Waukegan Park District recognizes volunteers
The Waukegan Park District held its annual Volunteer and Patron Recognition Reception Thursday, Feb. 28, at the Bonnie Brook Clubhouse.
Faith Clark was recognized as the Patron of the Year for her financial and personal support of the Bowen Park Theatre Company. She also loaned her Ray Bradbury classroom materials to the Jack Benny Center to enhance the Ray Bradbury Dandelion Wine Fine Arts Festival activities.
Volunteer of the Year was awarded to a mother-son team, Mercedes Rivera and Christian Torres, who both volunteer with Special Recreation. Rivera is a founding member of the Special Recreation Advisory Council, while Torres is a Special Recreation all-star athlete in basketball, softball, volleyball, bocce ball, soccer and tennis.
Jane Waller received the Jack Benny Arts & Humanities Award, recognizing her contributions as the founding chair of the Waukegan Arts Council and chair of the Karcher Artspace Capital Campaign.
Charlie Paddock was recognized as Coach of the Year, citing his outstanding volunteer coaching of Junior Bulldogs Basketball and flag football. Paddock is also a board member and coach for the Waukegan Park District’s youth affiliate, the Waukegan Baseball Association.
Twenty four other volunteers and patrons received Community Service Awards for their exceptional efforts and commitment to the Waukegan Park District during 2012: Eric Bakke, Brett Comincioli, AT&T, TR’s Front Row/Tom LeBaron, Air Con Refrigeration, Bart Medlicott, Becky Martin, Jim Moran, Mike Hohf, Vicki Hohf, Danielle Schneider, Eric Heard, Charlie Paddock, Willie Stepney, Ricky Stewart, Sharon Hoyle-Yap, Lake County Art League, Comcast, Joel Fiorelli/State Farm Insurance Agency, Rink Side Sports and Family Entertainment Center, Vista Health System, Uline, Harrington College of Design, and Doris Devore.
The Waukegan Park District Board of Commissioners and the senior staff extended their thanks to the approximately 130 volunteers and patrons in attendance, and noted that 636 volunteers contributed 24,230 hours to Waukegan Park District activities and projects in 2012.