Illinois Department of Public Health issued the following announcement on Nov. 15.
On November 14, 2019, the Serve Illinois Commission (Commission) announced the Williamsfield "Playground Barn-Raising Project" as the 2019 Governor's Hometown Awards Cup Winner. The Governor's Hometown Awards program gives formal recognition to those who have contributed to their community's quality of life through projects that had strong volunteer support, met a need, and made a definitive impact. Twenty-one communities were honored with the 2019 Governor's Hometown Awards during a special reception at the Governor's Mansion.
The Commission deemed four of the 21 projects Cup Finalists. These four community projects include:
• Elk Grove Village - "Elk Grove Village Cares"
• Harrisburg - "Summer Food Service Program"
• Williamsfield - "Playground Barn-Raising Project"
• Will County - "MicroPantries: Take What You Need, Leave What You Can"
Just before the awards ceremony, Williamsfield was declared the Governor's Cup Winner. Governor JB Pritzker, Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Serve Illinois Commission Chair Debra Marton, and Vice Chair Tiffany Mathis presented the Governor's Cup to Williamsfield.
The Playground Barn-Raising Project represents an ambitious volunteer-led effort to "Raise the Funds, Raise the Barn, Leave a Legacy" in Williamsfield, where families previously drove 25 miles roundtrip for a modern park playground. The Williamsfield Parks Association and Williamsfield FFA Alumni & Friends raised $150,000 from donors and recruited 77 volunteers who gave 2,032 hours in 2018 to build a multi-level playground barn and other play features in the village park. Volunteers from teenage FFA members to 70-year-old farmers raised the barn with a dedication to serve that runs deep in this 600-resident town. This inspirational barn-raising promotes physical activity among youth and embodies the power of volunteerism.
Williamsfield will have the traveling Governor's Cup for a year, and keep plaques and a road sign from the Illinois Department of Transportation designating them as the 2019 Governor's Hometown Award Governor's Cup Winner.
Original source can be found here.
Alerts Sign-up