Kids & Family
2 Extraordinary Women Earn Geneva's Highest Honor
Jean Gaines, Mary Stith are both 2013 winners of the Wood Award for community service.
Two women who have helped shape Geneva were awarded the community's highest honor Tuesday night.
Mary Stith, former president of the Geneva Board of Education and volunteer in countless school and civic activities, and Jean Gaines, who built a Chamber of Commerce that has been a model for chambers across the country, were presented with the Wood Community Service Award during the chambers annual dinner at Eagle Brook Country Club.
Master of ceremonies and 2008 Wood Award winner Scott Lebin made the announcements, which included standing ovations for both honorees as well as a proclamation from Gov. Pat Quinn naming Nov. 11, 2013, Jean Gaines Day in Illinois.
From the Geneva Chamber of Commerce:
The Wood Community Service award is presented each year by the Geneva Chamber of Commerce at its Annual Dinner to an individual who has made significant community contributions in the areas of business, education, youth involvement, civic organizations, art, recreation, charity or government. The award is named in honor of Bill and Elise Wood, and Nell and Burton Wood—four individuals who have all contributed to the growth and health of the city of Geneva.
Mary Stith
For more than a decade, Mary Stith has advocated for Geneva children and for Geneva in general. She continually has the best interest of Geneva’s students, youth and future front of mind and her list of accomplishments is extensive.
Throughout her four children’s time at Western Avenue School, Geneva Middle School and Geneva High School, she was involved with the PTO. Serving both as a committee member, chairperson and on the executive board, she gave generously in time, effort, money and spirit for more than 10 years, including being a host family twice for the AFS Intercultural Program.
Stith volunteered for six years on Geneva Academic Foundation, serving as its president in 1998. Currently, she is serving her third term on Geneva School Board, which also entails her attending auxiliary district meetings as the board liaison.
She continues to enrich lives by serving as a religious education teacher, confirmation leader and perpetual adoration adorer at St. Peter Catholic Church in Geneva. Stith was also a part of St. Peter Barn Sale and an RCIA Leader.
Making the community a better place is very important to Stith. She was actively involved in Mother’s Club of Geneva for eight years, chairing and co-chairing many events; ultimately winning the Mother of the Year Award (Marcela Fuller award) given through MCOG and being designated an Honorary Member.
TriCity Family Services, Court Appointed Special Advocate and Illinois Association of School Boards have also been on the receiving end of Stith’s talents, time and dedication.
“My mom has always said that, although she loved nursing and caring for people, if she had to choose a second career, it would have been teaching. She has had just as much impact as any teacher, administrator, and advocate as anyone I know. Her commitment to ALL children, not just her own, has made her a 'mother' to so many,” said her oldest daughter, Elizabeth Stith.
A video highlighting Stith’s accomplishments that was shown prior to the announcement can be seen through this link.
Jean Gaines
For more than 36 years, Jean Gaines has been an integral part of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. As president, she has attended hundreds of state, county and city board meetings to support the businesses and citizens of Geneva, many on her own time.
As Geneva has grown in population, care has been taken, in the downtown, to accommodate growth while maintaining historic ambiance. Gaines has been influential in this endeavor through involvement, in some cases multiple times, on committees including Strategic Planning, Façade Improvement, Downtown Partnership, Downtown Steering and Third Street Three-Year Reconstruction Planning to name a few.
The relationship between the Geneva Chamber of Commerce and the city of Geneva is continually strengthened and reinforced by Gaines.
“The first thing I do when I go to a new community is contact the Chamber of Commerce; it's the best ally a city has,” said Ellen Divita, city of Geneva economic development director.
The Geneva Chamber of Commerce is a traditional business chamber, but is also the tourism arm for Geneva, which is makes it a unique chamber. Gaines has been instrumental in keeping alive the 64 year tradition of Swedish Days and has been the driving force behind the Festival of the Vine, Geneva Arts Fair, Christmas Walk and took ownership, more than 25 years ago, of the Christmas House Tour from another organization.
Gaines is a trailblazer for women in the workplace. When she began and built her career with the chamber, relatively few women were attempting to tackle the challenging path of both family and professional leadership. In a career that requires talent in so many areas: managerial, financial, political, legislative, as well as requiring strength in marketing and event planning and more, she has shown that none of these areas are closed to women.
“Strong families make strong communities, and strong communities, ones like Geneva — with economic opportunity, safe and fun community events, and a vibrant and growing downtown, help make strong families,” said Gaines’ daughter, Kristine Holtz.
Gaines commitment to the health and growth of Geneva reaches everyone, including family members. Holtz goes on to say that when she is in town she finds herself noting how busy the town is and if people are carrying bags from the local shops. She is especially cognizant of parking spaces being filled and knows it means that "people must be eating and shopping in town today!”
While Gaines’ contributions to Geneva are far too extensive to list, one thing is for sure; Geneva has certainly benefited when Gaines, in the 1970s, decided to take a “nice little job” doing some typing and reception work at the Geneva Chamber of Commerce.
A video highlighting Gaines’ accomplishments that was shown prior to the announcement can be seen through this link.
Previous Wood Award Winners
William C. Wood, 1985
Robert Joshel, 1986
Gloria McCleary, 1987
Allen Mead, 1988
Arthur Nelson, 1989
J. Roger Morris, 1990
Weldon Johnson, 1991
Jamie Daniel, 1992
Mack Olson, 1993
Rae Johns Ellsworth, 1994
Robert Krell, 1995
Richard Lindholm, 1996
Dave Rogers, 1997
Bruce & Carolyn Simpson, 1998
James T. Riley, 1999
Alden L. Odt, 2000
Sharon L. Jones, 2001
Steve Lillie, 2002
John Anderson, 2003
Mary Bencini, 2004
Mary Kay Brown, 2005
Stephen Persinger, 2006
Dr. Rodney B. Nelson, III, 2007
Scott Lebin, 2008
Sam & Carolyn Hill, 2009
Kent Shodeen, 2010
Joe Stanton, 2011
Tim Vetang, 2012
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