'Heart Of Darien' Award Created To Recognize Volunteers

DARIEN, IL - New Darien Mayor Joe Marchese has created a new honor to recognize those who volunteer their efforts in the city. The first "Heart of Darien" award was presented to Cynthia McGann at a recent City Council meeting.

"I saw what Cynthia has done with Sunny Patch Farm and this is a woman who touches lot of lives in what she does. Cynthia and her volunteer group, she is exactly who I am thinking about when thinking about the Heart of Darien."

McGann not only is involved in the farm, but part of a "food rescue group" that helps take food not sold in stores and redistributes it back into the community, Marchese said.

The Heart of Darien award won't be given at any locked in time frame. It will be whenever a nomination from the community fits the criteria. Marchese alone will make the final call, although nominations will be accepted from the public at any time.

"I hope to get a lot of nominations from people in the community," Marchese said. "I do not want to diminish what the award means by giving one out every City Council meeting. There has to be some significance to this."

But any time someone qualifies based on the criteria, Marchese said he will recognize that volunteer for their contributions.

The mayor credits the inspiration for the award to a similar one given at a school in northwest suburban District 214. There, the "Heart of Hersey" award is given occasionally to an influential member of the Hersey High School community in Arlington Heights.

"I noticed that award while I was an alderman, but it was not something I chose to promote at that point," Marchese said. "But when I became mayor, I knew I wanted to let the residents of Darien know we do appreciate what they do and recognize the great volunteer groups we have in this city."

His hope is that the award inspires young people to be more civic minded.

"I'm looking forward to the day we get a nomination for a high school kid or someone in their 20s who is doing something in the community and someone who we can recognize for their role," the mayor said.