Chamber to Honor Area Businesses and Resident at the 2016 Annual Dinner Celebration

The New Lenox Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Dinner Celebration on Thursday, January 28, at the VFW Post 9545, 323 Old Hickory Road, New Lenox. Cocktails start at 6 p.m. with dinner at 6:45 p.m. and award presentations following. Honorees include 2015 Business of the Year: Animal Clinic at New Lenox; 2015 Chamber Partner of the Year: VFW Post 9545; and 2016 Lifetime Chamber Award: Gary Cheney, ShareFest New Lenox.

Additional highlights of the evening will include recognition of our outgoing Board Members, Mark Stevens, LincolnWay Community Bank, and Paul Lyons, Home Helpers/Direct Link, membership anniversaries, 50/50 raffle and the Chamber’s Grand Raffle.

To attend the 2016 Annual Dinner Celebration, register online or contact the Chamber office directly. Tickets are $60 per person; tables of eight are available for reservation. Sponsorship packages and advertising opportunities are also available. For more information or to register, visit www.newlenoxchamber.com or call 815.485.4241.

Business of the Year: Animal Clinic at New Lenox

Announced at the Chamber’s Holiday Party, Animal Clinic at New Lenox is the 2015 recipient of the Chamber’s most prestigious award, Business of the Year. Animal Clinic at New Lenox has been open for business in New Lenox since the 1970s and a member of the New Lenox Chamber since 2008. Since joining the Chamber, the Clinic has been actively involved supporting many Chamber events, including the Community Expo & Home Show, the Strike Out Hunger Candlelight Bowling Bash, the Annual Golf Outing, and the Annual Halloween Fest. Animal Clinic at New Lenox also works hard to serve the community and the residents of New Lenox through partnerships with New Lenox Safe Communities America Coalition, ShareFest, Best Buddies Pet Pantry, the New Lenox Public Library, the New Lenox Community Park District, and New Lenox School District 122. The Chamber is proud to honor the Clinic with this award. “They are a shining example of what makes New Lenox businesses stand out and shine. We are proud to have them as a community and Chamber member,” said EmilyJohnson, Chamber CEO.

Partner of the Year: VFW Post 9545

The Chamber’s Partner of the Year award honors a non-profit organization that has worked alongside the Chamber in support its mission and members. The 2015 recipient is the VFW Post 9545. As an active member of the New Lenox community, the partnership between the VFW and the Chamber is very natural. “The VFW is always supportive of our events and programs. They go out of their way to help us and we are excited to recognize them with this award,” said Emily Johnson, Chamber CEO.

Lifetime Chamber Award: Gary Cheney, ShareFest New Lenox

In April 2007, Gary unveiled his plans for ShareFest to a group of area pastors. The idea took root and the first ShareFest was hosted in September 2007. Since then it has continued to grown and evolve into a month long event of sharing and caring. At the helm of the multifaceted event is Gary Cheney. He tirelessly works to bring more than 160 organizations and hundreds of volunteers together to provide compassionate community service to meet the needs within the New Lenox community. The Chamber is honored to present Gary with its 2016 Lifetime Chamber Award for his compassion, dedication, giving spirit and hard work in service of New Lenox.