11 Honorees Recognized As Outstanding Members of the NSSRA Family

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Highland Park, IL – It was a dazzling evening of dancing and celebration on Friday, April 29 when nearly 350 participants, family members, staff, board members, supporters and partners came together at the Highland Park Country Club for NSSRA’s Shining Stars Awards & Recognition Banquet.

This annual gathering gives NSSRA an opportunity to recognize those outstanding participants, coaches, advocates, partners, community members and friends who have truly made a difference the previous year. It’s also a chance to acknowledge and appreciate NSSRA’s families.

“We are all here because of the love we experienced along the way,” said Craig Culp, Executive Director, NSSRA. “That love is demonstrated best by each and every family member who handle the daily details that go unseen, making phone calls, filling out registration forms, driving to and from programs, celebrating every participant’s success and providing encouragement on the hard days. It’s our family members who really make this happen for our participants.”

This year NSSRA honored eleven individuals and organizations with nine separate awards for their exceptional support in 2015. Danny Gross and Ellie Stencel, NSSRA’s Volunteers of the Year, are Creative Companions in the long-running Bright Star Theatre Program, also a partnership with the Northbrook Park District. “The friendships and relationships formed each week are incredible,” said Gross. Stencel added, “Bright Star is a very special program and I am very grateful to be a part of it… It’s just something that we can look forward to every week. The people who are there are just the kindest people and everyone is so willing to be themselves and help everybody… it’s just an amazing experience and we’re so grateful.”

Kristen Craig and Katie Bonifazi, Site Coordinators for the NSSED/NSSRA Summer Program, were also recognized as Advocates of the Year for their “Send A Kid to Camp” initiative beginning last fall. “We started our GoFundMe page because we were finding out that some of our kids who had registered were unable to come to program because they couldn’t afford it,” said Craig. “We were really sad to hear that news, so we decided to try to raise money. Just seeing the smiles on the kids faces was a thank you enough for us.” With a goal to raise enough money to cover the full tuition of one child’s camp experience in 2016, to date their campaign has raised over $1,000.

The Park District of Highland Park received NSSRA’s Partner Agency of the Year award for their exemplary collaboration with NSSRA’s Inclusion team as well as their provision of facility space for NSSRA programs. Accepting the award on behalf of the park district, Executive Director Liza McElroy commented “At the end of the day, tonight is a night of celebration. It’s the NSSRA staff, and all of you, the families of the participants, that really make NSSRA what it is. From my perspective as a board member, it really is the best special recreation association in the country, hands down. So I celebrate all of you on behalf of Highland Park.”

Award winners include:
Partner Agency of the Year: Park District of Highland Park
Friend of the Year: Best Bus Sales
Family of the Year: Eichengreen Family, Highland Park
Volunteer of the Year: Ellie Stencel, Northbrook, and Danny Gross, Northbrook
Advocate of the Year: Kristen Craig, Arlington Heights, and Katie Bonifazi, Palatine
Program Staff of the Year: John Lykowski, Glenview
Youth Participant of the Year: Alex Kwit, Glenview
Gator Athlete of the Year: Ali Shapiro, Highland Park
Adult Participant of the Year: Ingrid Jannson, Wilmette

NSSRA Foundation supports NSSRA by providing scholarships and raising additional funds through fundraising events and their annual Holiday Appeal. They also underwrite the annual banquet, allowing participants and their families to attend at a reduced rate.

“NSSRA Foundation is honored to sponsor the banquet, along with the generosity of many additional sponsors and friends,” said Ron Fowler, Foundation President. “This year we sent out a simple yet purposeful request for financial support and were overwhelmed by the generous response, which reflects the strength of our community.”

“We are grateful for the support of the Foundation, which truly makes this night possible,” commented Executive Director Culp. “And as always,” he continued, “the award winners were truly the highlight of the evening. We couldn’t have asked for a more spectacular night with such wonderful people.”

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NSSRA provides and facilitates year-round recreation programs and services for children, teens and adults with disabilities who live in the partner communities. NSSRA is an extension of ten park districts, two cities and one village in the northern suburbs of Chicago. This partnership includes the Park Districts of Deerfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette and Winnetka; the Cities of Highwood and Lake Forest; and the Village of Riverwoods. NSSRA has been creating an environment of belonging through play since 1970, and has the distinction as the first Special Recreation Association in the country. For more information about NSSRA and the programs and services they provide visit www.nssra.org.

Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association Foundation (NSSRA Foundation) was established in 1997 to support the mission of NSSRA by raising and granting supplemental funding. NSSRA Foundation raises funds throughout the year with all proceeds benefiting the Association. The Foundation, in conjunction with NSSRA, hosts annual events for all donors, supporters and families. The Foundation also raises funds through solicitation of grants and the holiday appeal letter. Throughout the year, NSSRA Foundation receives generous support from many individuals, corporations, foundations, businesses and community organizations. For more information about NSSRA Foundation visit www.nssrafoundation.org.