The Allen Award
The Reverend James E. Allen Award for Service to the Community holds a design that fills a need in our Mission. We designed a quarterly award appropriately under the namesake of our founder, Rev. James E. Allen, a man passionate about service to the community and a champion of recognizing those who make our neighborhoods better places to live.
The first Allen Award debuted at our November 12, 2014 Honors and Recognition Banquet. Rev. Allen was present.
Criteria
- Selfless devotion of community by direct action
- Live or perform work in Joliet or the greater Joliet area
- Performed action above and beyond the usual call of duty
- Action has community-wide impact or significantly improved the life or well-being of individuals
- Action noted promotes Project Acclaim Mission
- Action enhanced the best interests of the community
- Actions observed can be singular or repeated events, not necessarily associated with a long term activity or career
To nominate someone click here.
Recipients
2022 Awards
First Quarter: Tycee Bell, consultant, for her dedication to issue advocacy, equity and transformation, and neighborhood relations.
Second Quarter: The Art Movement, for dedication to promoting arts and culture.
Third Quarter: Erick D. Dorris, for his dedication to promoting arts, culture and eduction.
2021 Awards
First Quarter: Edna Brass, retired JTHS administrator and teacher, for sustained community involvement and mentorship.
Second Quarter: Kelly Rohder-Tonelli, executive director of marketing and communications at Joliet Junion College, for her sustained community involvement and mentorship.
Third Quarter: Candace Johnson Wheeler and Sara Stovall for their sustained neighborhood leadership and community actions.
Fourth Quarter: National Hook Up of Black Women, Inc. Joliet Chapter for programs and intitiatives that significantly improve the life or well-being of individuals and that have a community-wide impact.
2020 Awards
First Quarter: Teena Mackey and Terri King, retired volunteers, for founding the Will-Grundy National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI)
Second Quarter: Jim Teiber, City of Joliet Arborist, for transformative beautification efforts that enhanced downtown Joliet
Third Quarter: Brian Bessler, realtor and small business owner, for starting the influential Joliet Area Bar and Restaurant Guide on Facebook
Fourth Quarter: Tim Placher, Drauden Pointe Middle School music teacher, for his commitment to and passion for promoting our local music scene
2019 Award
Old Joliet Prison Preservation Coalition for their volunteer effort to clean, promote and revitalize the Old Joliet Prison
2018 Awards
First Quarter: Gerry Morales, Spanish Community Center Youth Baseball Program for boys and girls
Second Quarter: Joe and Donna Marshall, Founders of Crest Hill Pony Baseball program 39 years ago
Third Quarter: Matt Jordan, Lincolnway East HS Sponsor of the Key Club for last 11 years
Fourth Quarter: Richard L. Chavez, retired teacher, donor of $100K to Kiwanis Scholarships for JTHS Students
2017 Awards
First Quarter: Margie Woods, President of Healthy Communities Commission, Silver Cross Hospital
Second Quarter: Scott Slocum of WJOL radio
Third Quarter: Darlene Bull of Joliet
Fourth Quarter: Terry Kunze of Joliet
2016 Awards
2016 Virgil Kemp, founder of Helpers of Mother Earth
2016 Dick Schuster, President, Joliet Community Television (JCTV)
2015 Award
2015 Jan Nahorski, Joliet Grafitti Abatement Officer
2014 Award
2014 Bill Doolin, Harrah's Casino