Business and community members attended the festive 2026 Elgin Image Awards celebration at The Centre in Elgin on Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

Sponsored by the Enhancing Elgin Committee of the Elgin Area Chamber's Elgin Development Group, the Elgin Image Awards recognized individuals and organizations who have contributed  and made a lasting impact on the community.

“We were pleased to have our recipients together to celebrate the people, projects, businesses and organizations that are building a stronger Elgin for today and tomorrow,” said Lindsay Tintera, President and CEO, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce.  

The 2026 Elgin Image Awards recipients and their contribution recognized in their individual categories are:

• Creating a Difference - Katie Cox, director, School District U46 Early Learner Initiatives Team, serves approximately 1,200 children annually and with her team has fundamentally transformed early childhood education across Elgin. They have earned top state honors and have successfully decentralized facilities and expanded the neighborhood-based school footprint from 15 to 26 schools. By collaborating with other local organizations, they have built a powerful network that ensures early education is a shared community responsibility.
• Excellence in DEI or Building Equity - Jeanette Silva Haro, firefighter within the Pingree Grove Fire Protection District and a proud homegrown Elgin success story. As a Latina firefighter in a traditionally male-dominated field, Jeanette’s presence alone challenges long-standing stereotypes. She volunteers extensively to mentor young women and Latinas, playing a pivotal role in local pre-apprenticeship programs, including those at Elgin Community College where she co-founded ‘Girls on Fire’ program. She bridges the gap between public safety and community empowerment. 
• Gamechanger Projects - The Basics of Greater Elgin through the Enriching Partnerships for early Learning in collaboration with School District U-46. Launched in April 2025, this initiative, coordinated by Karen Ceballos, translates vital developmental science into five simple, memorable practices that parents and caregivers can easily weave into everyday moments—whether they’re sorting laundry, reading a book, or taking a walk in the park. By August 2026, over 700 children were participating in the program. This initiative unites local government, educators, healthcare providers, and community volunteers around a shared vision.
• Gamechanger Projects - Elgin History Museum and the Hispanic Heritage Project, Nuestras Historias. Over a three-year span, the museum, alongside filmmaker Phil Broxham, community volunteers, and sponsoring organizations, brought to life Nuestras Historias, via oral history interviews, archival research, and extensive community outreach to identify and preserve the stories Elgin’s Hispanic residents wanted told about their own history. This landmark initiative is the first large-scale documentary film and companion exhibit dedicated entirely to Elgin’s Hispanic community history. Presented bilingually in English and Spanish, Nuestras Historias made its powerful debut in August 2026 at Elgin Community College.
• Professional Rockstar - Michelle Esquivel, Executive Director of the Well Child Center, whose visionary leadership has transformed the Well Child Center into a trusted safety net for women, children, and families across Elgin. Among the comprehensive services available, Esquivel’s innovations include the “Food for Families’ pantry partnership, the “Project SMILE” high school internship program, the new SMILE Dental Salon for Women, and critical maternal mental health support through the Connections initiative. She serves on the Neighborhood Network Steering Committee, and is a board member of the Illinois Oral Health Coalition.
• Professional Rockstar - Christopher Flaherty, founder of Green Guerrilla and a tireless champion for urban ecology in Elgin. He is a two-term City of Elgin Sustainability Commissioner, a five-year member of the Elgin Math and Science Academy’s Environmental Committee, and a dedicated volunteer with Friends of the Fox River. He pours his time and expertise into protecting our natural resources. He secured a $15,000 Midwest Grows Green grant to make Lords Park herbicide-free, effectively doubling Elgin’s chemical-free public parkland. He has planted native trees, restored vital habitats, mentored Scouts BSA Troop 10 for an Eagle Scout project, and spent countless hours teaching young children through nature field studies.
• Volunteer Extraordinaire - Donna & Brad Gopelrun, whose inspiring efforts created a food rescue program connecting PADS of Elgin to rescue surplus pastries and breakfast sandwiches. Their dedicated food rescue efforts support not only PADS of Elgin, but also the Community Crisis Center, Lexington Motel residents, local churches, soup kitchens, and supportive housing programs. They reduce food waste and stretch limited nonprofit dollars. Together they now run twice-weekly pickups and deliveries across the community. They have inspired others because their story shows that meaningful community change can begin with something as simple as noticing a problem and    deciding not to ignore it.
• Volunteer Extraordinaire - Adrian Hernandez, the driving force behind Elgin Community Bikes. He plans and leads a vibrant variety of community bike rides across Elgin, including the popular Full Moon Rides. His events draw hundreds of participants not only from right here in Elgin, but from neighboring Fox Valley cities, giving visitors an unforgettable look at Elgin, while boosting tourism.  He welcomes a first-time rider, fosters fitness, and has created an inclusive space where people from all walks of life feel valued. Hernandez embodies genuine hospitality and pride in his hometown, not for recognition, but because he loves riding his bike and wants others to feel connected. 
• Volunteer Extraordinaire - Perla Sanchez embodies compassion. For six years, while successfully balancing a demanding full-time career as a realtor, she has poured her heart, time, and energy into Chancez, a local nonprofit serving unhoused neighbors. She has been a driving force behind the organization's growth, helping it transition from a grassroots effort into an official 501(c)(3) nonprofit while nearly doubling its outreach events. She balances her full-time career while being a driving force and giving hands-on leadership that spans event planning, meal service, and clothing distribution. She is especially central to the 'Love Thy Neighbor' initiative—a community meal program that brings housed and unhoused neighbors together at the same table. Whether serving over 500 meals, donating hundreds of clothing items, organizing holiday gifts for more than 300 families, or simply sitting down to talk and share dignity with attendees at Thanksgiving, Perla ensures that Elgin truly takes care of its own
• Volunteer Extraordinaire - Elgin Steelers Youth Football & Cheer Board of Directors - Operating out of Drake Field as a Chicagoland Pop Warner member, this nonprofit serves children and families across Elgin through tackle football, flag football, and cheerleading programs. Its mission is to empower young athletes through discipline, teamwork, academic responsibility, positive sportsmanship, and leadership development while providing a safe, inclusive, and culturally supportive environment where every child has the opportunity to succeed. At the heart of the organization is a dedicated board of 14 volunteers who work tirelessly year-round. Their service extends far beyond game days with fundraising efforts, securing equipment and safety improvements, hosting free camps, and mentoring young athletes. They are shaping confident leaders, responsible teammates, and active citizens who will carry these values into Elgin’s future.
• Youth Led Service Projects - YouthBuild Elgin - True community service is about building bridges—connecting different generations and using talents to make someone else's daily life a little brighter. Under the guidance of Case Manager Rudy Fausto, a successful collaboration with The Vines Senior Homes in Elgin was formed. Youth learned construction skills and applied them directly to a meaningful community project. They provided the materials, built, set up, and filled custom raised planters specifically for the residents of The Vines. Going a step further, they invited the seniors to choose the vegetables they wanted to grow, giving residents a wonderful sense of purpose, engagement, and the simple pleasure of tending a garden.

“The recipients of this year’s Elgin Image Awards clearly have made a difference in our Elgin area community, adds Natalie Kiburg, Enhancing Elgin Committee Co-Chair and Division Chief of Public Relations & Development, Gail Borden Public Library. “It was an honor to help recognize our honorees and hear about the incredible work they do.”.

For more information about the annual Elgin Image Awards, contact Lindsay Tintera at info@elginchamber.com or (847)741-5660.