Press Release - Thursday, September 14, 2006
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Gov. Blagojevich honors Kane County not-for-profit with PATH Award
BATAVIA - Governor Rod R. Blagojevich has named the Mid-Valley Neighborhood Improvement Association (MVNIA), Inc., of Kane County as a recipient of the Peoples Are Today's Heroes (PATH) Award for the organization's committed and environmentally-conscious work that has helped its community save significant amounts of money.
"MVNIA is a clear example that organizations are also part of today's heroes. This group has been a great neighbor to the residents of Batavia, Geneva and St. Charles for many years," said Gov. Blagojevich. "MVNIA found a way to be environmental stewards for the hard-working people of their community. They saw a need to recycle and found a way to keep the money in the community. I applaud them for their innovative work."
The Governor's PATH Award recognizes groups or individuals who, through their hard work and commitment, improve the lives of those in their community and help Illinois move forward in the areas of health care, public safety and education.
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to present this PATH Award on behalf of the Governor," said Illinois EPA Director Doug Scott. "The Mid-Valley Neighborhood Improvement Association is not just helping the community by providing inexpensive building materials. They are helping the environment by keeping several tons of what would have otherwise been waste, out of Illinois landfills."
For more than 14 years, MVNIA has assisted low and moderate-income households in the Tri-City area with home repairs and improvements to ensure the continued economic vitality of the whole community. In addition to special, low-rate home improvement loans, MVNIA provides Emergency Home Repair and Resource Assistance to local homeowners to further enhance the area, economically, aesthetically, and socially.
As a demonstration of their continued dedication to being environmentally friendly while helping the community, MVNIA opened the ReUseIt Center, an environmentally friendly, budget-conscious, community-focused retail operation, and the first of its kind in Kane County.
The 8,000 square foot ReUseIt Center is operated by volunteers and two full-time staffers. It provides incredibly low-priced windows, doors, lighting, cabinets, tiles, vanities, sinks, and much more, in an effort to help residents stretch their home improvement dollars. And a portion of the funds generated by product sales is funneled directly back into the community through MVNIA's Emergency Home Repair Fund.
However, because the new and gently used building materials are donated by local businesses and residents, the impact of MVNIA's vision goes well beyond home improvement. The ReUseIt Center has been instrumental in recycling close to 100 tons of quality housing materials and products that would ultimately end up in landfills throughout the state.
"Facilities like the ReUseIt Center help Illinois continue its leadership role in reducing waste and limiting our negative impact on the environment," State Representative Linda Chapa LaVia (D-Aurora) said. "With the rising cost of energy, the need for conservation has never been more apparent, and I am proud to be here today to celebrate this milestone with an important, forward-thinking organization."
Continuing their commitment to the environment, the Center also offers a variety of environmentally friendly classes throughout the year. Some topics covered involve solar energy, environmental issues, green living, prairie gardening, home repair projects and safety. The classes are offered free of charge or for a nominal fee.
"Our organization is truly grateful to Governor Rod Blagojevich and the Illinois EPA for giving us the ultimate recognition on the vital work we do to preserve our environment, while ensuring the economic, social, and aesthetic quality of life in the Tri-Cities," said MVNIA Development Director Barbara Zaha.
"Illinois is very fortunate to have outstanding leadership that has been instrumental in providing a new direction for our state to preserve its environment and protect its natural beauty," said MVNIA Executive Director Monica Jenkins.
"When considering how our organization can further enhance the aesthetics of our community and the overall quality of life in the Tri-Cities, it's only logical to place an emphasis on preserving the natural environment that sustains all of us and everything we do," said ReUseIt Store Manager Bill Coleman.
Following the presentation, Director Scott toured the ReUseIt Center, celebrating the facility's first anniversary, which has been a tremendous success, and he acknowledged all of the hardworking and dedicated ReUseIt employees who make the Center possible.
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