Mark and Nadine York of the Gallatin County Tourism to receive Public Humanities Award on May 22

EQUALITY — Civic leaders Mark and Nadine York of Gallatin County Tourism Committee and the Ohio River Visitors Center will be honored by Illinois Humanities at this year's Public Humanities Awards. Established in 1984, Illinois Humanities’ Public Humanities Awards ceremony celebrates people who have made an indelible impact on the state through their work in and support of the humanities.

Mark and Nadine York will be recognized for their work promoting the historic and scenic attributes of the Gallatin County and Ohio River region. The Yorks have been involved in community and church activities since their retirement. They are also part of the 276 Art Exchange in Equality, a retail venue promoting the works of local artists.

Through their church, then Yorks also work to alleviate the poverty of their community by operating the HELP Center, a non-food pantry that provides household staples such as laundry detergent, cleaners and items of personal hygiene to needy families. The Weekend Snackpack program, another church program that they coordinate, supplies a sack of healthy snacks to over 100 local schoolchildren each Friday to prevent hunger over the weekend. In the promotion of literacy, Mark and Nadine have also undertaken the task of keeping their village’s Little Lending Library stocked with books for children and adults.

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