AWARDS PRESENTED TO AREA CITIZENS AND BUSINESSES

Area youth, adults and businesses received awards at the Eighth Annual Neighbor Awards Banquet that was held on March 4, 2004 at the Hotel Pere Marquette designed to give recognition to citizens and businesses who work tirelessly to improve the quality of life for Peoria’s residents and neighborhoods. Themed “Neighbors Helping Neighbors,” the event was sponsored by the Peoria Empowerment Committee with the support of Saturn of Peoria and State Farm Insurance and was attended by over 200 people. Banquet co-chairs, Ruth McFadden and Rosilee Walker, are neighborhood leaders who volunteered their time to plan and organize the event.

Six neighbor awards, sponsored by Saturn of Peoria, were given in the following categories:

Youth Volunteer Award - Hannah Dacayo. An eighth grader student at Holy Family Parish School.

Adult Volunteer Award – Andres Armando Diaz, a full-time student at Bradley University majoring in political science and works full-time at Tri-County Regional Planning.

Employee Award – Glenda Williams, a Code Enforcement Officer for the City of Peoria.

Business Award – Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois, Andrew Rand, Executive Director

Mayor’s Award – Richard Lenz, has been the President of the Near North Side Neighborhood Association since it started and is a member of the board of the Averyville Association.

Ted Bannon Brick Award – LaVetta Ricca, a lifelong resident of the Southside

To encourage youth volunteerism, Youth Impact Awards, sponsored by State Farm Insurance, were given to three youth and their schools. Each of the three winners received a $50 gift certificate, a trophy and their school received a check for $500. This year’s Youth Impact Award winners were:

Elementary School Award – DeShae Ross, a fourth grade student at Franklin-Edison Elementary School.

Middle School Award – Kayla Brehm, an eighth grade student at Columbia Middle School.

High School Award – Rachael Bush, a sophomore at Manual High School.
Attached photos are labeled with a number that corresponds to this listing of photo captions.

Banquet Co-Chairs Ruth McFadden (left) Rosilee Walker (right)	Elementary Student Youth Impact Award Winner DeShae Ross, Franklin-Edison fourth grade student (left) Vince Wieland, Peoria Public School Board President (right)
Elementary School Youth Impact Award Winner- Franklin-Edison Elementary School (left to right) Valda Shipp, Principal Laura Rosenberger, Teacher Gary Welch, State Farm Insurance DeShae Ross, Student	Middle Student Youth Impact Award Winner Kayla Brehm, Columbia Middle School eighth grade student (left) Vince Wieland, Peoria Public School Board President (right)
Middle School Youth Impact Award Winner- Columbia Middle School (left to right) Stewart Regnier, Principal Alma McConnell, Teacher Gary Welch, State Farm Insurance Kayla Brehm, Student	High School Student Youth Impact Award Winner Rachael Bush, Manual High School Sophomore (left) Vince Wieland, Peoria Public School Board President (right)
High School Youth Impact Award Winner- Manual High School (left to right) Sandy Farkash, Principal Harriet Balagna, Teacher Rachael, Bush, Student Gary Welch, State Farm Insurance	Neighbor Award- Youth Volunteer Winner Jill Vicary, Saturn of Peoria (left) Hannah Dacayo, Eighth Grade Student at Holy Family Parish School (right)
Neighbor Award- Adult Volunteer Winner Jill Vicary, Saturn of Peoria (left) Andres Armando Diaz, Bradley University Student and Tri-County Regional Planning Employee (right)	Neighbor Award- Employee Winner Glenda Williams, City of Peoria Code Enforcement (left) Jill Vicary, Saturn of Peoria (right)
Neighbor Award- Business Winner Jill Vicary, Saturn of Peoria (left) Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois, Executive Director, Andrew Rand (right)	Neighbor Award- Mayor’s Award Winner (left to right) Gale Thetford, District Councilwoman Richard Lenz, Winner Mayor David Ransburg, City of Peoria Jill Vicary, Saturn of Peoria
Ted Bannon Brick Award Winner (left to right) Rosemary Bannon LaVetta Ricca, Winner Cookie Bannon	Roosevelt Magnet Peace Choir