None of the more than 50 people who attended the Montrew Dunham Award Ceremony to honor Mary Ellen Young on October 5th were surprised by her receiving the honor. Her many years of volunteer service promoting quality education, adolescent and teen mental health, and supporting philanthropies within Downers Grove earned her the honor. Speakers highlighting Young’s remarkable accomplishments included fellow volunteers from The Grove Foundation, members of the Village Board, Executive Director of Navigate Adolescence and Downers Grove Historical Society Board Members. 
Young was further honored at the Downers Grove Village Council meeting on October 15th with an official proclamation. Pro-Tem Mayor Hosé declared the week of October 13 – October 19, 2024, as “Mary Ellen Young Week.”
To learn more about her numerous contributions, see:
https://dghistory.org/2024-mary-ellen-young/
