Heart of Illinois United Way
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Heart of Illinois United Way Marketing Committee
2009 Marketing Committee
HOIUW in the News
Delinquent dollars difficult to deal with: Area health, human care agencies face challenges due to tardy state funds
By Terry Bibo of the Journal Star Posted May 14, 2010
PEORIA —
Michael Stephan, president of Heart of Illinois United Way, says the local group has joined United Ways throughout the state to advocate for a state budget which protects funding for health and human care programs.
Read more at the Peoria Journal Star...
Unpaid state bills imperil social service programs
By Terry Bibo of the Journal Star Posted Apr 09, 2010 @ 08:51 PM
PEORIA —
When Springfield doesn't pay $5.5 billion worth of bills, people in Peoria suffer.
That's the projected backlog by the end of June. Then, already-struggling social service agencies face the prospect of additional cuts in the coming fiscal year.
"This has been an ongoing issue for the last two or three years," said Gina Edwards, marketing director for the Heart of Illinois United Way.
"It's a nightmare in terms of cash flow," said Laraine Bryson, president of Tri-County Urban League. "Any kind of cuts will be disastrous: Definitely layoffs. . . . We've already cut as far as we can cut."
Read more at the Peoria Journal Star...
News Release: January 28, 2010
Changing Lives Together - Central Illinois Steps Up to Support their Community through Heart of Illinois United Way's Annual Campaign
For More Information, Contact: Gina Edwards, 309/674-5181, ext. 234
Download story as PDF...
Thursday, January 28, 2010 at the Community Campaign Celebration, the Heart of Illinois United Way announced the results of its 2009 Campaign. Campaign Chairs, Jim McConoughey of the Heartland Partnership and Gina McConoughey of Bradley University, proudly announced that the 2009 campaign raised a total of $8,611,068.
"With economic challenges impacting everyone, especially the most vulnerable, the people of central Illinois continue to show that we are a very caring and compassionate community. 'Live United' is more than just a tagline – it captures what it means to live in a community that supports and helps each other in times of need. We are extremely pleased with the success of our campaign," Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois President, said.
Heart of Illinois United Way volunteers worked tirelessly to motivate and engage employees and residents of central Illinois to support this critical campaign. In 2009, United Way's base of support increased with more than 65 new employee campaigns and corporate gifts. In addition, 79 organizations increased their contributions by more than 10 percent.
With 47 partner agencies, the Heart of Illinois United Way supports local programs and services that address critical health and human care needs in our community – helping more than 1,100 people every day throughout Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Marshall, Stark and Putnam counties.
At the Community Campaign Celebration, a few of these individuals shared their personal stories of how the United Way has helped impact their lives. Programs highlighted included the Boy Scouts outreach program that provides scouting opportunities for at-risk youth in Peoria and Tazewell counties, the Arthritis Foundation's program which provides therapy and support for families with children suffering from arthritis, TCRC's residential program that assists people with disabilities so they can live independently, and disaster services by the American Red Cross which assisted more than 200 families with house fires this past year.
"We tremendously appreciate the thousands of volunteers and donors who were a part of the 2009 campaign. Their support ensures vital programs and services will remain available in our community. By working together, the people of central Illinois truly demonstrated just how strong we are at facing challenges and ultimately, being a part of the solution," Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois President, added.
In 2010, Mark Spenny of CEFCU and Renee Spenny will chair the Heart of Illinois United Way Campaign.
For more information, or to arrange interview(s), about the 2009 Heart of Illinois United Way Campaign, please contact, Gina Edwards, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at 309/674-5181, ext. 234.
Link to WEEK story and video...
Link to Peoria Journal-Star story...
Illinois Mutual Celebrates Centennial and Supports Success by 6®
Throughout 2010, Illinois Mutual will be celebrating their centennial. To commemorate their long-standing tradition of investing resources in area projects and organizations, the company created their Year of Caring Program which funds community programs and provides volunteer hours to be completed by Illinois Mutual employees.
The Heart of Illinois United Way would like to thank Illinois Mutual for supporting our Success by 6® program through a $12,500 Year of Caring Program grant and for their continuous support of our efforts to support people in need throughout central Illinois.
As part of this grant, Illinois Mutual volunteers will select, prepare, organize and deliver the October 2010 book for our Success by 6® initiative's "Be a Page Turner" reading program. More than 3,200 books will be presented to children at numerous sites and many volunteers will serve guest readers and help coordinate classroom activities based on the book's theme. This project emphasizes and supports the importance of literacy to child development.
Thank you to WMBD-TV
On January 29, 2010 WMBD-TV aired a local story about Kim and Tim Cook whose son, Jesse, has autism. With a growing demand for services, the Easter Seals Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinic started receiving funding from the Heart of Illinois United Way in 2009.
Click play 
below to hear more about Jesse's story.
Thank You to WEEK and WHOI!
We would like to thank Mark DeSantis and the staff at WEEK and WHOI for helping us thank the community for their tremendous support of the 2009 Heart of Illinois United Way campaign.
View the video by clicking on the play button.
Thank You to Bard Optical!
To help us reach the community during this critical campaign, Bard Optical donated on-air spots to United Way. Thank you to Diane Hall, her staff at Bard Optical and WEEK production services for their support!
View the video by clicking on the play button.
Thank you Kohl’s!
In 2009, associates from local Kohl's department stores volunteered for our Success by 6® program. From reading to children, to planning activities with parents, and even cleaning up a few playgrounds, these volunteers were part of our annual Day of Caring event.
We also want to thank the Kohl's Cares for Kids® program for its $500 donation to supporting early childhood literacy through Success by 6®. Since 2000, Kohl's has raised more than $126 million to support children's health and education initiatives nationwide.
United Way at forefront of juvenile arthritis funding
Peoria Journal Star, October 17, 2009
Read the full story...
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WEEK-TV featured the Heart of Illinois United Way fundraising campaign. Click the video image to view the video online. |
WMBD-TV recently highlighted a United Way and District 150 program to Jumpstart Early Learning. Click the video image to view the video online. |
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WEEK-TV featured a United Way Funded Program at Big Brothers Big Sisters on June 4. Click the video image to view the video online. |
WMBD-TV recently highlighted a United Way Funded Program at the YMCA. Click the video image to view the video online. |
Other News
For more information, contact Gina Edwards, Vice President of Marketing & Communications at (309) 674-5181, ext. 234.
For Immediate Release: September 14, 2009
Ron Hale Receives Hoot Gibson Award
(PEORIA) – The Heart of Illinois United Way is pleased to announce Ron Hale as the 2009 Hoot Gibson award recipient.
Over the years Ron has been an advocate, a leader and outstanding supporter of the work we do to improve the quality of lives throughout central Illinois.
He has dedicated many of his hours and his insight to United Way – serving on our board's nominating committee and campaign cabinet. He has been our voice in the community advocating for the growth and changes we have made over the years to help us become the community leader in finding solutions to our health and social service needs.
And, with his long-standing relationships in Tazewell County, he has been instrumental in helping us cultivate many relationships with area business and community leaders.
In addition, he has played a key role in shaping and implementing our Success By Six "Be a Page Turner" Reading Program – a program that positively impacts more than 3,000 children throughout central Illinois each and every month. And, his support of Success by Six doesn't end there as he has also chaired the Success By Six Steering Committee for two years, providing outstanding guidance and leadership.
2009 Campaign Chairs, Jim and Gina McConoughey joined United Way staff and family members to walk in the 2009 Peoria Labor Day Parade.
For Immediate Release: September 11, 2009
Heart of Illinois United Way Kicks Off 2009 Campaign
(Peoria) The Heart of Illinois United Way (HOIUW) held its annual Campaign Kickoff Breakfast at the Peoria Civic Center on Friday, September 11.
To date, $1,135,634 has been raised towards the 2009 Campaign by 50 Pacesetter organizations that held their United Way campaigns this summer.
The 2009 Campaign Chairs, Jim and Gina McConoughey, stressed the importance of this year's United Way campaign to the health and well-being of central Illinois.
"Our nation has found itself struggling in the midst of the deepest economic crisis of our lifetimes and our hometowns have not been immune to its effects. This is not a typical year and it won’t be a typical campaign. As the demand for services continues to rise and resources such as state funding continues to decline, the need for a successful United Way campaign is more critical than ever.", Jim McConoughey, said.
The breakfast was sponsored by Advanced Medical Transport and featured guest speaker, Bradley University Soccer Coach Jim DeRose.
Following the Kickoff Breakfast, hundreds of volunteers participated in the Heart of Illinois United Way's 2009 Day of Caring event sponsored by Ameren Illinois Utilities, Federal Companies and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center.
The event included the new Day of Sharing Food drive which raised more than 60,000 pounds of food – the equivalent of more than 40,000 meals for people in need throughout central Illinois. More than 60 area companies and organizations dropped off food to four sites throughout central Illinois.
"The demand for food from local food pantries has increased by 30 percent. The average shelf life for food in some of the local pantries has gone from four weeks to four days with many shelves bare.", Michael Stephan, HOIUW President, said.
Also, as part of the 2009 Day of Caring event, volunteers also became a part of our Success by 6 initiative’s 'Be a Page Turner' reading program. More than 140 volunteers will be joining local teachers for a fun day of reading, crafts and much more as our reading program partners host special parent-child events.
The 2009 Campaign, supporting the community’s vital health and human service programs, will continue throughout the end of the year.
August, 2009
On behalf of the Heart of Illinois United Way, Michael Stephan (left) accepts a corporate gift from Al Black and Dennis Pauley of AT&T.
For Immediate Release: January 29, 2009
Annual Campaign Contributions Will Impact Our Community at a Time When It’s Needed Most
On Thursday, January 29, 2009 at the Campaign Celebration Finale, the Heart of Illinois United Way announced the results of its 2008 Campaign. Campaign Chairs, Michael Bryant of Methodist Medical Center of Illinois and his wife Paula, announced that the 2008 campaign, with a goal of $9.6 million, raised a record-breaking $9,744,637 - representing a 4.5 percent increase over the previous year’s results.
The Heart of Illinois United Way is not just a community fundraiser, but also a community problem solver focusing its efforts on nurturing youth, strengthening families, building self-reliance and promoting health through a six-county region including Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Marshall, Stark and Putnam counties. More than 1,100 people use United Way funded programs each day. With 47 partner agencies, the Heart of Illinois United Way supports local programs and services that address critical health and human care needs in our community.
“Central Illinois business leaders, and the community we represent, trust the Heart of Illinois United Way to provide an exceptional return on their charitable investment. Through our strength and experience, we’re the shortest distance between community donations and a stronger, healthier region,” Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois President, said.
Over the past year, the Heart of Illinois United Way has continued to expand its base of support through new workplace campaigns, increased corporate contributions and solid returns from our existing base of employee contributions. In 2008, 85 campaigns increased by more than 10 percent.
- The top 25 campaigns of 2008 include:
- Caterpillar Inc.
- Methodist Medical Center of Illinois
- Ameren Illinois Utilities
- CEFCU
- Illinois Mutual
- OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
- RLI
- Komatsu America Corp
- Advanced Technology Services
- National City Bank
- Proctor Hospital
- Howard and Howard Attorneys
- Advanced Medical Transport
- Bradley University
- PricewaterhouseCoopers
- Commerce Bank
- Heyl, Royster, Voelker and Allen
- Journal Star
- River City Construction
- Peoria Public Schools
- AT&T
- OSF Health Care Systems
- Par-A-Dice Hotel Casino
- Archer Daniels Midland Company
- Federal Warehouse Company
In addition, 2008 marks the return of the dollar-for-dollar matching gift program in which the Caterpillar Foundation matches Caterpillar employees' and retirees' contributions to the Heart of Illinois United Way.
The 2007 Heart of Illinois United Way Campaign raised $9,321,572, which exceeded the 2007 goal of $9 million. In 2009, Jim McConoughey of the Heartland Partnership and his wife, Gina McConoughey of Illinois Central College, will chair the Heart of Illinois United Way Campaign.
For more information, or to arrange interview(s), about the 2008 Heart of Illinois United Way Campaign, please contact, Gina Edwards, Vice President of Marketing and Communications at 309-674-5181, ext. 234.