Find out the latest news and events from the Heart of Illinois United Way, which brings together people from business, labor, government, health and human services to address community needs in Marshall, Peoria, Putnam, Stark, Tazewell and Woodford Counties in Central Illinois.

Tenth Anniversary of 2-1-1

We celebrated with the Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois team at our Women United event on May 4, 2023.This year marks our 10th anniversary of our partnership with Advanced Medical Transport of Central Illinois to provide 2-1-1 to people in need. Each year, more than 10,000 calls to 2-1-1 connect people to critical services to help them lead stable lives. And during times of crisis, such as the tornado in 2013 and the first year of the recent pandemic, 2-1-1 has stepped up to help people connect with services and resources when they don’t know where to turn. We celebrated with the AMT team at our Women United event on May 4.

For more information on our Heart of Illinois 2-1-1 service, visit hoi211.org

Heart of Illinois United Way Celebrates 100th Community-Wide Campaign

Each year, hundreds of local companies and organizations participate in our annual campaign. In 2022, our historic 100th community-wide campaign raised $9,003,424!The Heart of Illinois United Way has proven time and again that we are built to support central Illinois in times like these. Through our Community Impact Fund, we are able to adapt to changing needs while providing a solid foundation of services year-round.

Each year, hundreds of local companies and organizations participate in our annual campaign. In 2022, there were eight new corporate gifts and 15 new employee campaigns; 19 corporate gifts increased by 10% or more and 36 organizations increased donations by 10% or more. Additionally, 12 of our 42 partner agencies increased their employee campaigns by 5% or more. In total, the 2022 Heart of Illinois United Way Campaign raised $9,003,424.

“To raise more than $9 million over the past year in a community the size of central Illinois is an incredible achievement. The Heart of Illinois United Way does not do this work alone. For a century, teams of nonprofits, volunteers, and donors have generously worked together to create sustainable impact on the education, financial stability, and health needs of central Illinois,” Dr. Keith Knepp, President of UnityPoint Health-Central Illinois and 2022 Campaign Chair, said.

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Women United Happier Hour on May 4, 2023 at Par-A-Dice Hotel, East Peoria

Thank you for everyone who joined us for our first Women United Happier Hour!

Mark your calendars for Thursday, May 2, 2024. We hope you’ll join us next year.

About the Event

Our Women United Happier Hour is a fun and relaxed evening to connect and volunteer! We hope you will join us next year for an appetizer buffet and cash bar, raffle, a volunteer fair for local agencies, and fun onsite volunteer opportunities … because research shows volunteering makes you happier!

For more information on the 2024 Women United Happier Hour, email Gina Edwards, VP of Marketing and Community Engagement, at .

Many thanks to our 2023 Underwriters and Sponsors:

Underwriters

Illinois Mutual

PNC

Sponsors

Teresa & Bernie Koch

Cullinan Properties, Ltd.

Davis & Campbell LLC

Photos from Our 2023 Women United Happier Hour

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Continuum of Care prepares for dropping temperatures, rising need

Kate Green, Executive Director of Home for All Continuum of Care at WCBU

Kate Green, Executive Director of Home for All Continuum of Care

Home for All Continuum of Care, a part of the Heart of Illinois United Way, is preparing for temperatures to drop and the need for warmth and shelter to rise.

“Rather than being the boots on the ground, the direct service, we’re really focusing on looking at the data,” said executive director Kate Green. “Understanding from a system level what’s happening and then allocating resources to help meet the need.”

Continuum of Care maintains close relationships with many Peoria area nonprofits and service organizations, so those resources can take many forms.

“It really is the beauty of the Continuum of Care model. That we’re able to pull in all these different sectors,” said Green. “So whether it’s our actual funded providers who are doing emergency shelter, street outreach, permanent housing, all the way to our healthcare organizations, educational institutions, they all play a role in touching the lives of those who are experiencing homelessness.”

Go to www.WCBU.org to read more.

Steve Montez Receives 2022 Hoot Gibson Award

L-R, Jennifer Zammuto, President with Steve Montez and Bob Gates, Board Chair

L-R, Jennifer Zammuto, President with Steve Montez and Bob Gates, Board Chair

Since 1985, the Heart of Illinois United Way has recognized a volunteer who spends countless hours working without fanfare to help others. Our annual Hoot Gibson Award is presented in memory of Horace J. “Hoot” Gibson, Jr. who pursued his goals in a quiet, determined matter, caring little if others knew of his accomplishments. In addition to serving on our health committee and as board secretary, Hoot’s hard work more than 40 years ago helped the Heart of Illinois United Way transition our allocation process to address prioritized needs. His leadership is the basis of how we continue to fund vital needs today.

Steve Montez, our 2022 Hoot Gibson honoree, has much in common with Hoot.

His volunteer support of our United Way began in 1985 on our fund distribution committee.

He left for a couple of years for graduate school, but came back in 1990, and served as a campaign ambassador. Since 1998, he as a volunteer grant reviewer for our Community Impact Fund and his support has helped us  strengthen families and enhance education opportunities for the people in central Illinois.

In 2019, he retired from a 35-year career as the Supervisor of Arts and Leisure Services with the Peoria Park District during which time his mission was to share his extensive experience and knowledge of building sustainable communities through quality recreation, supportive programming, and leisure opportunities.

During his career, Steve also served on the boards of several community groups including the Peoria Area Community Events (PACE), the Peoria Area Arts and Sciences Council, Arts Partners of Central Illinois, Peoria Players Theater, the Community Foundation of Central Illinois, the Heart of Illinois Senior Olympics, and the Return to Pimiteoui Pow Wow. He also served on the Illinois Arts Council Granting Committee and currently works with the Community Foundation’s Community Needs granting committee.

Beyond these contributions, he also devoted much of his time to another volunteer activity that is dear to his heart – coaching young people including youth baseball, soccer, and wrestling. As you might suspect, he is a sports enthusiast, but his passion is to use athletics as a vehicle for building leadership skills in youth.

Steve has long considered the Heart of Illinois United Way to be a positive force for change and mentorship in our community. He attributes his growth as a community member and a co-worker to his experience with United Way.  Congratulations to Steve Montez!

Freedom House Presented 2022 Jim and Katie Owens Partner Award

L-R Jennifer Zammuto, President with Jen Johnson and Michael Zerneck from Freedom House Staff and Bob Gates, Board Chair

L-R Jennifer Zammuto, President with Jen Johnson and Michael Zerneck from Freedom House Staff and Bob Gates, Board Chair

In 2007, the Heart of Illinois United Way created the United Way Partner Award that is presented annually to a United Way agency in recognition of their outstanding leadership, collaboration and engagement with the Heart of Illinois United Way.

In 2009, Jim and Katie Owens were presented with the Heart of Illinois United Way’s Philanthropist of the Year award at the Tocqueville Society reception. Over the years, Jim and Katie have provided outstanding volunteer leadership to the United Way and our partner agencies. They have served on our campaign cabinet, board of directors and several committees. To recognize them for their tremendous support, in 2009 the United Way Partner Award was renamed in their honor to be the Jim and Katie Owens Partner Award.

At the 2022 Heart of Illinois United Way’s annual meeting on August 3, Freedom House was presented with this year’s award.

Founded in 1983 as a walk-in shelter, Freedom House serves more than 800 clients and provides more than 4,000 nights of shelter annually, plus countless hours of medical and legal advocacy, counseling, prevention education, and professional training.

Under the guidance of Executive Director Michael Zerneck, the agency has become a strong supporter of our organization. Since 2018, the first year the agency received funding, they have successfully administered and achieved outcomes for services that focus on intervention and counseling for individuals and families impacted by domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Over the last couple of years, the agency was a recipient of the Illinois COVID-19 Response Funds distributed by our United Way. Funds were used efficiently and effectively to provide emergency food and supplies, interim housing/emergency shelter, health and mental health care services, and direct financial assistance. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, this agency provided strength and refuge for many individuals in the northern portion of our United Way’s service area.

With a mission to provide compassionate, confidential, free services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, as well as awareness and prevention education, we were honored to present the 2022 Jim and Katie Owens Partner Award to Freedom House.

Women United: 100 Years of Community Impact

You’re Invited to this event on Thursday, May 5, 2022, 5:00pm to 7:30pm, at Par-A-Dice Hotel, East Peoria.

Read more at hoiunitedway.org/womenunited/

The history of the Heart of Illinois United Way is truly the history of how the people of central Illinois, women and men both, care for one another. We hope you will join us for a fun, relaxing evening honoring our past, celebrating our present, and providing inspiration for the future. Click here to learn more or RSVP…

Heart of Illinois United Way Celebrates 100 Years of Community Impact and Announces 2021 Campaign Results

The Heart of Illinois United Way has proven time and again that we are built to support central Illinois in times like these. Through our Community Impact Fund, we are able to adapt to changing needs while providing a solid foundation of services year-round.

Each year, approximately 300 local companies and organizations participate in our annual campaign. In 2021, there were 14 new corporate gifts, 11 corporate gifts with a 10% or more increase, 22 new employee campaigns, and 53 organizations that increased their donations to the United Way by 10% or more. In total, the 2021 Heart of Illinois United Way Campaign raised $9,115,359.

Annually, the Campaign Achievement and Best-in-Class Awards are one way the Heart of Illinois United Way recognizes local companies who improve their campaigns. Peoria Housing Authority received the Campaign Achievement Award for the largest percentage increase in employee participation; and Burklund Distributors, Inc. received the Best-in-Class Award for continued campaign excellence from year to year.

“As the Heart of Illinois United Way celebrates a century of community impact this year, we will continue our mission to help the people of central Illinois to care for one another. Just as our first campaign brought our community together for a common cause in January 1922, our work across sectors ensures we effectively stretch every dollar to make real change. An investment in our work is the best combination of using our hearts and trusting data to help the community we call home,” Jennifer Zammuto, President, said.

The Heart of Illinois United Way constantly evaluates data and collaborates with community partners to ensure personal and corporate donations to our Community Impact Fund address the greatest needs while providing a reliable and steady source of income for our partner agencies. Through the community’s generosity, the Heart of Illinois United Way ensures people in central Illinois have continued access to education, financial stability, and health programs.

“To raise more than $9 million over the past year in a community the size of central Illinois is an incredible achievement. The Heart of Illinois United Way does not do this work alone. For a century, teams of nonprofits, volunteers, and donors have generously worked together to create sustainable impact on the education, financial stability, and health needs of central Illinois,” Brian Ray, Regional President of PNC Bank and 2021 Campaign Chair, said.

Contributions to the Heart of Illinois United Way stay in central Illinois supporting vital health and human care programs throughout Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, Stark, Marshall, and Putnam counties.

News about our 100th Anniversary Celebration!

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You’re Invited to the 100th Anniversary Celebration!

Join us to celebrate a century of community impact! Founded October 1921, our United Way has created lasting change for the education, financial stability, and health needs of people in central Illinois for 100 years. We could not have done this work without you. We hope you will help us celebrate!

Wednesday, February 23, 2022
5:00-7:00 pm at Par-A-Dice Hotel, East Peoria

Thank you to our celebration underwriters:
Thank you to our 100th Anniversary Celebration underwriters:

Event Details

The 100th Anniversary Celebration is an open-house/after work/cocktail event; no assigned seating; guests can come and go as they need between 5-7 pm; program runs from 5:45-6:15 pm; cash bar and light appetizers.

To ensure guest safety, the Heart of Illinois United Way and the event venue require that guests follow current public health protocols, including but not limited to wearing a mask at all times unless enjoying food, a drink, or taking a photograph. If you are registering additional guests on their behalf, please share this information with them. Thank you!

Click here to RSVP!

Questions? Please Contact:

Gina Edwards, VP Marketing and Community Engagement
Heart of Illinois United Way
309-674-5181, ext. 1234