St. Andrew’s recognized as Harrington Park Citizen of the Year 2025

On December 8, 2025, Harrington Park Mayor Joon L. Chung awarded St. Andrew’s, Harrington Park the 2025 Citizen of the Year Award.

Here are her remarks from the award ceremony:

A citizen of the Year award is meant to recognize extraordinary service, consistent, selfless contributions that strengthen a community through volunteerism, leadership, and lasting impact. It is not about a single moment. It is about a steady pattern of showing up again and again when it matters most.

This year, our Citizen of the Year is not one individual, but a community of faith and action: St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church.

In life, you sometimes encounter people or organizations who quietly set the bar for what goodness looks like in a town. For me, St. Andrew’s has been that kind of example: a faithful presence, a courageous conscience, and a steady force for compassion in Harrington Park.

For decades, St. Andrew’s helped bring awareness to homelessness and not only awareness, but action. They helped organize and support shelter efforts right here in our community, reminding all of us that real neighbor-love is practical, local, and persistent.

When September 11th shattered our sense of safety, St. Andrew’s was there to comfort the inconsolable. And for many years afterward, Reverend Rhodes stood at the 9/11 memorial, greeting grieving friends and families, showing, through presence, that sorrow does not have to be faced alone.

During the COVID-19 pandemic when fear and isolation spread and when anti-Asian hate poisoned our nation, St. Andrew’s again stepped forward. They were one of the first organizations in Northern Valley to organize a Zoom gathering to listen, to acknowledge the concerns of our Asian neighbors, and to commit to solidarity and support. That mattered. It still matters.

Time after time, St. Andrew’s has helped, move our quiet community into active compassion, encouraging justice for the least, the last, and the lost, and calling us to live up to our best ideals.

And this year, as St. Andrew’s celebrates its 100th anniversary, their work of building connection, strengthening community pride, and creating belonging in Harrington Park continues.

So tonight, on behalf of the Borough of Harrington Park, I want to say: thank you. We are deeply indebted to you. For many years, you have been a soul to our community, our steady voice, our conscience, and the kind of good neighbor every town hopes for.

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church: thank you for loving this town so well. Congratulations! You are truly our Citizen of the Year.