CHARACTER COUNTS! Annual Recognition Awards
(left to right front row): Mary Ellen Johnson, Setette Phillips, and Polly MacDougall, (back row): Perry Knutson, Sue Crosson-Knutson, Bruce Root, Glenn Spachman, Dr. Jennifer Campbell and Dr. William McElroy.
Every spring the Bloomingdale CHARACTER COUNTS! Coalition sponsors a breakfast to recognize members of the community living, working or attending school in Bloomingdale who exhibit outstanding character. In addition, one Bloomingdale Business is also recognized for exhibiting the pillars of character. Each honoree is nominated with a description of the pillar of character that he exemplifies. The April 30th breakfast was held at Bloomingdale Golf Club.
Sue Crosson-Knutson has spent the past 20 years surprising hometown heroes with a public "atta boys." As a Bloomingdale Lion, Sue has involved herself in many community efforts including the Annual Walk-a-Dog-a-Thon, a fundraiser for a non-profit organization to train dogs for veterans and the physically disabled.
Mary Ellen Johnson as the editor of the Bloomingdale Village Almanac serves as the "go to" person promoting events and service initiatives of various community organizations. In addition, she has volunteered her time and services to District 13 School Board and to the Bloomingdale Historical Society, co-authoring "Images of America, Bloomingdale" a historical account of Bloomingdale and a fundraiser for the Historical Society.
Perry Knutson has served the Bloomingdale Lions Club for 10+ years, serving on the Board of Directors and as president. He organized the Westfield Middle School Leo Club, as well as several youth activities on the district and state level. In addition to leadership roles in his church, Perry is also an active member of the Roselle American Legion.
Polly MacDougall generously gives hours of her time each week to help out at Winnebago School. She is a dedicated and dependable volunteer who is instrumental in running the school book fair, in addition to serving on the PTO Board as the Treasurer.
McElroy Pediatric Dentistry, Ltd. (pictured right) - The second annual Bloomingdale Business of Character Award was presented to Dr. William McElroy and Dr. Jennifer Campbell of McElroy Pediatric Dentistry, Ltd. The award was in recognition of the informational presentations conducted annually by both doctors on a voluntary basis for the Bloomingdale Park District's 220 preschoolers. McElroy Pediatric Dentistry, Ltd. was further recognized for caring and eagerness to interact with children as exhibited by all employees on a daily basis.
Setette Philipps is the current volunteer PTO president at Winnebago Elementary School. She balances a busy family life with the demands she faces as a special education teacher, as well as giving hours of her time to fill an important leadership role in the school community.
Bruce Root has served as a positive male role model demonstrating kindness, caring and patience to his mentee for the past two years in DuJardin School mentoring program. He has built a strong relationship with his mentee providing positive adult attention.
Glenn Spachman has spent his one lunch hour a week over the last 2 years spending quality time with his mentee as part of the DuJardin School mentoring program. Glen is kind, extremely dependable and very committed to children, and is someone you can count on to brighten a child's day.
This annual community recognition program is an effective way to make the community aware that the CHARACTER COUNTS! program is not only for kids. We applaud these adults for modeling good character on a daily basis and we commend the Bloomingdale Coalition for ten years of seeking out and publicly recognizing such individuals.