Jacksonville Main Street Names Donny Gillis Volunteer, GFL Environmental Business Winner

Donny Gillis was named Volunteer of the Year and GFL Environmental was named Business of the Year as Jacksonville Main Street released its list of year-end winners, though the organization said that “Unforeseen circumstances forced Jacksonville Main Street to cancel its year end meeting.” Jacksonville Main Street director Judy Tighe supplied the description of Gillis’s award in the announcement reported by WLDS.

Jacksonville Main Street director Judy Tighe said, “Donny Gillis was given the volunteer of the year award for his dedication, generosity and willingness to step up whenever called upon.” The recognition positions Gillis among local volunteers highlighted by Main Street programming that supports downtown events and business-facing efforts.

GFL Environmental was “recognized as the business of the year for its financial and material support of the program,” the Jacksonville Main Street release reported by WLDS stated. The award frames private-sector backing as part of Main Street’s operating model; in this round of honors GFL’s support was singled out without listing specific dollar amounts or donated materials.

Rabbi Rob and Lauren Thomas received the Illinois Main Street Award in excellence in downtown revitalization “for the design and work at the Kresge Building on the east side of the square..the home of Pizza Records,” and the pair also took the 2024-25 Community Builder Award “for building up community spirit, structural enhancements and interest in downtown,” WLDS reported. The Kresge Building credit ties the Thomas’s work directly to a named downtown property and to Pizza Records as a tenant.

Jacksonville’s Main Street announcement comes amid a season of local honors across Morgan County and greater Jacksonville. DTJax/Downtown Vision, Inc. celebrated its DTJax Awards Nov. 13, 2025 at The Lark and named Bryan Moll Downtowner of the Year for his leadership at Gateway Jax, while the Jacksonville Area Golf Association announced 2025 JAGA winners at Stillwater Golf and Country Club including Barbara Harris as Club Executive of the Year and Blanton Tessin as Professional of the Year, according to recent local posts.

Jacksonville Main Street’s public announcement centralized recognition for volunteer work, business backing, and property rehabilitation downtown. With the year-end meeting canceled, the organization has not supplied further event details in the release reported by WLDS; recipients and downtown stakeholders will now carry the work of revitalization and community-building into the next operating season.