
2016 Campaign Chairs, Tom Jenkins and Katie McCord Jenkins, present the 2016 Campaign results with help from Campaign Ambassadors Art Oakford, Kaci Hampton, Laura Luthy Crowley, Holland Nickerson and Ron Hale.
The Heart of Illinois United Way 2016 Campaign Chairs, Tom Jenkins and Katie McCord Jenkins, announced Tuesday, January 31 that the 2016 Campaign raised $11,042,893.
Each year, more than 300 local companies and organizations participate in the annual campaign. In 2016, a $265,000 Challenge Grant, sponsored by Caterpillar Inc., CEFCU and UnityPoint Health – Methodist | Proctor, matched new or increased contributions expanding the Heart of Illinois United Way’s base of support. For this past campaign, there were 20 new corporate gifts and 23 new employee campaigns; 57 organizations increased their contributions to the United Way by 10 percent or more.
“The people of central Illinois are one of the most generous in the nation. Compared to the largest United Way organizations across the United States, we are one of the smallest metropolitan populations to raise more than $11 million annually. The results of our 2016 Campaign are because we continue to expand our base of support with local companies and donors. It is our mission to be good stewards of our community’s charitable investments and provide a reliable and steady source of income for our partner agencies,” Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois United Way President, said.

The 2016 Best in Class Award was presented to CEFCU. L-R Jana Stevens (CEFCU), Tom Jenkins, Sue Yoder Portscheller (CEFCU), Sara Rogers (CEFCU) and Katie McCord Jenkins.

The 2016 Campaign Achievement Award was presented to CliftonLarsonAllen LLP. L-R is Stephanie Petri (CLA), Katie McCord Jenkins and Tom Jenkins, Melissa Yoder (CLA), and Kyla Greenhoe (CLA).
In 2012, the Heart of Illinois United Way established two new campaign awards, the Best in Class Award and Campaign Achievement Award, to recognize outstanding workplace campaigns. The Best in Class Award is based on employee participation in the workplace campaign, per capita giving and overall percent increase in contributions. This award recognizes a local organization who continuously demonstrates campaign excellence from year to year. The 2016 Best in Class Award winner is CEFCU. The Campaign Achievement Award recognizes a campaign that had the largest percentage increase in employee participation from 2015 to 2016. This year’s Campaign Achievement Award winner is CliftonLarsonAllen LLP.

Congratulations to Kathy Donoho at RSM who was presented the Campaign Coordinator of the Year honor. Our thanks to Target, Biaggi’s and JCPenney for donating the prize. L-R, Katie McCord Jenkins, Tom Jenkins and Kathy Donoho.
A few highlights from the 2016 Campaign include:
- Advanced Technology Services, 24 percent increase
- Ameren, 9 percent increase
- Busey Bank, 39 percent increase
- CEFCU, 25 percent increase
- City of Peoria, 23 percent increase
- CliftonLarsonAllen, 11 percent increase
- The F&M Bank, 12 percent increase
- Illinois Mutual, 58 percent increase
- Mexichem Specialty Resins, 46 percent increase
- OSF Healthcare System, 16 percent increase
- Pearl Companies, 16 percent increase
- Peoria Disposal Company, 40 percent increase
- Peoria Public Schools, 31 percent increase
- River City Construction, 17 percent increase
- RSM US LLP, 11 percent increase
- Vonachen Services, 13 percent increase
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. With 46 partner agencies, these programs help more than 100,000 people each year.
The Heart of Illinois United Way changes lives and improves our community by mobilizing people and resources to positively impact the areas of education, income and health for the people of central Illinois. While our local community continues to face challenging economic times, it is critical that the Heart of Illinois United Way raise the maximum amount of dollars to support vital health and human care programs.

A special thank you to Jeffrey Alexander a client at CWTC for creating a custom piece of artwork to thank our 2016 Campaign Chairs, Tom Jenkins and Katie McCord Jenkins. Above, Heart of Illinois United Way President, Michael Stephan, thanks Katie and Tom at the Celebration on January 31.

L-R, Jeffrey with Tom and Katie.