During the recent Naperville Sister Cities International Festival in Central Park, three members of the community were recognized for their outstanding achievements promoting creativity, service and global connection.
Naperville Mayor Scott Wehrli is pictured above presenting the Sister Cities 2026 Community Service Award to Mike Havala, President/CEO of Loaves and Fishes Community Services. The award also recognized Havala’s Slovakian heritage.
Claire Shen was honored with a 2nd Place Award in the 2026 YAAS Art Showcase, International Young Artist Award. Kendall Nghiem received a 3rd Place Award in the 2026 YAAS Essay Showcase, International Young Author.
Naperville, Illinois, and Nitra, Slovakia, have been sister cities since 1993, thanks in part to the dedication of Honorary Consul of the Slovak Republic Emeritus Rosemary Macko Wisnosky, a long-time Naperville resident. Slovakia was well represented at the festival with performances by the Veselica Slovak Folklore Ensemble and the Veselicka Children’s Ensemble and by representatives of SlovakPRO.
In addition, Naperville is Sister Cities with Pátzcuaro, Mexico (established in 2010), and Cancun, Mexico (established in 2021), also recognized at the International Festival. All three partnerships aim to encourage cultural, educational, and economic exchanges, noted Patty Gustin, for the Sister Cities Foundation.
One more thing…
Mike Havala also is celebrating 10 years of leadership at Loaves & Fishes…
October 2026 is the month Mike Havala marks his 10th anniversary as President & CEO of Loaves & Fishes—and 17 years of dedicated service to the organization founded in 1984.
Since becoming CEO in 2016, Havala has helped lead Loaves & Fishes through a period of tremendous growth. The organization has nearly quadrupled the number of neighbors served annually and expanded its reach across DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties.
His leadership has also helped shape a broader approach to ending hunger—one that pairs healthy food with impactful programs that help families move toward greater stability.
Havala also championed the merger with Naperville CARES, a milestone that celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2026, and has guided the organization through significant growth in its food distribution operations.
“Mike’s expertise and empathy have elevated our ability to provide healthy food, impactful support services, and lasting stability for thousands of families,” said Loaves & Fishes Board Chair Kristen Refness. “His visionary leadership and astute financial stewardship have transformed how we serve our community.”
