ICCA announces 2008 Advocacy Award Winners
Bob Goodfellow and Audrey Linge-Ovel have been chosen to receive the two individual advocacy awards presented annually by the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance.
The two awards -- the Larry Eckholt Award for the South Corridor and the North Corridor Advocate Award -- are meant to honor a community member/leader who exemplifies passion, commitment, and advocacy to the cultural vitality of the Corridor.
The awards were nominated by the 149 organizational members of ICCA and voted on by the ICCA Board of Directors. These two awards are the only awards given to individuals and will be presented during the ICCA Innovative Excellence Awards (aka The Ickys!) on Monday, Jan. 26, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. at the Englert Theatre, 221 E. Washington St., Iowa City.
Bob Goodfellow is the recipient of the Larry Eckholt Award. He is recognized as a tireless advocate for Johnson County cultural organizations and individual events that celebrate the arts, culture, history, and education. He is a business person whose generosity to local groups often includes in-kind support and assistance in producing graphics and promotional materials through his company Goodfellow Printing Co.
Audrey Linge-Ovel will be awarded the North Corridor Advocate Award posthumously. From her years working with the Cedar Rapids Playtime Poppy Program to her gifting of the Iowa Theatre Building and the Grant Wood Studio, Linge-Ovel spent her lifetime giving back to the greater Cedar Rapids community and the cultural Corridor. Before her death last year, Linge-Ovel worked with her children and husband, Jerry Ovel, to create the Linge Family Foundation to continue her legacy of charitable giving.
"These two people exemplify service and dedication to the Corridor's cultural community," said Joe Jennison, Executive Director of ICCA. "And we are thrilled to be able to acknowledge their contributions as part of the annual Icky ceremony. We hope the entire community will come out to celebrate with us."
There are 11 other awards nominated and voted on solely by the membership of the Iowa Cultural Corridor Alliance. Those recognitions will be announced live during the Jan. 26 event.
The evening will begin with a dual reception from 5 to 6 p.m. at both the Iowa Artisans Gallery (207 E. Washington St.) and the Chait Galleries Downtown (218 E. Washington St.).
Area celebrity presenters, including Mayor Kay Halloran and Mayor Regenia Bailey, will present the awards. There also will be 12 live performances representing some of the cultural community's many successes during Calendar Year 2008.
Tickets to the Ickys are $20 and are available now through the Englert box office at (319) 688-2653.
About ICCA
ICCA was formed in October of 2005 with the merging of the Johnson County Cultural Alliance (JCCA) and the Cedar Rapids Area Culture Alliance (CRACA). The group's mission is to build, strengthen and lead the Corridor's arts and culture organizations and the communities they serve. ICCA maintains www.culturalcorridor.org the area's one-stop shop for news and information about upcoming cultural events in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Corridor.
