Hanover Township recognized at state conference
Hanover Township received five awards at the annual Township Officials of Illinois conference in Springfield on Nov. 13.
The Illinois Township Association of Senior Citizen Services Committees presented Hanover with the Innovative Program of the Year Award for the Adopt-A-Senior program and the Director of the Year Award to Tracey Colagrossi, for her outstanding leadership of the Department of Senior Services.
Created in 2005, the Adopt-A-Senior program serves over 80 people annually with organizations and individuals providing household gifts to seniors during the holiday season.
Director Colagrossi joined the township in 2005, as an art instructor, and was then promoted to program manager and department director. Last year, over 4,400 residents utilized the Hanover Township Senior Center. Hanover's Senior Center is the only township run center in the state to receive accreditation, and is only one of the three centers in the state to be accredited.
The township was also presented with communications awards from Township Officials of Illinois for Best Township website (www.hanover-township.org) and Best Township Photo that highlighted a heart health-screening event that occurred last February at the Township's Astor Avenue Community Center in Hanover Park.
The Association of Illinois Township Committees on Youth presented Nora Gonzalez, bilingual family therapist in the Department of Youth & Family Services with the 2018 Staff Award that recognizes outstanding dedication, contribution and response to township youth and families.
"The township board works diligently to ensure our residents have not only the best programs, but also have the best staff to administer these services," said Brian McGuire, Hanover Township supervisor. "Tracey and Nora are two outstanding individuals on an entire team that works closely with our residents through the community."
The Illinois Township Association of Senior Citizen Services Committee is a division of the Township Officials of Illinois that promotes cooperation, resource, and programming sharing information among township senior service providers.
The Association of Illinois Township Committees on Youth is a statewide resource for community-based human service agencies with the purpose to promote improved services for youth and families. Its overall mission is to enhance the quality of life for youth and families in townships throughout Illinois.
The Township Officials of Illinois Educational Conference occurs annually in Springfield where over 1,000 township officials and staff gather to attend educational seminars and trainings.
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