Big 10: Why they give to local nonprofits, Part 2 | News

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In the final chapter of a two-part miniseries piggybacking off our annual Guide to Giving, we asked community members who go above and beyond in support of local nonprofits why they chose the organization that they did.

“Champaign County is home to numerous nonprofits that play a vital role in supporting our community, and as we approach the winter months, my family is committed to supporting C-U AT HOME through their largest fundraiser, One Winter’s Night.

“I was first introduced to C-U at Home five years ago through my company, Keller Williams, during our annual Red Day event. On this day, Keller Williams offices around the world close to dedicate time to a local project or nonprofit. As real estate agents, our daily mission is to help individuals find their homes, so it was a natural fit for us to partner with CU at Home to renovate their transitional housing. This experience gave me my first look at the organization’s crucial work in the community, and I was deeply impressed by their dedication to helping those in need.

“Since then, I have had the honor of assisting CU at Home in securing new locations for their men’s and women’s transitional homes. As a real estate agent, I have the privilege of seeing beautiful homes, but I am also frequently confronted with the heartbreaking reality of substandard living conditions. It is a constant reminder of the affordable housing crisis many face right here in our own community.

“At home, my husband and I strive to instill in our children the importance of giving back. After all, they are the future of our community. My children, along with their neighborhood friends, love setting up lemonade stands, ‘Kona Ice’ booths in the summer and hot chocolate stands in the winter. They choose a different nonprofit to donate their proceeds to with each stand, braving the cold to help those in need.

“This year, we have decided to participate in One Winter’s Night as a family. My husband, Jason, our 10-year-old daughter and I will spend one night sleeping in a box to experience firsthand what it’s like to be homeless. When I asked my daughter if she was willing to participate, she eagerly agreed, despite knowing it would be cold and vastly different from her typical cozy night at home.

“Her response was simple but profound: ‘To help others in need.’

“One of my favorite quotes is, ‘No one succeeds alone.’ Ending homelessness and addressing the affordable housing crisis cannot be done by one person alone. However, by working together, we can create solutions that leave no one behind.

“While we cannot change the world by ourselves, we can make a difference through collective action, like throwing a stone in the water to create ripples.

“As the colder months approach, I encourage others to consider supporting C-U at Home during this season of giving. Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a meaningful impact on our neighbors in need.”

“More than 25 years ago, Andy Baker, a new minister in Fisher, had a great idea to start a food pantry in Fisher. The Fisher area churches were asking for anyone that was interested in working in the food pantry to attend a meeting. That call just spoke to me.

“I was very interested and became involved. I grew up in a family of nine that didn’t have a lot, and I had compassion for the families in the area that could benefit from a food pantry in town.

“I have been the manager of the FISHER AREA FOOD PANTRY since its inception. I couldn’t do it without the help of Judi Miller; her son, Darrell; the Fisher area churches; and any others that are willing to help out in the pantry when it’s needed. All I have to do is ask and they are there.”

“I’ve been volunteering for the COMMUNITY SERVICE CENTER OF NORTHERN CHAMPAIGN COUNTY‘s holiday bureau toy drive for the past eight years, and what began by accident has since become a true passion. I was working at the location where the toy drive was held when I first got involved, and over time, I found myself helping more and more.

“Many of the families I work with I know through my involvement at the local elementary school or from working at the local thrift store. As the drive’s chairpersons aged, they asked me to take over — and I was honored to step into that role.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of this drive is that it gives parents the opportunity to pick out toys for their children. For many families, this is a huge stress reliever — knowing they have presents to give their kids for the holidays. It’s incredible to watch parents leave with a sense of relief, knowing that their children will have gifts to open and enjoy.

“Helping organize the drive allows me to connect with our community in a meaningful way. I love knowing that the work we’re doing brings joy and peace to families in town.

”One of my main priorities is ensuring that we provide the best-quality toys within our budget so that every child gets something they truly deserve.

”Volunteering for the toy drive has become a rewarding experience, not only for the families we serve but for me personally. It’s about more than just gifts—it’s about giving parents the peace of mind that they can provide something special for their children, and knowing that I’m helping make the holiday season a little brighter for our community.”

“Our hands-on volunteer work and financial support are focused on those not-for-profit organizations and projects that enhance people’s lives and well-being in our local communities.

“Tangible, visible and durable benefits are the most attractive to us. New projects touching many lives are a priority. In particular, we focus on projects that promise durability over generations.

“From its inception more than 30 years ago, we have supported the planning, building and maintenance of DANVILLE SOCCER ASSOCIATION‘s eight-field complex. Our immense pleasure is knowing so many soccer families and friends, some to the third generation, that have benefited from this work.

“What could be a better current example of hope for the future generations than the Kickapoo Rail Trail (which the Hallorans support through TRAILS OF THE GRAND PRAIRIE). Many use it now, and when the corridor is complete later next year, so many more people will have the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and exercise opportunities it provides.

”The trail will unify our communities across East Central Illinois.”

“Singing in harmony with others is a great joy, and I have had the good fortune to experience that with the BAROQUE ARTISTS OF CHAMPAIGN-URBANA choir for almost 20 years. I support BACH, both with contributions and with my time working behind the scenes, to help it bring that joy and musical fellowship to others in this community.

“One of the hard things about the isolation of the pandemic was not being able to sing together. In our first concert after things eased up, when the instruments started playing, I think everyone felt as if we were breathing deeply again after a long time. And when we singers lifted our voices in the chorale Wachet Auf, it was extremely emotional. The human voice is a miracle, and we all felt its mystery that day.

“Every year BACH organizes a sing-along of Handel’s Messiah. It’s amazing to hear many hundreds of walk-in singers sing the Hallelujah chorus so beautifully.

“I hope we’ll be able to continue and expand our musical activities for many years to come.”

“For me, it has been a fulfilling pleasure to volunteer and contribute to the LAND CONSERVATION FOUNDATION for the past several years.

“In this era of continued development and habitat loss, land trusts such as LCF preserve high-quality native plant and animal habitats that help maintain biodiversity while also providing a place people may go to not only appreciate natural beauty, but also understand the importance of having high-quality natural areas in one’s life.”

“AVICENNA COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER is a free medical clinic offering care to uninsured and underinsured patients in the local community. I started volunteering with Avicenna in the fall of 2022, at the start of my sophomore year. It quickly became and has continued to be the highlight of my undergraduate experience.

“Being aware of the many inequities within the United States health-care system, Avicenna gives me the opportunity to mitigate some of those issues within my local community. Providing access to medical care for individuals who, without Avicenna, would have no access to affordable medical care, has been an extremely empowering experience for me.

“As an undergraduate student, it is easy to stay within the bubble of campus and be constantly surrounded by other students. Avicenna has given me the opportunity to interface with members of my community beyond the student population.

”Caring for patients from a diverse array of backgrounds and experiences has been incredibly eye-opening and will certainly inform my knowledge as a future health-care professional. Avicenna is staffed exclusively by volunteers — primarily medical students, undergraduates and local physicians. Without each team, the accomplishments of Avicenna would not be possible.

“Walking into the clinic each week, I am surrounded by other volunteers who are all committed to the same mission: providing access to medical care for those in need. I have undergone immense personal and professional growth throughout my time with Avicenna, and I credit this to my amazing peers and mentors.

“Simply put, volunteering with Avicenna has given me hope for the progress that can be made when we come together to address the needs of our community.”

“CATsNAP has a special place in my heart. I started volunteering at CATsNAP five years ago right before the pandemic hit in 2019. I wanted to help out with their auction. The next year, I took over their fundraising auctions and have been doing them for the past five years.

”Over the years, I have taken on more responsibilities at CATsNAP, which include volunteer and adoption coordinator. CATsNAP relies on their fundraisers and adoptions as the majority of their funding.

“Over the years, I have seen the love and care that is put into each cat that comes into our organization. Each cat holds a special place for the volunteers. There are some cats that come in that are fan favorites. I have watched some of our volunteers come in and greet every cat by name.

“Each cat has their own unique personality and we do our best to be able to pair up the right cat to the right human during adoptions.

“My biggest passion with these cats is to get them ready for adoption and their forever home. All of our cats have been found outside to fend for themselves. A lot of them are scared of the world and in return are scared of the humans that are trying to take care of them.

”I have worked hard with our cats and our volunteers to teach them ways to approach cats that don’t accept pets as willingly as others.

”Here is how the process started with one of our long term cats. Phillip had been with us for almost a year and loved being inside. He loved to play and be around other cats, but did not trust humans to pet him. Over the summer of 2024, I started working with Phillip for more socialization. I would sit on the floor with a Tiki stick. He would gladly come up to me for the treat.

“Through feeding him the treat, I was able to start petting him. By the end of the summer, he was looking for any volunteer who had a Tiki stick in their hand. He was adopted a few months after I started this. Of course, I told the adopters that they may want to buy stock in Tiki sticks.”

“I have been the treasurer for CHILDREN OF HOPE AND FAITH over 15 years, witnessing the growth from sponsoring three orphans to over 160 youth with an exceptional education. Our donors have been very generous to help support many projects for the Tanzanian communities.

“I was blessed to visit the schools and sponsored children in 2012 with our president, Jane Walsh. After meeting these humble, faith-filled, grateful people of Tanzania, where poverty and difficult living conditions are abundant, I am privileged to be able to help them in this small way by helping to manage this great organization.

”We are 100 percent volunteer administered by board members both past and present who continually bring their passion to serve others to our organization.”

“After retiring in 2015, I decided to devote my time to learning about nature and improving our local natural environment. I volunteer with East Central Illinois Master Naturalists in Urbana, Champaign and forest preserve parks, and with the UPPER SANGAMON RIVER CONSERVANCY in and along the Sangamon River.

“Activities have included invasive plant removal, native plant seed collection and planting, river and roadside trash removal, and promoting volunteer involvement. Citizen science projects have included invertebrate and mussel surveys in the Sangamon River.

“All of these activities are enjoyable and rewarding, but more volunteers and funds are needed to help keep our local natural areas a place that can be enjoyed by all.”