Community Corner

Plainfield School District Honors Community Leaders

Outgoing board member Mike Kelly, community volunteer Ralph LaFido were recognized at an April 3 ceremony.

Article submitted by District 202:

The District 202 Board of Education honored two exceptional leaders for their community service at its April 3 Awards of Excellence ceremony.

Ralph “Butch” LaFido, a longtime volunteer with the Plainfield Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the Plainfield Interfaith Food Pantry received the Ira Jones Memorial Award for his exemplary service to the Plainfield area. 

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Board of education member Michael Kelly received the Elizabeth “Bess” Eichelberger Distinguished Service Award for his 16 years of leadership in and service to District 202.

“Both Mr. LaFido and Mr. Kelly are excellent examples of the spirit of service that creates and holds a community together, and the Board of Education is proud to honor them for their many contributions to District 202,” said board president Roger Bonuchi. 

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The Ira Jones Award is named for Richard Ira Jones, the proprietor of Jones Hardware once located in downtown Plainfield for many years. He served on the District 202 Board of Education from 1936 until 1972, and was president the last 15 years. 

Jones also served as a member of several other public boards, including the fire district and various community service organizations.  

LaFido has been a member of PEMA for about eight years. PEMA responds day and night to many kinds of emergencies and supports area law enforcement and safety personnel.

He also has given significant time over the last four years to the Interfaith Food Pantry. LaFido uses his own truck to pick up and transport donations and supplies from around the Plainfield area to the Pantry, then helps sort and distribute the items. 

As an example of his kindness, LaFido recently earned praise for taking a personal interest in a situation in which a young woman died in a car accident. LaFido took the time to leave a memento at the accident scene. 

The Eichelberger Award was created in 2009 to honor those who embody Eichelberger’s spirit of community service.

Eichelberger, a Plainfield-area icon who died in February 2009, was renowned for her passion for volunteerism. She served nearly 26 years on the Board of Education, then continued as one of two Board Ambassadors until her death. 

She also served as a member or director of numerous community organizations including the Will County United Way; C.W. Avery Family YMCA; the Rotary Club; St. Mary Immaculate Parish; and the PHSCC Athletic and Band Booster groups, among numerous others.

Kelly was elected to the board of education in 1997, on the cusp of what would become a decade of tremendous, unprecedented growth in District 202.

Among his many accomplishments during his board service, Kelly served four years board president; six years as vice president; and four years as board secretary. 

Kelly also chaired two District 202 negotiations teams and helped secure the district’s first four-year contract with its teachers, and helped write the district’s four goals, which guide, link and prioritize all of the district’s work. 

As well Kelly has served as a member of the District 202 Curriculum Coordination Council. The CCC comprises administrators, teachers, and Board and community members charged with creating, reviewing and implementing the district’s entire curriculum from the “ground up.”


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