2013 Governor's Engaging Aging Award

For more than 38 years, Neighborhood House has operated the Meals on Wheels home delivery program. Several years ago, they also started offering meals for congregate sites. They have a strong volunteer base which supports efforts to provide more than 88,000 meals to older adults in the City of Peoria; 15,000 congregate site meals and 29,000 home-delivered meals in Tazewell; and 8,000 congregate and 25,000 home-delivered meals in rural Peoria. All these meals delivered from the central kitchen on Matthew Street.

For 42 years, PATH has been a community resource. Through its call center and crisis hotline, staff provides critical services to adults age 60 and older and their caregivers. They intervene for people who are experiencing homelessness and depression and investigate cases of abuse/neglect. PATH currently serves, Christian, DeWitt, Livingston, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Ogle, Sangamon and Winnebago Counties.

The senior center provides activities and serves as a congregate meal site for its senior members. The center is financially self-sustaining due to fundraising efforts and donations which has motivated members to focus on ways to help others. Members have donated personal care items, magazines and neck coolers for troops of the armed forces serving in the Middle East; collected canned goods for a local food bank; and made quilts for a program to benefit children who are ill or dealing with tragedy.

As director of the Mascoutah Senior Services Program, Hakanson's leadership has made the senior center the hopping place in town and her recent fundraiser has put it on the map. Her idea was to sell what is described as a spicy calendar featuring mature models, including the town's mayor who posed wearing only a hat and bow tie. The first printing sold out in less than a week. Hakanson's idea raised money to help pay for the center's programs and services.

Patton currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging but his involvement has included work with the American Cancer Society, Lions Club, Salvation Army, SIU Foundation and West Frankfort's Men's Prayer Breakfast. An educator who taught for more than 50 years, he helped establish the West Frankfort Unit School District and served at its first superintendent. Still actively serving, Patton celebrates his 100th birthday October 24, 2013.

Described as an active volunteer, Anderson serves on AgeOptions' Advisory Council; volunteers with City of Evanston Commission on Aging, Make Medicare Work Coalition to name a few, and is the state contact for the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. She served as director of the Evanston/North Shore YWCA establishing a domestic violence shelter and has been active with the Girl Scouts of America. Anderson is a true advocate.