Community Connection March 2022

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CFCI and Gilmore Foundation Partner to Award $2.4 Million Grant for Behavioral Health Needs

CFCI is pleased to partner with the Gilmore Foundation to award a total of $2.4 million to UnityPoint Health – UnityPlace to help service behavioral health and psychiatric needs in the central Illinois community. Of the $2.4 million grant, CFCI will be awarding $1.2 million. The Gilmore Foundation has committed to contributing a matching amount. The grant dollars will support the development and provision of a comprehensive and accessible array of services, delivered where people need them the most and ensuring access to vulnerable populations across central Illinois. By partnering with other mental health services in the Peoria area, UnityPlace is able to meet rapidly growing mental health and substance abuse needs in ways that were not previously possible. Further, by embracing the use of phone consultations and virtual appointments, they are helping to make services easier to access and more readily available. “The need for behavioral health and psychiatric services in the community has never been higher and has been greatly exacerbated by COVID-19. We are proud to partner with the Gilmore Foundation in assisting UnityPlace in addressing these important needs in our community,” says Mark Roberts, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. “Gilmore Foundation is pleased to enter a commitment to address the immediate behavioral health crises in the community, and to advance a sustainable workforce for behavioral health treatment and mental health services provided by UnityPlace in the Tri-County area. This collaboration is a fundamental component of the Gilmore way forward and a starting place from which we hope to build upon for the future,” states Laura Cullinan, President of the Gilmore Foundation.

Congratulations to our Spring Grant Recipients

2022 spring grant awards have been awarded as follows: Community Works Grants (Funded by the Gilmore Fund): Minority Business Development Center: IT Workforce Development - $25,000 Tri-County Urban League: League as the Lab - $25,000 Ending Hunger Together Grants (Funded by the Ending Hunger Together and Sow A Seed Funds): Tazewell County Health Department: HEAL Food System Partners - $25,000 Peoria Grown: Market 309 - $25,000

Rep. Darin LaHood and staff meeting to discuss CFCI’s Ending Hunger Together (EHT) initiative to address food insecurity throughout central Illinois Pictured: (back row, left to right) Wayne Cannon, Rep. Darin LaHood, Matt Gross, Mark Roberts (front row, left to right) Monica Scheuer, Julie Schifeling, Amy Fox, Sarah Fletcher, Chris Setti

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois Establishes New Fund at CFCI

CFCI is pleased to announce the establishment of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois Fund (“Fund”). Since 1986, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois (“RMHCCI”) has been providing a place in central Illinois for families to stay while their child is receiving medical care. In addition to their location in Springfield, IL, RMHCCI opened a house in Peoria in 2019 to service families with children being treated at any medical facility, including OSF Healthcare Children’s Hospital of Illinois and UnityPoint Health. The creation of the Fund will support financial needs of RMHCCI so it may continue its important work in our community. “By establishing a fund with the Community Foundation, RMHCCI will be able to generate new revenue to serve central Illinois families as they navigate their child’s medical treatments. We are very happy to partner with RMHCCI to help take any burden possible off those families in their times of need,” said Mark Roberts, President and CEO of CFCI. The Community Foundation will invest the initial endowment from RMHCCI so the Fund will grow over time, while also administering an annual grant distribution to RMHCCI. “RMHCCI is committed to enabling family-centered care ensuring families are fully supported and actively involved in their child’s care. Families are never asked to pay when they stay in our facilities. The establishment of this fund is another avenue that will assist us in providing a “home away from home” when it is needed most,” said Amber Kaylor, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois. For more information on establishing a fund with CFCI, please contact Mark Roberts at mark@communityfoundationci.org or 309-674-8730.

Nominations are Now Being Accepted for 2022 Leader Luncheon Awards!

• Nominees must live, work or attend school in the tri-county area (Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford). • Nominees must be currently active in the category in which they are nominated. • You may only nominate a candidate for one category. • Prior recipients are not eligible in any category (see past recipients here). • Leader Luncheon committee members, judges and their spouses are not eligible. Links to each of the Leader Luncheon Award Nomination forms can be found below by clicking on the corresponding category: Health Care/Wellness Award Business/Professions Award Arts Award Education Award Community Service Award Emerging Leader Award Young Woman’s Service Award

We're proud of our accreditation with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations®. This accreditation, signified by this Seal, indicates that the Community Foundation of Central Illinois meets the highest standards for philanthropic excellence. The 26 national standards establish legal, ethical, effective practices for community foundations everywhere and indicates CFCI’s commitment to excellence and accountability. Learn more about the accreditation process at cfstandards.org.

Community Foundation Of Central Illinois 3625 North Sheridan Road Peoria, IL 61604 309-674-8730

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