Waukegan Park District honors volunteers and patrons
Submitted by the Waukegan Park District
The Waukegan Park District honored its outstanding volunteers and patrons at the recent annual Volunteer and Patron Recognition Reception. This reception celebrates the previous year and highlights the exceptional role volunteers play in the overall success of the park district.
Among those receiving special honors was Della Steele who was recognized as the 2015 Volunteer of the Year. This award acknowledged her service to the community as well as the district. Her longtime support of the district dates back to 1998, with her role as a member of the Community Recreation Center Program Advisory Committee. For 15 years, she volunteered to help plan the Young Dreamers Award event and served as a judge. She was a Toys for Tots volunteer and distributed presents to Waukegan children for 20 years. She has served on the American Independence Festivities Committee since 2004. Over the years, she also judged the American Independence Parade and since 2006 she has served on the Park District Recreation Program Advisory Committee.
"Della exhibits the characteristics of an ideal volunteer: the willingness to help, a positive attitude, good humor and great optimism. She has been a passionate supporter of the Waukegan Park District and the community of Waukegan," said Patricia Foley, president of the Waukegan Park District.
The Waukegan Park District Patron of the Year was Antoinette (Toni) Favero for her dedicated support of Cultural Arts especially, the annual Joseph A. Favero Memorial Do It Yourself Messiah. Favero has supported this Waukegan holiday tradition since its inception in 2007. The "Do It Yourself Messiah" recognized her father's longtime service as park commissioner and his lifelong passion for the arts, especially music.
"Toni Favero's kindness and giving spirit are inspirations to those around her," said Foley.
The 2016 Jack Benny Arts and Humanities award was presented to Lori Nerheim. She was recognized as a founding member of the Waukegan Arts Council and for her conceptualization, fundraising and leadership of ArtWise: "Those Who Serve," a community cultural arts festival in the fall of 2015. The Waukegan Park District was a partner in this broad-based community effort that included the school district, library, local theatres, the James Lovell Federal Health Care Center, the College of Lake County, Waukegan artists and art galleries as well as distinguished artists such as Ryan Spencer Reed, Benjamin Busch, Michael Pitre, Kirsten Holmstedt and Waukegan's Albert Klein, a World War II photographer. Lori also created the Waukegan Arts Council website and coordinated the social media campaign "Art Lives Here" to recruit artist tenants to the Artspace Karcher Lofts. She is a past board member of BCureful, a not for profit devoted to accelerating research toward a cure and raising public awareness of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. She is a Catholic Charities mentor. Lori's family was on hand to help celebrate her award.
The 2015 Coach of the Year was awarded to Hamaas Ibrahim for his work with the Junior Bulldogs Flag Football League. The success of the Flag Football Program is a direct result of his efforts with the players and their relationship with him as a coach.
Errick Beverly, Manager of Sports and Fitness described Ibrahim as a "coach that develops fundamental skills through drills and hard work." Ibrahim coaches Jr. Bulldogs Flag Football and Jr. Bulldogs Basketball, both Waukegan Park District youth developmental sports programs
More than 120 volunteers and patrons joined in the celebration. Others recognized with community service awards included: Great Lakes Officials Association, Burris Equipment, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Judy Holmes, Grasswick Excavation, Ali Bill, Doris Vogelsang, Laura Osborne, Alvin Tharbs, Hey and Associates Inc., Jeff Justman, Marie Wells-Bryzek, Scott Grant, Walter Sivertsen, Anthony Fiorelli, Waukegan Garden Club, Center for Conservation Leadership, Eddie De La Torre, Johnell Overgaauw, Mitch Siegel, DISContinuum Disc Golf Club, GreenTOWN Waukegan and Gaylene Leal.
The Waukegan Park District wishes to thank these and all the other volunteers, patrons and partners for their support.
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