Our Leo Olson Award Recipients

The Leo Olson Award was established in 1989 to honor Leo Olson for his many contributions to, what was then, the DeKalb United Way.  Leo’s commitment to the organization started in the early 70’s when he was recruited to co-chair our annual campaign.  Following that, he served as Campaign Chair and President, and remained actively involved in local United Way efforts until his death in 1988.  The award named for Leo recognizes each new nominee’s commitment to United Way and an unflagging spirit of volunteerism and service. 

1988 – DeKalb Bank Employees
1989 – John Boardman, Sr. & First of America Bank Employees
1990 – Barry Haber
1991 – Peter West
1992 – Employees of Barber Greene Company
1993 – Employees of DeKalb Genetics Corporation
1994 – First National Bank & Employees
1995 – NIU Evans Scholars
1996 – ComEd & Employees and Target Team Members
1997 – Julie Ann Fuchs
1998 – DeKalb Community Unit School District #428 Employees
1999 – JC Penney & Employees and Mike Hardt
2000 – Lowe’s Home Improvement Store & Employees and Tim Struthers
2000 – Katz Family Foundation and Charles & Mary Roberts
2001 – Castle Bank and Micki Chulick
2002 – Monsanto and Tricia Maxwell
2003 – Alloyd & Employees and Larry Apperson
2004 – Mario Fontana
2005 – Jerry Smith and DeKalb County Community Foundation
2006 – Northern Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine and Dawn Littlefield
2007 – NICOR and Linda Heinisch
2008 – American National Bank of DeKalb County and Tom Matya
2009 – MorningStar Media Group and Linda Linden
2010 – KishHealth System and Nate Kloster
2011 – Schnuck’s and Matt Duffy
2012 – Illinois Community Credit Union and Heather Fritsch
2013 – 3M and their Employees and Kate Noreiko
2014 – Cindy Kyler and Sonoco/Alloyd and Renee Ellingson
2015 – DeKalb Chamber of Commerce and David Leifheit
2016 – Target Distribution and Randi Napientak (NIU/Money Smart Week)
2017 – Bridget Carlson and First Midwest Bank
2018 – Paul Callighan
2019 – Former Representative Bob Pritchard
2020 – Kenda Jeske
2021 – Ellen Rogers and Wendy West
2022- Susan Petersen and Shawn Lowe

2023- Tia Anderson