Karen El-Chaar, Executive Director of Friends of the Allentown Parks, is the recipient of the Community Champion Award from the Pennsylvania Recreation & Parks Society (PRPS) for 2016. El-Chaar will receive the award at the 70th annual PRPS Conference March 26-29 in Hershey.
El-Chaar serves as the leader of Friends of the Allentown Parks, a non-profit, member-driven organization that actively promotes environmental stewardship, fosters responsible use and care of Allentown’s parks, promotes outdoor learning and provides a myriad of volunteer opportunities to ensure that Allentown’s expansive park system remains one of the city’s shining gems.
According to the PRPS awards criteria, “The Community Champion Award is to recognize individuals who, through their volunteer commitment, have made an outstanding and significant contribution to some facet of parks and recreation by stimulating local, regional, state or national programs or initiatives.”
“Karen has done an outstanding job as executive director,” said Mayor Ed Pawlowski. “The Friends contributions to our parks cannot be overstated and it is Karen who spearheads those efforts. The honor is well-deserved.”
Karen El-Chaar chairs all activities, events, and volunteer projects in Allentown’s park system each year. In 2016 Friends of the Allentown Parks worked with some 2,500 individuals who volunteered 17,600 hours with an approximate in-kind service value of $356,000. Volunteers beautified Allentown’s parks, collected litter, and removed invasive plants from rivers and streams. El-Chaar coordinates projects with dozens of local businesses and organizations each year.
Information provided by:
Mike Moore
Communications Manager
Mayor’s Office
435 Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
Mike.Moore@allentownpa.gov
http://www.AllentownPA.gov
