Gov. Quinn honors volunteers with Hometown Awards
Governor Pat Quinn recently announced the winners of the 31st Annual Governor's Hometown Awards. These awards are presented to recognize volunteers for their work in improving their communities and as part of Governor Quinn's commitment to encouraging and honoring the spirit of volunteerism in Illinois.
“The Governor's Home Town Awards honor the efforts of 22 remarkable groups who have selflessly dedicated their time and efforts to making their communities a better place to live,” Governor Quinn said. “We applaud these groups of volunteers for improving the lives of others and truly making a difference in our state.”
The Governor's Home Town Award recipients are selected by volunteer judges who review and rank applications based on a variety of factors, including local need, volunteer participation, use of resources and the results achieved. The projects are judged within their population categories as well as within their assigned project categories. The project categories include services and mentorship, beautification and sustainability, parks and recreation, memorials and monuments and history and historic preservation. The judges then select one project from each population category to compete for the coveted Governor's Cup.
“When people volunteer for a cause, they make a huge difference in the lives of their neighbors,” stated Village President Al Larson. ”The village's Recycling Event held in the spring of 2012 received the Governor's Hometown Award under the category of Beautification & Sustainability (Population 70,000 and over). The village, Schaumburg Environmental Committee, Schaumburg Township District Library, and School District 54 all co-coordinated the recycling event which was a huge success. Over 126,000 lbs. of electronics, paper, batteries, and clothing and the like were diverted from landfills,” Larson stated.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) administers the Governor's Home Town Awards Program. Each winning group receives a road sign for its community and plaque recognizing its efforts.
Contact at Governor's Office:
Press Line: (217) 782-7355
Dave Blanchette Dave.Blanchette@illinois.gov