Congratulations to the 2025 Grant Recipients!
Over 250 members and their guests walked the red carpet as they entered our 6th Annual Meeting on June 3, 2025 held at Five Points Washington! Women enjoyed seeing their friends and talking to the eight (8) Grant Nonprofit Finalists. Attendees enjoyed delicious appetizers and beverages before the meeting. The excitement grew as grant finalists made their presentations and our members voted electronically again this year. Three (3) Impact Grant recipients each received $118,000 and One (1) Inspire Grant of $30,000 was given to a small nonprofit. Runner-ups all received $3,000. Our semifinalist site visit organizations also received $1,000 each for a total of $400,000 given away this grant cycle.
$30,000 Inspire Grant
Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging
Brittney Parker - ICIMember, Peggy Jacques, Christa Fuller, Laurie Robles and Tina Vandermyde - ICI Member
Aging with Vitality Program:
Adults ages 50 and older are the primary recipients of this program. Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging (GCPA) is activating change to enhance the lives of older adults by providing a space that fosters social interaction, mental well-being, and physical health for older adults. Aging with Vitality programs include fitness classes, arts and crafts, educational workshops, and recreational activities, all tailored to the needs of older adults. These activities keep participants physically active and foster cognitive engagement, reducing the risks of isolation and depression. GCPA serves as a supportive hub where individuals build connections, share experiences, and gain emotional support, combating loneliness. Health screenings, financial advice, and social service resources address practical needs. GCPA has demonstrated an incredible difference in the lives of older adults by promoting a higher quality of life, helping older adults to age well in place, remain independent, engaged, and form healthy connections with their community.
$118,000 Impact Grant - Education & Community Development
Neighborhood House Association
Front) Wendy Kolbus - ICI Member, Julie Bonar, Alexandra Cheeseman
(Back) Brittany Fox and Julysha Jones
Youth Program Remodel
The Youth Program facilitated by NHA provides a safe, nurturing environment to at-risk youth in the Peoria community. As the needs of the community have changed with time, NHA has adapted youth programming to meet the expectations of families and children through responsive and culturally-appropriate academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and life-skills curricula. In keeping pace with this legacy, the current proposal will support NHA in remodeling its learning spaces, acknowledging the changing societal landscape in an effort to prepare at-risk youth for lifetime success. By investing in the youth through updating the spaces utilized on a daily basis to include a full life-skills kitchen, a multidimensional sensory space, and a more age- and culturally-appropriate classroom setting in which students can engage in academic and enrichment activities, NHA will be able to continue to provide the vitally important youth programming that has positively impacted so many young people in Central Illinois.
$118,000 Impact Grant - Health & Community Wellbeing
Wildlife Prairie Park
Pictured here are: Betsy Silzer, Mark MacGregor, Roberta English and Ruth Bittner
Park for All: Staying on Track
Wildlife Prairie Park (WPP) attracts a diverse range of visitors, from residents to tourists from across the state and beyond. In 2023, over 110,000 visitors from 45 states, one US territory, and 10 countries flocked to the Park to experience its unique blend of native wildlife exhibits and recreational activities. The current Park for All initiative is focused on improving accessibility so every visitor feels welcome. WPP’s nostalgic train provides a scenic journey through expansive grounds and habitats. Whether for leisurely sightseeing or educational tours, the train is a delightful way to explore the Park while learning about its natural and cultural history. The Park for All: Staying On Track project will replace the 650 feet of North Loop of train track and improve the accessibility of the train for visitors with disabilities with the installation of an ADA accessible lift and other accessibility improvements at the Pioneer Train Station.
$118,000 Impact Grant - Social Services & Basic Needs
Midwest Food Bank
Pictured here are: Melody Malcom - ICI Member, Christa Staley and Julie Waldschmidt - ICI Member
New Truck for Food Rescue & Distribution
Midwest Food Bank (MFB) provides food to nonprofits at no cost that in turn, distribute it to the food insecure. MFB’s core Food for Nonprofits Program operates through relationships forged with generous food manufacturers, distributors, grocers and farmers who donate their oversupply of food. Rescuing food with trucks operated by volunteer drivers is a key component of our operational efficiency. As such, it is vital to our sustainability that MFB has trucks that are in good working order, safe for our volunteers to operate and cost-effective to maintain. MFB is seeking a grant to replace an aging, unsafe and unreliable box truck to improve the efficiency and reliability of our food distribution operations, to enhance the safety and retention of our volunteers and to create new opportunities to rescue additional food, especially at a time when food insecurity is rising and the demand for our services increasing.
2025 Runners Up were Awarded $3,000 Each
Pelia Academy
Children's Home Association of Illinois
Hult Center for Healthy Living
Prairie State Legal Services
$30,000 Inspire Grant
Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging
Brittney Parker - ICIMember, Peggy Jacques, Christa Fuller, Laurie Robles and Tina Vandermyde - ICI Member
Aging with Vitality Program:
Adults ages 50 and older are the primary recipients of this program. Graceland Center for Purposeful Aging (GCPA) is activating change to enhance the lives of older adults by providing a space that fosters social interaction, mental well-being, and physical health for older adults. Aging with Vitality programs include fitness classes, arts and crafts, educational workshops, and recreational activities, all tailored to the needs of older adults. These activities keep participants physically active and foster cognitive engagement, reducing the risks of isolation and depression. GCPA serves as a supportive hub where individuals build connections, share experiences, and gain emotional support, combating loneliness. Health screenings, financial advice, and social service resources address practical needs. GCPA has demonstrated an incredible difference in the lives of older adults by promoting a higher quality of life, helping older adults to age well in place, remain independent, engaged, and form healthy connections with their community.
$118,000 Impact Grant - Education & Community Development
Neighborhood House Association
Front) Wendy Kolbus - ICI Member, Julie Bonar, Alexandra Cheeseman
(Back) Brittany Fox and Julysha Jones
Youth Program Remodel
The Youth Program facilitated by NHA provides a safe, nurturing environment to at-risk youth in the Peoria community. As the needs of the community have changed with time, NHA has adapted youth programming to meet the expectations of families and children through responsive and culturally-appropriate academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and life-skills curricula. In keeping pace with this legacy, the current proposal will support NHA in remodeling its learning spaces, acknowledging the changing societal landscape in an effort to prepare at-risk youth for lifetime success. By investing in the youth through updating the spaces utilized on a daily basis to include a full life-skills kitchen, a multidimensional sensory space, and a more age- and culturally-appropriate classroom setting in which students can engage in academic and enrichment activities, NHA will be able to continue to provide the vitally important youth programming that has positively impacted so many young people in Central Illinois.
$118,000 Impact Grant - Health & Community Wellbeing
Wildlife Prairie Park
Pictured here are: Betsy Silzer, Mark MacGregor, Roberta English and Ruth Bittner
Park for All: Staying on Track
Wildlife Prairie Park (WPP) attracts a diverse range of visitors, from residents to tourists from across the state and beyond. In 2023, over 110,000 visitors from 45 states, one US territory, and 10 countries flocked to the Park to experience its unique blend of native wildlife exhibits and recreational activities. The current Park for All initiative is focused on improving accessibility so every visitor feels welcome. WPP’s nostalgic train provides a scenic journey through expansive grounds and habitats. Whether for leisurely sightseeing or educational tours, the train is a delightful way to explore the Park while learning about its natural and cultural history. The Park for All: Staying On Track project will replace the 650 feet of North Loop of train track and improve the accessibility of the train for visitors with disabilities with the installation of an ADA accessible lift and other accessibility improvements at the Pioneer Train Station.
$118,000 Impact Grant - Social Services & Basic Needs
Midwest Food Bank
Pictured here are: Melody Malcom - ICI Member, Christa Staley and Julie Waldschmidt - ICI Member
New Truck for Food Rescue & Distribution
Midwest Food Bank (MFB) provides food to nonprofits at no cost that in turn, distribute it to the food insecure. MFB’s core Food for Nonprofits Program operates through relationships forged with generous food manufacturers, distributors, grocers and farmers who donate their oversupply of food. Rescuing food with trucks operated by volunteer drivers is a key component of our operational efficiency. As such, it is vital to our sustainability that MFB has trucks that are in good working order, safe for our volunteers to operate and cost-effective to maintain. MFB is seeking a grant to replace an aging, unsafe and unreliable box truck to improve the efficiency and reliability of our food distribution operations, to enhance the safety and retention of our volunteers and to create new opportunities to rescue additional food, especially at a time when food insecurity is rising and the demand for our services increasing.
2025 Runners Up were Awarded $3,000 Each
Pelia Academy
Children's Home Association of Illinois
Hult Center for Healthy Living
Prairie State Legal Services
2025 Third Place Semi-Finalists were Awarded $1,000 Each
Heart of Illinois Harvest
Peoria Promise Foundation
The Christian Center
Defy Ventures Illinois
Heart of Illinois Harvest
Peoria Promise Foundation
The Christian Center
Defy Ventures Illinois