Naperville American Legion Post 43 presented their first Citizen of the Year award in 1976. It became an annual award in 1986. The Naperville Community is blessed with many people who serve their fellow citizens. Those selected must be Naperville residents whose service was performed in a volunteer capacity, rather than as part of compensated employment. In April of 2000 Mary Ellingston was named American Legion Post #43 Citizen of the Year.
As president of the Naperville, IL, League of Women Voters, Mary proposed the first State of the Community Dinner which became an annual event providing for community discourse. During her years as Councilman for the City of Naperville; she initiated and actively led the development of the City's Millennium festival, Celebration 2000, which was attended by 85,000 people and featured in the White House Millennium Brochure. Mary also, participated in developing and leading the organization of Naperville's 175th Anniversary celebration.
