Lt. Governor Quinn Honors Residents with Environmental Hero Awards

CHICAGO – December 30, 2008.  Lt. Governor Pat Quinn presented the 2008 Environmental Hero Awards to 26 individuals, schools and groups in recognition of their commitment to environmental health and protection.

“The citizens here today are truly environmental heroes,” Quinn said.  “I am proud to salute them for the hard work they have done to show us that when it comes to making the Land of Lincoln a cleaner, better place – we can all make a difference.”

The 2008 Illinois Environmental Hero Award recipients include local groups:

Friends of the Hennepin Canal receive 2008 Environmental Hero award from Lt. Gov. Pat Pictured left to right are joanne Gernant, Geneseo, Duke & Bar Mueller, Milan, and Cathy Foes, Annawan.

• Friends of the Hennepin Canal worked to keep the Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park open in Sheffield, Illinois, which is one of several parks that were scheduled to close this year. The park is used everyday by many people to bike, fish and camp. School groups, boy scouts and girl scouts all use the park for recreation and educational purposes as well.