament to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers led by resident Joyce Campbell, founder and president of the not-for-profit youth center.

"She formalized this quest that was put together by high school students, led the charge for it and mobilized pretty much the entire community," Perry said. "There's few other projects that exemplify the benefits of volunteerism than this youth center project."

It took six years of fundraising, door knocking and planning to bring the youth center vision to fruition. The center opened April 11 in the village-owned building at 151 Hawley St., formerly park district offices and police station.

It caters to roughly 250 children on weekends when there is live music, and about a dozen kids on weeknights get homework help there.

Campbell said she never expected the center to win the award, which she applied for in secrecy.

"My goal in applying for this award was to say thank you to all the people in Grayslake who helped us realize our dream," she said. "Now the kids in central Lake County have a safe and stimulating place of their own."

Winning communities will receive commemorative road signs and plaques. Mundelein will receive a special sign that exalts its overall winner status.

• Daily Herald staff writer Russell Lissau contributed to this story.