Foundation Names Finalists for Excalibur, Excelsior Awards
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois has announced finalists for its 2026 community service awards, with winners set to be revealed at a December ceremony.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Philanthropy
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois announced finalists for the 2026 Excalibur and Excelsior awards, which honor individual and organizational community service. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on December 10.
Why it matters
The awards recognize local residents and organizations that serve their neighbors, drawing attention to community service across the Rockford region and Northern Illinois. The program has run for 55 years and continues to spotlight volunteer and nonprofit work.
The awards have run for 55 years, with the Excalibur Award first given in 1971 and the Excelsior Award first given in 1979. Winners will be determined from three finalists in each category, with the final selections due at the December 10 event.
The players
Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
A regional philanthropic organization that runs the Excalibur and Excelsior awards and supports charitable giving across northern Illinois.
Rockford Register Star
The Rockford-based newspaper that ran the awards before handing management to the Community Foundation in 2023 and continues as a partner.
Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence
An organization that collaborates with the Community Foundation to run the awards and supports nonprofit capacity in the region.
The details
Excalibur finalists are Penny Wirtjes, founder of GiGi's Playhouse, Kathy Kwiat-Hess, and Phil Rada. Excelsior finalists are the Rockford Park District, Superhero Center for Autism, and the Greg Lindmark Foundation. The Community Foundation took over management of the awards from the Rockford Register Star in 2023, working with the Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence.
Timeline
1971: The Excalibur Award is first bestowed to Bill O'Donnell.
1979: The first Excelsior Award goes to Illinois Growth Enterprises.
2023: The Community Foundation assumes management of the awards.
Nov. 11, 2026: Finalists for the 2026 awards are announced.
Dec. 10, 2026: Winners are announced at a ceremony at Prairie Street Brewing Co., 200 Prairie St., downtown Rockford.
Philanthropy Legacy
The Excalibur Award's 1971 debut to Bill O'Donnell launched a 55-year tradition that the 2026 finalists now carry forward. The 2023 handoff from the Rockford Register Star to the Community Foundation marks the program's most recent structural change.
Residents can attend the December 10 ceremony to see which individual and organization are honored for service. The awards highlight volunteer efforts and nonprofits that residents can learn about and support.
The takeaway
Recognizing local service through long-running awards keeps community contributors visible; readers can look for nominees and finalists to learn about nonprofits working in their area.
What happens next
Winners of the Excalibur and Excelsior awards will be announced at a ceremony on December 10, 2026, at Prairie Street Brewing Co. in downtown Rockford.
Further reading
Explore more local giving stories in Philanthropy coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Rock River Current - Illinois - Wisconsin.
