The Heart of Illinois United Way 2017 Campaign Chairs, Bill and Rebecca Pape, announced Thursday, February 1 that the 2017 Campaign raised $11,108,500.
Each year, more than 300 local companies and organizations participate in the annual campaign. In 2017, 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 14 new corporate gifts, 20 new employee campaigns and 59 organizations increased their contributions to the United Way by 10 percent or more.
“Heart of Illinois United Way identifies and effectively addresses critical health and human care needs in our community. This year’s successful campaign of $11.1 million represents almost a 1 percent increase over last year, but also represents an 83 percent increase from 15 years ago. This continuous growth in generosity and support demonstrates the unwavering caring and compassion we have for one another in central Illinois,” Michael Stephan, Heart of Illinois United Way President, said.
Since 2012, the Heart of Illinois United Way has presented 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 2017 Best in Class Award winner is Illinois Mutual. This is the second time for Illinois Mutual to receive Best in Class.
The Campaign Achievement Award recognizes a campaign that had the largest percentage increase in employee participation from 2016 to 2017. This year’s Campaign Achievement Award winner is Vonachen Services.
A few campaign increases from the 2017 Campaign include:
- Bradley University – 18 percent
- Burklund Distributors – 6 percent
- Case New Holland – 75 percent
- East Peoria City Government – 40 percent
- First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust – 10 percent
- Human Service Center – 24 percent
- Illinois Mutual – 9 percent
- Komatsu – 10 percent
- Peoria Disposal Company – 85 percent
- Peoria Public Schools – 25 percent
- PNC – 7 percent
- PwC – 25 percent
- River City Construction – 205 percent
- RK Dixon – 24 percent
- Vonachen Services – 35 percent
- WEEK-TV – 100 percent
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.