Chamber Honors Businesses for Civic Commitment

The Wheaton Chamber of Commerce celebrated and appreciated its members' support, dedication and enthusiasm for Wheaton and especially the business community at the 3rd Annual Wheaton Chamber Gamon Awards.

It was a special night for the 10 winners, including one of them: Laurie Swanson Oberhelman. The local businesswoman was surprised to earn that she was named the Grant & Vernon Citizen of the Year. She was surprised a second time during the awards ceremony to learn that the city of Wheaton has been selected to receive one of three City awards being given by USA Today Weekend, Points of Light and Newman's Own for its Make A Difference Day. Oberhelman chaired the Oct. 23, 2010 project, in which Wheaton’s Community Relations Commission worked with various local social services organizations and the Chamber of Commerce to help strengthen the city's commitment to assist those in need.

The popularity of the awards grows each year, and this year, more than 6,000 ballots were cast via paper and online voting. Awards were presented Feb. 23.

The recipients and their awards are:

The Wheaton College Science Center—the Henry C. Childs Community Development & Improvement Award; 

Wheaton Meat Company—Anton & Lidia Carlson Small Retail Business of the Year;

General Dentistry With a Woman's Touch, Dr. Roberta Valent—P. Kenneth Gieser Small Service Business of the Year (sponsored by The Wheaton Eye Clinic);

Carlson Paint Glass and Art—F. E. Wheaton Large Business of the Year;

Ivy—Wheaton Chamber Restaurant of the Year;

I Have A Bean and MagnetStreet—Nathan Lewis Best Marketing of the Year (sponsored by Quality Web Site Testing);

People's Resource Center—Edwin Deicke Not-for-Profit of the Year

Wheaton Police Corporal Steven Cortopassi—O. E. Kimball Wheaton Civil Servant (sponsored by  Rich Ferrari, Edward Jones Investments);

Laurie Swanson Oberhelman—Grant & Vernon Citizen of the Year (sponsored by Citizens for Mike Gresk and Citizens for Evelyn Pacino-Sanguinetti)

Pictures of the Gamon event and winners are on the Chamber's Facebook page.

City wins national award

 The City of Wheaton has been selected to receive one of three City awards being given by USA Today Weekend, Points of Light and Newman's Own for its Make A Difference Day efforts on Oct 23, 2010. 

Special recognition goes to the Wheaton Chamber of Commerce and the Community Relations Committee for spearheading the signature Stuff-A-Truck event on Make A Difference Day. The truck loads of food collected benefited local families served by The People's Resource Center.  Read more here.