Community Service Awards
The Illinois Association of Park Districts and the Illinois Park and Recreation Association annually present Community Service Awards to individuals in recognition and appreciation of their outstanding contribution and unselfish devotion for the advancement of parks, recreation, and leisure in the community and the state of Illinois. Â
2024 Recipients
On November 21, we honored eight individuals for contributing their time and expertise to the Field Center Design Competition: Ade Onayemi, Jack Lesniak, Michele Silvetti-Schmitt (not pictured), Ben Blount (not pictured), Tim Puntillo, Ana Garcia Doyle, Jim Doyle (not pictured), and Catherine Wetzel.
Past Recipients
- Illinois Senate President Don Harmon
- Representative LaShawn Ford
- Representative Camille Lilly
- Executive Director of the Oak Park Area Arts Council, Camille Wilson White
- Wiley Samuels
- George Bailey
- Carl Spight
- Lee Pulliam
- Laura Stamp
- Mary Jo Schuler
- Dr. David Ansell
- Edward Kerros
- Laura Thompson
- Nancy Waichler
- Jill Allread
- Cate Readling
- Marcia Lehman
- Isabel Romer Calvo
- Ann Courter
- Kathie Gillies
- Donna Makow
- Mary Ellen Murphy
- Mary O’Kiersey
- Martha Yount
- Donald ‘Don’ Nekrousious
- OPRF Senior Citizens Center Board
- Frank Heitzman
- Gary Cuneen
- Marget Scully
- Maria Kunigk
- Renne Davis
- Charlie Saville
- Laura Thompson
- Tom Kindler
- McLouis ‘Mac’ Robinet
- Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory
- Boy Scout Troop #4020
- Good Heart Work Smart Foundation
- American Youth Soccer Organization
- Chicago Edge Soccer
- Oak Park Youth Baseball/Softball
- Irving School Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO)
- Dan Jordan
- Ridgeland Common Working Group
- Jason Geil
- Dee Jeffries
- David T. Kindler
- Frank Lipo
- Joshua Siegel
- Jamil Bou-Saab
- James Budrick
- Mimi Burkland
- Senator Don Harmon
- Christina Morris
- Reed Smith, LLP
- Tracy Brooker
- Tracy Brooks
- Jeff Donarski
- Mike Fenwick
- Sue Ann Flanagan
- Bob Foster
- Roy Phifer
- Dan Sullivan
- Camille Wilson White
- Ginger Vanderveer
- Tom Holmes
- Nancy Holmes
- Andrzej Dajnowski
- Galen Gockel
- Kevin Toye
- Frank Heitzman
- Steve Kelley
- Michael Fus
- Doug Chen
- Jim Kelley
- John Donley
- Alice Tulley
- Sandy Lentz
- Steve Witt
- Oak Park Township Youth Services
- Oak Park Township Senior Services
- Oak Park River Forest High School
- WSSRA
- Altamanu, Inc.
- Beth Burdin
- Patrick Dahlstrom
- Garapolo Maynard Architects, Inc.
- Good Heart Work Smart Foundation
- Dick McKinlay
- Oak Park Public Works
- Oak Park School District 97
- Oil Dri
- Jeanna Grant
- Terry Harrison
- Tim Kelly
- The Infant Welfare Society
- The OPRF Community Foundation
- Jack Barclay
- Edith Kause
- Sandra Sokol
- Wednesday Journal
- Village of Oak Park
- Spannath Boiler Company
- Patrick Boticelli
- William Casey
- Judy Shepelak
- Michael Bloch
- Community Bank of Oak Park and River Forest
- Dominican University
- Hugh Helfer
- Albert Love
- Park District Citizen Committee
- Jim Boushay
- Richard S. Nied
- Joan Peters
- Rickey Sain, Sr.
- Alice Tulley
- John Armour
- Elisabeth Austin
- Tom Brashler
- Pat Eichenold
- Rick Kuner
- Charles Ruedebusch
- Don Stapleton
- Phyllis Swanson
- Joyce Taylor
- Nels Andersen
- Larry Godson
- Jim Hodapp
- The OPRF Garden Club
- Bud and Laura Corry
- Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory
- Lesley Gilmore and Bob Fanzen
- Paul Hruby
