Mainstreet HQ, Downers Grove – Mainstreet Good Neighbor Award winners demonstrate astonishing dedication to continually improving their communities though philanthropic efforts. Each winner receives a personalized charitable contribution to an organization they volunteer with. This year’s third-place winner for the 2024 Good Neighbor Award is Eileen Olivier.
It’s truly a proud moment to be chosen as the third-place winner of Mainstreet’s Good Neighbor Award. The $1,000 donated to our organization from this honor will make a significant difference for students working to overcome obstacles while pursuing their continued education, now and in their future. I would like to personally thank the nomination committee for choosing my application and the 209 Scholarship.
I am delighted to serve as the chairman of the Selection Committee for the 209 Scholarship, a program designed to support students in the Proviso District who are working to overcome adversity and achieve academic excellence. As a member of our volunteer-based Board of Directors, I have dedicated countless hours to ensuring this scholarship process is carried out with the utmost fairness and integrity. Our Selection Committee is comprised of a diverse group of individuals from across Proviso. Each member carefully reviews the scholarship applications, which have all identifying information redacted by a volunteer not on the selection committee. This ensures an unbiased review process focused solely on the merits and accomplishments of each applicant.
Through the Overcoming Adversity Scholarship, we aim to support students who may not have the strongest academic records but have demonstrated remarkable determination and improvement over the course of their high school careers. These are students who have faced challenges, whether it be family hardship, health issues, or other obstacles yet have refused to give up on their dreams of higher education. Their resilience and drive to succeed in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.
On the other hand, the Persistence Pays Scholarship recognizes students who have maintained consistent academic excellence throughout their high school years. In addition to their outstanding GPAs of 3.5 or higher, these students have also made meaningful contributions to their schools and communities through extracurricular activities. Our aim is to support these exceptional young scholars as they transition to the next phase of their educational journeys.
The testimonials we have received from our scholarship recipients are a testament to the transformative impact of this program. Raneen, a three-time 209 Together Scholarship winner, shared how she used the struggle of her father's illness and her family's eviction as motivation to excel in school, knowing that failure was not an option. Aaliyah, another multi-year recipient, spoke of the hope the scholarship gave her when she initially felt devastated by not qualifying for financial aid. Anahi vividly recalled the relief of being able to purchase her college textbooks without worry, thanks to the 209 Scholarship.
As for a little bit about me, I am an Illinois licensed REALTOR® and active community member. I am also a former Maywood Economic Development Commissioner, past PTO President and District 89 Parent Advisory Council Member, currently serving as a District 209 Policy committee member. Additionally, I sit on the board of directors for 209 Scholarship and have served on various committees for the Mainstreet Organization of REALTOR®. I am a concerned parent advocate dedicated to creating a better future for children in Maywood.
To learn more about the 209 Scholarship, please click here.