Cheers Blue Island! Congratulations to our winners, to all the nominees, and a huge thank you to everyone who joined and supported the Best of Blue Island Awards 2024.
2024 Best of Blue Island Award Winners:
Community Spirit Residential Category – Joe Leamanczyk & Ben Walker, 12905 Greenwood Ave.
Community Spirit Business Category – The Lyric Theater
Healthcare Professional of the Year – Dr. Dan Ahrens, Meyer Eyecare
Educator of the Year – Josh Meyer, Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School
Non-Profit of the Year – Blue Cap
Volunteer of the Year – Dennis Ziolkowski, St. Benedict Food Pantry
Man of the Year – Scott Arnold, The Lyric Theater
Woman of the Year – Amanda Garetto-Melvin, Beggars Pizza, The Lyric Theater, Iversen’s Bakery, Be.illinois
Business of the Year – Van’s Maplewood Inn
Civic Leadership Scholarship Awards – Esther Heyboer & Brianna Torrence-Jones, Eisenhower High School
Also congratulations to our 2024 Executive Committee, Chairwoman Jackie Barton, Vice Chair Kim Gunaka, and Treasurer Bruce Bronson, and welcome to the board Anna Wassenaar!
HUGE THANK YOU TO:
The Lyric Theater
Beggars Pizza
TLC Learning Center Blue Island
Bettys’ Place of Blue Island, IL
Andrew Moreno Trio
Browntown Communications
Ron & Kim Gunaka
Karen & Steve Warrick
Jackie Barton
J. Patrick Tueth
Benjamin Tomera
Matt White