East St. Louis’ Join Hands Advocacy Project was one of four finalists honored by Gov. Bruce Rauner at the recent Governor’s Hometown Awards ceremony at the Old State Capitol in Springfield.
“At the heart of every hometown is a group of dedicated volunteers who make their community a better place for every resident,” Rauner said in a release about the awards ceremony. “These projects highlight the incredible kindness of Illinoisans from across the state and the power of neighborly acts of service.”
The Join Hands Advocacy Project focuses on making the most of family mentoring, teen mentoring and Big Brothers/Big Sisters, blending those efforts with alternative education, athletics and other youth services, the Belleville News-Democrat said.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner
East St. Louis will receive a plaque and a road sign in honor of being named a finalist from among nominations that came from throughout the state.
“In reviewing the Governor’s Hometown Award applications, it has reconfirmed for me that the citizens of Illinois continue to give back to their communities in remarkable and innovative ways,” Serve Illinois Commission Chairman Jeff Turnbull said in the release. “The applicants have shown that when people give back to their communities through volunteering, cities become stronger, neighborhoods become safer, and people become better because of it.”
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