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A pair of Starved Rock Foundation members honored by IDNR · Illinois Valley - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: A pair of Starved Rock Foundation members honored by IDNR.
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  Speaker 1: Written by Tom Collins, this article is being read by
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  Speaker 1: an automated voice brought to you by Everlett. Two members
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  Speaker 1: of the Starved Rock Foundation have been selected as twenty
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  Speaker 1: twenty six Illinois Department of Natural Resources Volunteers of the
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  Speaker 1: Year in recognition of their service to Starved Rock State
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  Speaker 1: Park and its visitors. Pamela Gravetti, Chairman Emeritus of the
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  Speaker 1: Starvedrock Foundation, and Gen Anderson, a current Foundation board member,
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  Speaker 1: will be honored by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
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  Speaker 1: during the twenty twenty six IDNR Volunteer of the Year
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  Speaker 1: Award ceremony at eleven am Saturday, August twenty second, at
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  Speaker 1: the Conservation World Amphitheater during the Illinois State Fair. Each year,
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  Speaker 1: IDNR recognizes individuals and groups who have made significant contributions
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  Speaker 1: and demonstrates dedicated service in preserving, promoting, and supporting Illinois
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  Speaker 1: natural and cultural resources. For Gravetti, the recognition comes during
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  Speaker 1: a milestone year that marks more than fifty years of
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  Speaker 1: volunteer service to Starve Rock State Park, its visitors, and
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  Speaker 1: the surrounding community. Her vision and commitment led to the
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  Speaker 1: creation of the Starved Rock Historical and Educational Foundation in
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  Speaker 1: nineteen ninety one, establishing an organization that continues today as
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  Speaker 1: the Starved Rock Foundation. Through the decades, Gravetti has welcomed visitors,
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  Speaker 1: shared the history and natural beauty of Starve Rock, supported
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  Speaker 1: educational programming, and encouraged countless others to become involved with
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  Speaker 1: the park. Her impact can also be seen through the
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  Speaker 1: organization she helped establish. Since nineteen ninety one, the Starved
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  Speaker 1: Rock Foundation has contributed more than five hundred thousand dollars
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  Speaker 1: toward park improvements, educational programming, exhibits, equipment, visitor experiences, and
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  Speaker 1: other needs at Starved Rock's State Park. Pam's impact on
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  Speaker 1: Starve Rock is almost impossible to measure, said Matthew Klein,
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  Speaker 1: president of the Starverock Foundation for more than fifty years.
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  Speaker 1: She has given her time, leadership, and heart to this park,
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  Speaker 1: the foundation, and so much of what we are able
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  Speaker 1: to accomplish today exists because of the vision she had
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  Speaker 1: more than three decades ago. This recognition is incredibly well deserved.
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  Speaker 1: Anderson has become a familiar and welcoming presence throughout Starved
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  Speaker 1: Rock State Park through his continued volunteer service. He participates
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  Speaker 1: in weekly hikes with the Starved Rock Walkers Club, assists
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  Speaker 1: with litter clean up along the parks trails, and volunteers
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  Speaker 1: at the Starverock Visitor Center front desk every Friday throughout
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  Speaker 1: the year. There, Anderson helps visitors navigate the park, provides
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  Speaker 1: trail suggestions, and shares information to help guests make the
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  Speaker 1: most of their visit. In addition to his weekly volunteer work,
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  Speaker 1: Anderson serves as a member of the Starve Rock Foundation
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  Speaker 1: Board of directors and continues to support the foundation's efforts
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  Speaker 1: throughout the park. Gene represents what volunteer service at Starved
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  Speaker 1: Rock is all about, Klein said, whether he is helping
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  Speaker 1: someone plan which canyon to visit, picking up litter along
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  Speaker 1: a trail, or giving his time to the foundation, he
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  Speaker 1: is consistently there for the park and its visitors. We
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  Speaker 1: are incredibly fortunate to have him as part of our team.