The Enhancing Elgin Committee of the Elgin Area Chamber is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 Elgin Image Awards. These awards recognize individuals, businesses and organizations that have had a positive impact on Elgin by promoting the positives of why Elgin, IL is a great place to live, work, learn, do business, get involved, visit and enjoy!
"After a 2-year hiatus, we are thrilled to be able to honor these people and projects that made such a difference to Elgin," said Carol Gieske, President & CEO of the Elgin Area Chamber. "We thank Councilwomen Rose Martinez, the City of Elgin and many more partners for helping us to restart this wonderful event."
This award ceremony will take place onMonday, November 14 from 4:30 to 6 pm in the Meadows Community Rooms at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove, Elgin, Illinois. Many award winners will be in attendance. People may also watch this event Live at Gail Borden Facebook page ( https://fb.me/e/307n6Z8VX) and the Chamber page ( https://www.facebook.com/elginareachamber).
Elgin Image Awards 2022 Winners
Professional Rockstar: Individual nominee has made a significant contribution to the improvement of Elgin's Image as a professional. May include lifetime achievements or emerging leaders.
Winners
Sherry Blazier
Mike and Laurel Warren, Brittain’s Car Wash
Cherie Aschenbrenner
Krisilee Murphy
Through Sharry Blazier's relentless optimism and her willingness to continually push the envelope in publicizing the museum, more and more residents, especially our younger demographic, are aware of the advantages in visiting the Elgin Public Museum, the oldest continuously operating natural history museum in the State of Illinois. Her work will continue to educate generations of people. Having this historical, quality museum will ultimately help Elgin become a DESTINATION OF CHOICE far beyond Elgin.
Mike and Laurel Warren practice love and motivation, not hate and discrimination. They see themselves as having a personal responsibility to make a lasting impact for good, especially here in Elgin. Their car wash is at the intersection of passion and potential: a passion to give back and the potential to engage in the highest standards of what it means to say "community involvement." That sort of mindset is contagious. It makes Elgin a better place to live and work.
Cherie Aschenbrenner's entire life seems to revolve around helping seniors. She never was a 9-5 city employee, but a 24/7 senior advocate. Her email list has more than 1,100 names on it. She tries to keep in touch with every senior on it, often working late into the night, then starting again early in the morning, depending on the various schedules of the people she serves.
Krisilee Murphy's ability to bring staff and volunteers in a variety of organizations and municipalities together to create a dynamic, vibrant community. Her skills have made Explore Elgin a stronger organization based on an increasing budget and strong local relationships. Krisilee brought in money to the Elgin area through the pandemic, when the tourism industry was at a low, and used those funds to develop engaging online and print content attracting new visitors.
Volunteer Extraordinaire: Individuals nominee has made a significant contribution to the improvement of Elgin's image as a volunteer. May include lifetime achievements or emerging leaders.
Winners
Jennifer Colby
Larry Henderson
Through all of Jennifer Colby’s volunteer efforts, there is a clear theme. She not only cares deeply about the youth in our communities -she lovingly goes out of her way to positively make an impact on their lives. Her charity events and efforts directly support feeding, clothing, education, physical activity, dental health, spiritual growth, and connection in the Elgin Community.
Through the quality work of Larry Henderson and the other leaders of the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, children are safer, parents are grateful and the community is better! Larry's leadership during the pandemic cannot be understated. He encouraged the leaders of the organization and provided a dynamic strategy that catapulted the organization during one of the most trying times in history, fortifying its presence in the community and giving hope to families.
Gamechanger Projects: Specific community project that has helped Elgin's image
Winner
2020 Census Team
Despite unprecedented challenges in the 2020 Census Campaign - a worldwide pandemic and trust being deeply challenged regarding whether the citizenship question was on the question or off- this community¬wide committee was amazingly successful with an outreach effort that saw Elgin experience the largest increase in population of cities over 100,000 at 6 %. This effort resulted in Elgin moving from 8th most populous to 6th most populous city in Illinois and experiencing the highest percentage increase of any Illinois city. In short, it enables the city to better take care of the people who live here by receiving federal grant money. With largest percentage increase of any large city in Illinois (those exceeding 100,000), it also enabled Elgin to demonstrate that it is a desirable place to live, work and play. with a population of over 100,000.
Create a Difference Groups: Organizations or businesses that have helped significantly improve Elgin's image: Green Initiative/Sustainable Business of the Year
Winner
Greater Kane County Wild Ones
"Most of all, we want to get you thinking about what is your place, what is my place, in this world we share" says Nancy Lamia of the Greater Kane County Wild Ones. “Our Start in Your Yard initiative aims to change the lens through which we view ourselves and our surroundings. When we see ourselves as part of nature rather than something apart; when we see nature's gifts up close; when we learn to collaborate with the natural world, we'll happily share our landscapes with the native plants that support our insects and birds. And in this re-connecting, we'll recover our own health and happiness."
Create a Difference Groups: Organizations or businesses that have helped significantly improve Elgin's image: Excellence in DEI or Building Equity
Winners
Elgin Community College
Elgin Area Pandemic Team
ECC's Equity Plan is rooted in the belief that equity ensures that each student receives what they need to succeed, including strategies to reduce the achievement gap for African-American/Latinx and low income students. This commitment is reinforced in the College's mission "to improve people's lives through learning" and shared value statements about equity and diversity.
Every day from March of 2021 until June of 2022, the members of the Elgin Area Pandemic team of the Gail Borden Library helped vulnerable people who had been negatively impacted by this pandemic. They outreached a "need for vaccination" message to multiple thousands of people and they helped over 1,800 people with vaccines, food, cleaning products, utility and rental assistance. They worked with multiple local partners to ensure that people got the assistance they needed even as partners and resources were continually changing.
Create a Difference Groups: Organizations or businesses that have helped significantly improve Elgin's image: Youth Service Project (for people 21 and younger)
Winner
Lincoln Avenue Barbershop
Providing 115 haircuts and giving away at least 200 backpacks and school supplies, Lincoln Avenue Barbershop helped bring a whole community together for the greater good. Five other local barber shops and barber schools, Windy City Bull's/city of Elgin all believed in Mr. Dumas’ dream and it worked out. It shows the youth and adults that we care, that the children go to the first day of school with a can-do attitude, and confidence.
People are invited to register for the November 14 event in person event here.