Check out these great Heart of Illinois United Way events in central Illinois.

Heart of Illinois United Way Events

Check out these great Heart of Illinois United Way events in central Illinois.

Power of the Purse Fundraiser Event at the Par-A-Dice Hotel, East Peoria.

Save the Date! 2020 Power of the Purse – Thursday, May 7 at Par-A-Dice Hotel, East Peoria

Gina Edwards
  • Doors open at 5:00 p.m./Event 5:30-8:00 p.m.
  • Par-A-Dice Hotel, East Peoria
  • $50/person or $500 for Reserved Table of 10
  • Tickets go on sale in March

From silent auctions for designer purses to great raffle prizes, more than 600 guests will have the opportunity to enjoy fashion and a fun night out for a great cause! Funds raised by the event support education, financial stability and health needs through the United Way Community Impact Fund and provide weekend snackpacks for children in need.

Interested in sponsoring or donating?

Click here to download the 2020 Power of the Purse Packet…

Power of the Purse Mission

Inspire, enhance, and strengthen the lives of women and children by raising funds for education, financial stability and health.

For more information, please contact:

The 2020 Power of the Purse - Funds raised by the event support education, financial stability and health needs through the United Way Community Impact Fund and provide weekend snackpacks for children in need.

2019 United Way Community Kickoff Breakfast and Day of Caring

Gina Edwards

The Heart of Illinois United Way will officially kickoff our 2019 campaign with a breakfast featuring guest speaker Tim Stiles with KPMG. Stiles will share how data is the heart of philanthropic work. Stiles has more than 25 years of experience working with nonprofits in 145 countries and has facilitated more than 4,000 grants and projects valued at $6-billion. He is the National Practice Leader of KPMG’s tax-exempt practice and the Global Chair of KPMG’s International Development Services. Worldwide, Stiles works with social service organizations, universities, hospitals, governmental entities, museums, foundations, funding agencies, and more. KPMG ensures charities operate efficiently while demonstrating transparency and accountability to the public, regulatory bodies and the members or founders that support them.

Date/Time: Friday, September 6 | 7:30 am – 9:00 am breakfast
Location: Breakfast at Peoria Civic Center
Cost: $30/person or $240/table of eight
Reservations: Due August 28. Click here to make your reservation online… Continue reading →

10 Years United: GEN U's Summer Shindig

July 20, 2019 – 10 Years United: GEN U’s Summer Shindig

Gina Edwards

GENeration United is turning 10! Join us on Saturday, July 20 from 4:30 PM – 7:30 PM for a free event at Trailside Event Center (4416 North Prospect Road, Peoria Heights, IL, 61616) celebrating the young professionals in our local community. Whether you were involved in founding GEN U, are involved now, or are a young professional contributing to our community in other ways – we want to celebrate you!

Click here for more information…

Campaign Celebration on January 30 cancelled due to frigid weather!

Please Stay Safe and Warm … Community Campaign Celebration Cancelled for January 30, 2019

Gina Edwards

Heart of Illinois United Way Community Campaign Celebration Cancelled!

Due to the weather on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, the Heart of Illinois United Way is cancelling our Community Campaign Celebration so everyone can stay safe and warm.

We sincerely appreciate your generosity and support. Look for an announcement soon as we celebrate the accomplishments of 2018!

Create a memory this February ...we invite you to join one of our Success By 6 preschool classrooms for Read Across America Day. You’ll have a great time reading The Mitten and acting out the story! Read Across America Day 2019

We invite you to join our Success By 6 classrooms for Read Across America Day!

Gina Edwards


Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment, until it becomes a memory.

– Dr. Seuss

Create a memory this February …we invite you to join one of our Success By 6 preschool classrooms for Read Across America Day. You’ll have a great time reading The Mitten and acting out the story!

  • About The Mitten: One by one, woodland animals find a mitten and crawl in …  first a curious mole, then a rabbit, a badger and others, each one larger than the last. Several animals sleep snugly in the lost mitten until a bear sneezes!
  • Volunteers will be reading to 3-5 year-old preschool students, so be prepared to have fun and engage a young audience.
  • After reading the book, volunteers will help the teacher layout a large “mitten” (a large sheet) and help the children take turns as the book’s cast of characters. The grand finale … a large sneeze by the bear and everyone in the class!
  • Each Success By 6 classroom will have a kit with character masks and a large “mitten”.

Continue reading →

VIP: Volunteers Inspire Partnerships on November 6, 2018 at Bradley University

Gina Edwards

The Heart of Illinois United Way is partnering with NOVA (Network of Volunteer Administrators), SERVE Illinois and Bradley University to host a volunteer engagement seminar in Peoria on November 6, 2018. Shari Pash, President and Owner of Strategic Solutions for Growth, will provide a dynamic, fun and interactive seminar that is motivational and hands-on. An accomplished coach and trainer with over 30 years of experience, Pash’s work is changing the culture and way organizations approach volunteer recruitment and retention. She provides a customized, multi-step recruitment and retention program with proven success. Join us for a one-day, all access pass to recruiting volunteer talent and taking them beyond being one-hit wonders! Continue reading →

United Way Kickoff Breakfast and Day of Caring 2018

Gina Edwards

The Heart of Illinois United Way will officially kickoff our 2018 campaign with a breakfast featuring guest speaker Michele Sullivan, Caterpillar’s Director of Corporate Social Innovation and President of the Caterpillar Foundation.  Following the breakfast, volunteers are invited to participate in our Day of Caring featuring numerous community-wide volunteer opportunities and a food drive.

  • Date/Time: Friday, September 7 | 7:30 am -9:00 am breakfast
  • Location: Peoria Civic Center
  • Reservations:  Open July 30

GENeration United Mad Dash – July 14th

Gina Edwards

If you’re looking for a chance to break out your old prom tuxes and dresses, compete against others in the community, and possibly win great prizes sign up for the Mad Dash today! Grab your friends, co-workers and peers and get ready for a day of exciting competition in pursuit of the $1,000 grand prize! All proceeds from the Mad Dash go to support the Heart of Illinois United Way.

  • Date/Time: Saturday, July 14 | 9:30 – 12:00 p.m.
  • Location: Bradley University
  • Registration: Teams of 2-4 people/$150/team.

For more information or to register, visit livegenu.org/maddash. Continue reading →