Springfield
2012 Director’s Community Leadership Awards
| Springfield |
Western Avenue Community Center |
| Executive Director Amy Cottone accepts the award on behalf of the Western Avenue Community Center. |
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The Springfield Division is pleased to honor the Western Avenue Community Center (WACC) as a recipient of the 2012 Director’s Community Leadership Award. Serving the community since 1926, the WACC, located in Bloomington, Illinois, runs a food pantry and provides more than 1,000 families per year with low- or no-cost health and welfare resources and recreation and education programs. The WACC is focused on serving the whole family, from children to senior citizens. For youth, the WACC operates multiple programs, including an after-school program for students in kindergarten through fifth grades—giving them a safe place to complete their homework, have a snack, and meet new friends. Teen programs are offered for at-risk youth and teens who want to socialize. The Lawrence Irvin Neighborhood Center youth program teaches self-discipline, life and leadership skills, and other components of positive character development through basketball. The WACC also serves older citizens, many of who live alone and do not have family nearby. For citizens new to the United States, the Hispanic Outreach Program provides social services, language resources, and counseling for Spanish-speaking residents. |