Due to the current high levels of COVID-19 community transmission, the Center of Concern’s in-person Blacktop Tailgate event is cancelled.

To best protect our Center of Concern friends and supporters, we have made the difficult decision to cancel the in-person Blacktop Tailgate event. If you have purchased event tickets we will be contacting you directly by phone.

We will still be hosting our raffles with great prizes or the chance to split-the-pot! Winners will be drawn and announced online on Saturday, September 18th!

Also, we are still very excited to honor our annual Center of Concern awardees for their dedication to our mission over this past year! Our award recipients will be recognized during a virtual online event on Saturday, September 18th!

Click here to purchase your Blacktop Tailgate tickets!

Put on your favorite sports attire or team colors and join the Center of Concern at our Blacktop Tailgate party to celebrate the work we’ve accomplished together to support our community!

What a year–now we’re ready to have some fun! Our tailgate will be held in our parking lot and have appetizers and desserts, beer and wine, music, our annual awards ceremony, and a chance to win fantastic prizes!

Whether or not you attend our Blacktop Tailgate event in person, you can purchase raffle and split-the-pot tickets for a chance to win great prizes! Additional tickets will be available for sale at the event.

The Center of Concern’s tailgate event will occur outdoors only and in accordance with all current public health guidelines including mask-wearing and physical distancing as directed by the local health department. If there is severe weather, or if public health recommendations change, this event will be hosted virtually.

2021 Center of Concern Awards

The Center of Concern is proud to announce its annual award recipients who will be honored at the upcoming fall fundraiser event, a Blacktop Tailgate. These agency partners have a long history of service and collaboration to create a stronger, healthier, and safer community.

Volunteer of the Year
Paula Mack

When the Center of Concern needed to adjust to continue safely offering its critical services, Paula Mack stepped in and began volunteering each week at our Lunch With Us curbside meal pickups. Thanks to Paula’s ongoing dedication and commitment as a volunteer, clients have been able to safely pick up these meals, ensuring their access to nutritious lunches week after week.

Dee Heinrich Award
Christine Perille

The Dorothea “Dee” J. Heinrich Award is presented to longtime supporters of the Center of Concern. Christine Perille exemplifies the pioneering spirit and outstanding leadership, teamwork, and vision that Dee Heinrich brought to our agency and the community through her many hours of volunteering to support our agency’s development and services.

Excellence in Leadership
Alfons and Tina Boshenz

For their exemplary leadership through their invested involvement with the Center of Concern, Alfons and Tina Boshenz have continuously helped our agency envision the future, identify paths to success, and carry out our mission to help community members in need.

Partners of the Year
Niles Senior Center and The Webb Foundation

Over the past year, the Niles Senior Center has partnered with the Center of Concern through a variety of programs and services including Memory Café, Lunch With Us, and the distribution of COVID-19 Care Packages to those in need. Kelly Mickle, Niles Senior Center Director, has continuously collaborated with the Center of Concern to enhance available programs. The Webb Foundation, through its continued financial support and commitment to supporting the community, has also served as a critical partner this past year to ensure that unmet needs are being addressed throughout our community. Through these mutual drives to serve residents in need, thanks to these partners, the Center of Concern has been able to increase access to its vital programs and services.