Des Plaines chamber Community Enhancement Awards winners
Thursday's gathering of the Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry included its 54-year-old tradition of presenting Community Enhancement Awards.
This year's six awards were introduced by the chamber's 2020 President Ella Woodford-Parker, the director of community health at Amita Health.
• AMA Academy of Performing Arts, 216 Graceland Ave., was recognized for transforming its dance studio into a beautiful, welcoming place through decorating, updating, carpentry work, new fixtures, lobby chairs and the addition of a culture poster and "Be Kind to One Another" sign.
• Millennium Bank, 2077 Miner St., received the award for initiating a charitable giving and donation program with a mission to foster growth and enhance Des Plaines and its surrounding communities.
• Scharm Floor Covering, 1843 E. Oakton St., was recognized for updating the exterior of its family-owned business. This included powerwashing the 70-year-old brick and limestone exterior as well as installing metal doors and a new energy-efficient LED bulbs in its front logo sign.
• See Me Grow & Learn, 1345 E. Golf Road, was honored for adding 4,600 square feet to its day care facility, including three new classrooms, an indoor gym space and a large break area for staff. The business can now care for 112 children among seven classrooms.
• Trinity Services, 2101 Oxford Road, Unit 1919, received the award for developing an urban garden that provides gardening opportunities for the adults who receive its services for intellectual/developmental disabilities or mental health needs. They planted milkweed as a project to help save Monarch butterflies. Trinity staff members also volunteer at WINGS, Bernies Book Bank and Feed My Starving Children and opened a pop-up shop called "Fritters for Critters" selling homemade dog biscuits baked by clients with developmental disabilities.
• Willows Academy, 1015 Rose Ave., was recognized for instituting its first schoolwide day of service, which included guest speakers and a cleanup and improvement effort at West Park and Prairie Lakes Park by the academy's students, faculty and staff.