Summertime by George to Receive International Award by the International Downtown Association
The St. Cloud Downtown Council (DTC), a nonprofit membership coalition  , learned
that it will receive a 2015 International Downtown Association (IDA) Pinnacle Award for its project, Claiming Our Community Through Collaboration. Pinnacle awards are the highest level of recognition (IDA) provides, and include only projects that exceed expectations in the areas of innovation, representation and sustainability.
Claiming Our Community Through Collaboration highlighted the impressive and extensive level of participation and collaboration to renovate Eastman Park and Lake George. The capital improvements to the park led to Summertime by George!, a weekly summer event held at Lake George throughout the summer. With more than 1,500 volunteer hours each year, the event averages 10,000 in weekly attendance, extraordinary financial support from Rotary-member businesses and reinvestment back into the community.
The submission for a 2015 Downtown Achievement Award was made by the St. Cloud Downtown Council, with the full support of the St. Cloud Rotary Club and the City of St. Cloud. Pegg Gustafson, president of the Council, is a member of the Rotary Club and has been involved in Summertime by George! since its inception. The award will be presented during IDA's 61st Annual Conference, September 30 - October 2 in San Francisco, CA. A small delegation will be present to accept the award. The DTC will be responsible for hosting a Best Practices Webinar after the Annual Conference. The DTC is a member of the IDA. IDA is a world leader and champion for vital and livable urban centers with more than2,000 member organizations from across the globe. | 
