Geneva woman honored with Barth Award for helping youth
The streets of Geneva were adorned with red ribbons this week, and Mary Lu O'Halloran had a lot to do with it.
Young people in Geneva have had extra guidance and education on making healthy lifestyle choices for the past 13 years, and Mary Lu O'Halloran had a lot to do with it.
TriCity Family Services on Thursday night honored ... Mary Lu O'Halloran for those and many other contributions to the community with the 2009 William D. Barth Award, its most prestigious honor for human services.
In presenting the award at Riverside Receptions in Geneva, Cathy Ostrowski, a member of the Geneva Youth Coalition, told the audience that when she first moved to Geneva and attended any type of event for youths, "there was Mary Lu."
The timing of the honor is a bit melancholy for those who have counted on O'Halloran as the leader and spokeswoman for the Geneva Youth Coalition for the past 13 years, as she is officially retiring from that role this year.
"She'll live on in the hearts and minds of those who follow her at the coalition," Ostrowski said.
After composing herself after receiving a standing ovation, O'Halloran acknowledged that the Geneva Youth Coalition is "one of those tangible things" the community can point to proudly. "We are lucky to live in a community that cares about everyone, and has such compassion and care for the youths and young adults," O'Halloran said.
O'Halloran said the coalition used national research of "the 40 assets that kids need to lead healthy lives" as the basis for creating a ripple effect through the community by getting schools, police and social agencies such as TriCity Family Services all involved with the same goals.
She mentioned the creation of the park district skate park on South Street as "one of the most amazing things" she was ever involved in because young people in Geneva came forward with the ideas and plans to make it happen.
O'Halloran has a knack for taking a youth program and building communitywide support. She expanded Red Ribbon Week drug prevention and awareness by taking the school program and incorporating it into community and law enforcement promotions.
She chaired Red Ribbon Week in Geneva for 15 years and also served as the co-facilitator of the Geneva Task Force for Safety and Well-Being for Geneva Youth.
Her efforts led to numerous community forums and the "Parent University" program, as well as safe options for recreation and high school post-prom events.
"I thank you for honoring the work I have been a part of with so many people in this room," O'Halloran said. "The coalition wouldn't be what it is without the richness of TriCity Family Services."
Following the award tradition, O'Halloran's family members had to get her to the event but somehow keep the award a secret.
"I thought the award was for someone else, and my husband even had my yoga instructor call and pretend my class was canceled tonight," O'Halloran said. "And I love my yoga."
TriCity Family Services has honored a local citizen volunteer since 1985 with the Barth Award, when Frank Burgess became the first recipient. William D. Barth was one of the founding fathers of the agency.