SYCAMORE – Do you know someone who’s making a major impact in the community and deserves recognition? The Kishwaukee Family YMCA wants to know about them.
The Y’s annual Community Awards Dinner is set for 5 p.m. May 17 at Faranda’s Banquet Center, 302 Grove St. The keynote speaker, Rudy Ruettiger – yes, that Rudy, from the timeless inspirational film, “Rudy” – is lined up.
Now, what the Y needs is nominations for its three awards:
• Youth Leader Award: It honors someone 18 or younger who’s made a notable impact on the community in youth development.
• Emerging Leader Award: It goes to a person age 19 to 35 who’s made significant, ongoing volunteer contributions in DeKalb County.
• Outstanding Community Leader Award: This one is for a person with an extraordinary body of volunteer work through leadership, involvement, and and community service in DeKalb County.
All of the nominees must have improved the county in at least one of the following areas: youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.
“It’s amazing to me, being a transplant to the area, the amount of people who are so invested in the community,” said Heather Dunker, the Y's marketing and communications director. “To see it started as early as kids in high school, it’s a cultural thing that’s been built here.”
Nominations will be accepted at kishymca.org through April 6.
The event is one of the biggest annual fundraisers for the Y, and makes possible such programs as Pedaling for Parkinson’s, Live Strong, open food sites, and Camp Power for underprivileged children in the summertime.