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​Nominate a volunteer for the 2019 Governor's Volunteer Service Awards
Nominations due February 15, 2019

The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service presents the Governor's Volunteer Service Awards. These awards recognize ​individual volunteers through a statewide award program to highlight the importance of volunteerism and community service in the State of Illinois.

The following awards categories are offered:

• Adult (19-54 years old)
• AmeriCorps Member (member of an Illinois AmeriCorps national service program)
  
• Business (a for-profit company)
• Senior (55 years old plus)
• Senior Corps Members (55 years old plus that are members of the national service programs Foster Grandparent Program (FGP), Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Senior Companion Program (SCP))
• Youth (18 years old or younger)

Each of the project categories will have a winner selected in each of the Commission’s five service regions across the state (Northeast, Northwest, East Central, West Central and Southern Illinois). Thus, there are a total of 30 awards possible throughout the state!

A panel of judges from across the state, comprised of Governor-appointed Commissioners, will select the award recipients.

• »Nominate a Volunteer
  
• »Meet Last Year's Winners
  

​Governor's Hometown Awards Announced
23 Communities Honored for Service Work

Serve Illinois presented 23 localities with honors for the 2018 Governor’s Hometown Awards program during a special reception at the Governor’s Mansion on November 20, 2018. The Governor’s Hometown Awards program gives formal recognition to communities that contributed to their community’s quality of life via projects that had strong volunteer support, met a need, and made a definitive impact.

Presented since 1983, the Governor’s Hometown Award​s program gives formal recognition to those who contributed to projects that improved their community’s quality of life. These projects are sponsored by local units of government t​​hat had strong volunteer support, met a need, and made a definitive impact, thereby generating a positive outcome in the community and by extension, the state. The program is administered by the Serve Illinois ​Commission, the Governor’s Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service.

All projects honored received a plaque and a road sign honoring these achievements. LaSalle County was named the Governor's Cup Winner at the event.

• »Learn More About the Awards
• »Read About the Winners
• »Recognize Your Volunteers and Communities

Recognize a volunteer!

 

2017 Serve Illinois Annual Report - posted by Serve ​Illinois Staff

Matt Forte

​On December 1st Matt, former Chicago Bears running back, served alongside AmeriCorps members at the Healthy Kids Resource Fair teaching students the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Chicago Public Schools’ Office of Health and Wellness hosted the event in partnership with the Greater Chicago Food Depository and United Way of Metro Chicago. The goal of the Healthy Kids Resource Fair was to enroll students and their families in health insurance and connect them to vital health and household resources.

Matt is the newest United Way of Metro Chicago ambassador. He is excited to serve with United Way and CPS to promote healthy living in communities that often lack access to quality goods and to improve the number of students and parents enrolled in healthcare. As a father of three and long-time athlete, Matt views access to healthcare as the foundation for educational and life success.

In 2013, Forte established the Matt Forte “What’s Your Forte?” Foundation to empower at-risk high school students striving to achieve their dreams of higher education by providing life-changing resources. Matt believes that through awareness, relationship-building and child-focused empowerment programs we can help eliminate Chicago’s high school dropout statistics.

For more information about the Matt Forte “What’s Your Forte?” Foundation, please visit www.whatsyourfortefoundation.org.

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