Postponed due to severe weather from Friday evening, July 23, 2010, until Saturday, July 24, as a part of the Sugar Grove Corn Boil 2010 festivities, Village President Sean Michels and Chamber President Jamie White announced that Beverly Holmes Hughes has been selected by popular vote to receive the 2010 Sugar Grove Citizen of the Year Award.  Family, neighbors, and friends, many of whom traveled great distances for this celebration, cheered from the lawn and joined Michels and previous Award recipients in front of the main stage.

Beverly Holmes Hughes was nominated for this award by several Sugar Grove residents.  Numerous letters from residents and local businesses supported Beverly’s nomination.  She has been a business leader in Sugar Grove for 20 years.  Beverly and her husband Chuck share their home with her sister, Janet, her nieces and nephews – Christopher, Lydia, George, Ed, Hannah, and Elizabeth.  Beverly’s family, friends, business associates, and employees were all on hand to celebrate in this recognition.
 
“Beverly has enriched life in our village with her selfless and creative involvement in many areas that truly enhance Sugar Grove’s cultural opportunities.  Beverly has a generosity of spirit that embodies the idea that the community must be inclusive for all.  As she works towards helping our community she shows us that volunteerism can enrich all our lives. She is inspired, and then she inspires.”

For the past 20 years she has generously supported, volunteering her own time and efforts, the Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Sugar Grove Library Friends, Sugar Grove Corn Boil, Sugar Grove Historical Society, Sugar Grove Park District Garden Club, Kaneland Junior Achievement, WINS, Illinois Reading Council, Boy Scouts of America, the American Library Association and other organizations.  Truly, Beverly Holmes Hughes exemplifies the “Pioneer Spirit” Sugar Grove residents are known for and has definitely helped our village grow and prosper.

Established in 1998 by the Village of Sugar Grove and the Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce & Industry as an annual recognition program, “Citizen of the Year” is intended to recognize from among the nominations the selected individual or group which, during the past year, best exemplifies the pioneering spirit that helps our village grow and prosper. The Village of Sugar Grove and the Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce & Industry appreciate the involvement of the many people and local businesses that help recognize the Citizen of the Year recipient. Previous award winners include:  Jim Wilhelm (2009), Karen McCannon (2008), Joe Wolf (2007), Pat Graceffa (2006), Karen Pritchard (2005), Arnie & Byrel Liefheit (2004), David Seraphin (2003), Kevin Tindall (2002), Delmar & Ruth Krieghbaum (2001), Stan Anderson (2000), Chris Dayvolt (1999) and Terry Siebert (1998).

With sincere appreciation we would like to acknowledge the following contributors to the Citizen of the Year thank you basket:  The Village of Sugar Grove; Sugar Grove Library; Sugar Grove Farmers Market; Sugar Grove Library Friends; Judi and Don Adams; Sugar Grove Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Tastefully Simple Consultant Audrey Ritchey; Tupperware from Indra & Greg Singh; Paige Krueger PG Kreation’s (jewelry); Big Fat Soap Co.; State Representative Kay Hatcher; Fireside Grille; Open Range Southwest Grill at Bliss Creek Golf Course; Reuland Food Service; The Catering Gourmets; The Elburn Herald; Castle Bank; American Heartland Bank and Trust; Sweet Scentsations and Beth Jones of Source Therapeutic Massage.