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Health & Fitness

FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT HONORS VOLUNTEERS

FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT HONORS VOLUNTEERS

On May 2 the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County honored its corps of dedicated volunteers, including 21 special-award recipients, at its annual volunteer appreciation banquet.
      Last fiscal year 992 long-term and 3,940 one-time volunteers donated a combined total of over 86,000 hours of labor with an in-kind value of more than $1.8 million.
      “We’re so thankful for the dedication of the volunteers who contribute their time and talents to support the District’s mission of conservation, education and recreation,” says Chris Linnell, the District’s Volunteer Services supervisor. “The banquet is a time for us to give three cheers to everyone’s efforts and to recognize our superstars who go above and beyond,” she adds.
      Director’s Award recipients for noteworthy commitments to their respective programs are Audra Estenssoro from Naperville (Danada), Dori Sterba of Bensenville (Fullersburg Woods), Jesse Jender of Wheaton (Fundraising and Development), Linda Frey of Villa Park (Kline Creek Farm), Cosette Kosiba from Downers Grove (Mayslake), Carol Godoy of Wheaton (Natural Resources), Bill Fallon from Downers Grove (St. James Farm), Tom Brandseth from Wheaton (Trail Patrol), Khaled Rihawi of Aurora (Volunteer Ranger Experience) and Glenn Perricone from Carol Stream (Willowbrook).
      This year’s President’s Award recipients, who made significant contributions to their programs, are Judy Ficks of Glen Ellyn (Danada), Diane Chyler of Hinsdale (Fullersburg Woods), Peter
   
Santoro Sr. from Bartlett (Kline Creek Farm), Linda Christianson of La Grange (Mayslake), Glenn Gabanski from Darien (Natural Resources), Laurel Salvador of Wheaton (Trail Patrol), Robert Young of Wheaton (Volunteer Ranger Experience) and Marilyn Jensby from Lombard (Willowbrook). Wheaton residents Jayne Boyle and Jan Yong both received President’s Awards from St. James Farm.
      Dr. Lawrence DuBose of Carol Stream was honored with a lifetime achievement award for his many years of dedication to the beekeeping program at Kline Creek Farm. 
      Volunteers all carry out specialized tasks and interact with visitors. At Danada Equestrian Center in Wheaton, Fullersburg Woods Nature Education Center in Oak Brook, Kline Creek Farm in West Chicago, Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook, St. James Farm Forest Preserve in Warrenville and Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn, bring history to life, care for animals and teach children about all things wild. Natural Resources volunteers steward thousands of acres and monitor animal populations. Trail Patrol volunteers help visitors enjoy the outdoor safely, and through the Volunteer Ranger Experience, individuals assist with archery and fishing clinics and help maintain many forest preserves. Volunteers provide the Office of Fundraising and Development with clerical support.
      2013 awards of the Paul D. Pierotti Memorial Scholarship Fund, supporting District volunteers or their children, were announced. Violet Zerbe of Lombard and Janice Edel of Downers Grove received $2,000 scholarships; Henry Cilley of Glen Ellyn and Rebekah Ernat from Lombard received $1,000.
      The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County owns and manages 25,000 acres of prairies, woodlands and wetlands. Each year more than 4 million visitors enjoy 60 forest preserves, 145 miles of trails, five education centers and scores of programs. To get District e-news in your inbox, sign up at dupageforest.org/e-newsletter. For general information, visit dupageforest.org or call 630-933-7200.

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