Applications Being Accepted For Governor's Home Town Awards

SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. George H. Ryan today urged community leaders, volunteer organizations and interested citizens to submit applications for the 2000 Governor's Home Town Awards competition. The Governor's Home Town Awards honor volunteer efforts from throughout Illinois.

"This is an opportunity to give volunteers the recognition they richly deserve," Ryan said. "Our communities benefit daily from the unselfish gestures of volunteers across Illinois. Each year, we offer the Governor's Home Town Awards to honor those acts of generosity and kindness."

The purpose of the program is to encourage, promote and recognize volunteer efforts on the local level that contribute to the betterment of a community. The Governor's Home Town Awards are administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs (DCCA).

"This is one of our most rewarding programs," DCCA Director Pam McDonough said. "It is truly a pleasure to work with these individuals and organizations that have given so much to make Illinois a better place to live and work."

Volunteer organizations wishing to enter the program submit an application which describes the problem addressed and the volunteer activities conducted to solve the problem. Applications can be made in four categories: youth involvement, senior citizen involvement, economic development and general awards. The applications are further divided by population, so that communities with similar resources compete with one another.

Projects are judged by teams of individuals who were involved with projects that won a Governor's Home Town Award in the previous year's competition. Winning volunteers and their communities are honored for their achievements by receiving a road sign and/or plaque, presented at a banquet in June. In addition, an overall winner most representative of volunteer efforts is awarded the traveling Governor's Cup.

For more information, contact Lou Ann Ladage at (217) 785-6140,

TDD: 800-785-6055, or visit the DCCA web page at www.commerce.state.il.us.

The deadline for applications for the 2000 Governor's Home Town Awards is February 18, 2000.