The annual Heart of Illinois United Way Campaign is underway. Bernie and Teresa Koch are chairing this year’s fundraising efforts. 36 businesses and organizations that participated in the summer pacesetter campaign already raised one-point-one-million-dollars.
Michael Stephen is the president of the HOI Chapter. He says the money raised stays in the area, and the generosity of donors makes the annual campaign the second largest funder of health and human services behind the government:
“In just the last two years, our partner agencies here in the Peoria area have endured over $10 million in state cuts and funding. So that puts a lot of pressure on us, the Heart of Illinois United Way, to raise the maximum dollars possible to ensure that vital programs and services continue to be offered right here in our community.”
Last year, the campaign raised more than 10-point-eight million-dollars. The Heart of Illinois United Way covers six counties including Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford.
Its annual campaign has raised more than double the Bloomington United Way Chapter for the last four years, as well as topping the combined totals of the Champaign, Decatur and Springfield chapters.