The Ecology Action Center was named the 2016 recipient of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce’s Nonprofit Excellence Award at the Chamber’s Annual Gala on Saturday, January 30. This annual award honors an outstanding local nonprofit organization that demonstrates an ability to meet special community needs.
EAC volunteer Josh Barnett cited the EAC’s ongoing efforts to improve the quality of life of McLean County residents in his nomination to the Chamber. He specifically referenced the EAC’s unique public/private partnership to address local needs for Household Hazardous Waste Collection in the absence of traditional state funding. “Without these collections efforts and the work of the Ecology Action Center, thee toxics would continue to sit in homes, or, be dumped down the drain or in local streams. It is safe to say that no single non-profit event in McLean County during 2015 touched more local lives then the Household Hazardous Waste Collection,” said Barnett.
EAC Executive Director Michael Brown credits the broad base of EAC supporters for the organization’s successes. “Without the hard work of our staff, volunteers, and board members, the financial support of our many members, donors, sponsors, grantors, and local government funders, and the participation of thousands of local residents, none of this would be possible. The community embraced our efforts and everyone played a role to make the HHW effort a great success,” said Brown.
