FISCAL YEAR 2023 LAKE LAND COLLEGE FOUNDATION
ANNUAL REPORT BUILDING BRIGHTER FUTURES AND STRONGER COMMUNITIES THROUGH EDUCATION.
DONORS STRIVE TO INSPIRE A
LEGACY OF KINDNESS 2022 PHILANTHROPY
AWARD RECIPIENTS FINANCIALS UPDATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023
Building brighter futures and stronger communities through education.
FOUNDATION
JOINT LETTER FROM THE LAKE LAND COLLEGE
Foundation President & Executive Director DEAR FRIENDS OF THE FOUNDATION, Your support has once again left us speechless! The Foundation was fortunate to have another record-breaking year in fundraising in Fiscal Year 2023, receiving more than $3.2M in contributions and gifts in kind, making this past year our third-largest fundraising year. Thank you all so much for your generosity! With your help, the Foundation continues to impact College efforts significantly, positively affecting the lives of those we serve. Throughout the year, the Foundation awarded more than $600,000 to students in scholarships and emergency funding. The Kramer Borgic Farm, owned by the Foundation, awarded its third farm distribution that will provide an additional $85,000 in scholarships and emergency funding. Also, a remarkable estate gift received from the late Clara Jane Kramer Borgic will provide an additional 40 students in an Allied Health field scholarship funding in memory of her parents, Ben H. and Mary C. Kramer. We were able to enjoy many fun and exciting events this year, including the annual Foundation Golf Classic held in September, the unveiling of the new Retiree Wall of Fame, the recognition of our award recipients from 2020-2022, and breaking a new giving record for our Love a Laker giving campaign. In addition, our annual Scholarship Reception returned, which allowed donors and their scholarship recipients to engage with one another. It was a fantastic year! Our staff and organization continue to grow! We are thrilled to have Bailey Cole join our team this year as the foundation awards & corporate relations coordinator. We are equally excited to announce the promotion of Amanda (Tucker) Allen as our director of annual giving & alumni relations. A massive undertaking by our small but mighty team happened this past year with the conversion and implementation of a new donor database. We are eager to streamline many processes and look forward to further growth and outreach opportunities with our new system. Thanks to team members Penny Walk and Donna McCoy for your leadership and our ISS team for making this happen. We are incredibly grateful for your commitment to making a difference in our students by supporting their educational goals that will affect the rest of their lives. The Lake Land College Foundation experienced significant growth this past year thanks to your generous support. We look forward to connecting with you soon! WITH GREAT LAKER PRIDE AND MUCH GRATITUDE,
Rich Hartke, President Lake Land College Foundation
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Christi Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement/Foundation CEO
A LETTER FROM THE
Lake Land College President DEAR FRIENDS, I am thrilled to share some exciting news and updates from Lake Land College. This year has been a historic one for our institution, marked by growth and rooted in our commitment to serve. We are grateful for the continued support and generosity of the Foundation, which has played a crucial role in our success. One of the most significant developments was the purchase of the Patterson Technologies Building in Effingham. This nearly 100,000-square-foot facility will provide much needed room for growth in program offerings and training options that create a highly skilled workforce and support regional businesses. The new facility will be called the Lake Land College Effingham Technology Center and is expected to open for classes in Fall 2024. We continue to improve campus to enhance the educational experience for our students. This past summer we renovated Neal Hall, created a new Student Wellness Center in the Luther Student Center and remodeled areas of the Field House, including the addition of two womens’ locker rooms. Just as your gifts help students’ financial wellness, Lake Land took significant steps this past year to help students with their emotional well-being and sense of belonging. This fall saw the addition of two new notable positions-a mental health counselor and a coordinator of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. On the academic side, we strengthened our commitment to creating a highly skilled workforce with the addition of two new programs. Central Sterile Processing provides students with a pathway to a healthcare career and Tech 2Day offers students an opportunity to earn a degree by coming to campus two days a week and practicing skills learned in a work-placed experience the other three. During the past year the college adopted the Lake Land College Mission, Vision and Values Growth Tree image. It is symbolic of how the Foundation, our donors, board members, trustees, employees and community partners grow together to make a difference in the lives of our students and the communities we serve. I congratulate you on being a part of a record-breaking fundraising year! We are grateful for your contributions, which provide opportunities and support for our students to earn a valuable college education. Thank you to the Foundation for its ongoing support and investment in the future of Lake Land College. I look forward to sharing more updates and achievements with you in the future. WITH GRATITUDE, Sincerely,
Dr. Josh Bullock President
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DONORS STRIVE TO INSPIRE A
Legacy of Kindness
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Edie Terwilliger has always preferred the term “situation” more than “problem.” The way she sees it, problems suggest a need for panic. Situations, on the other hand, are a sort of blessing in disguise, an opportunity for personal growth and achievement in the face of life’s many challenges. It is a cheerful mindset to possess, and one that served Edie well throughout an acclaimed career predicated on serving students. There was no career option more fitting for someone who loved learning as much as Edie, who, even as a little girl, would often ignore her mother’s calls for dinner in favor of whichever book happened to be in her hands at the moment.
Since its initial inception, the Terwilliger scholarship has supported 14 Lake Land students. One such student is Audrey Schmidt, a nontraditional student who is pursuing a lifelong dream, one that was temporarily abandoned over a decade ago. At just 18 years old, Audrey’s lifelong nursing aspirations were shattered when the harsh environment of another college led her to drop out altogether and reluctantly step into an unknown future. “I can’t even describe the feeling,” Audrey said. “I was embarrassed because I felt I had failed my family and myself.”
In 1953, Edie married John Terwilliger. "I WANT THE PEOPLE As fate would prove, however, the pain that THAT HAVE THE Audrey felt was the temporary setback of a While John was never quite as studious SCHOLARSHIP TO situation, not a problem. Despite everything as Edie, the life they built together BE SPECIAL, FEEL faced, Audrey learned to find strength demonstrated a shared passion SPECIAL AND GO through the struggles and defied the odds to for learning. After furthering their OUT INTO THE once again pursue her goals. education as nontraditional students at WORLD TO SPREAD the University of Illinois, both dabbled KINDNESS IN THEIR Now enrolled at Lake Land, Audrey studies in teaching, earned doctoral degrees OWN WAY.” to complete the dream that began years and transitioned to administrators for ago. Her husband and two children provide the university. Edie also served on the loving support every step of the way, and Board of Regents, the governing board -E. TERWILLIGER the unforgiving college experience she faced of Northern Illinois, Illinois State and before has been replaced with encouragement and Sangamon State universities, an experience that only compassion from her Lake Land nursing instructors. In deepened her commitment to education. addition, she is able to complete her goal of returning to school debt-free with the support of the Terwilliger “I always have liked getting things done and helping scholarship. people achieve their goals,” Edie said. “There’s no better way to do that than by working with students.” “The scholarship has given me the financial freedom to be a good mom, wife, coworker and, most of all, Continually seeking new ways to invest in the student,” Audrey said. “I’m just so happy with how mission of higher education, John and Edie started everything has worked out. God has a timing and a their lifetime of giving by creating a scholarship plan for everyone. It may not have been my time back for students in the University of Illinois College of then, but I know it is now.” Education. The scholarship has been awarded each year since 1992. As Audrey continues to work toward achieving her dream career, she hopes her children take inspiration In 1994, John and Edie’s journey led them to in her devotion and know that she did it all for them. Charleston, Illinois, where their dedication to “I want them to see that dreams do come true. Some supporting higher education connected them to dreams just take longer to unfold than others, and Lake Land College. The two admired Lake Land’s reputation of academic excellence and its accessibility that’s okay,” Audrey said. “You might think your kids aren’t watching, but they are. I want to set the to nontraditional students. Edie was also recruited to example for them. I want to be a mom they are proud the Lake Land College Foundation Board, where she to call theirs.” served from 2005 to 2010. In 2005, John and Edie established an annual Lake Land Foundation scholarship in their name to help support students in their new community. Following the death of their son John Richard Terwilliger in 2022, however, they transitioned the scholarship into an endowment in his honor. A testament to the kindness and generosity their son displayed throughout his life, the John Richard Terwilliger Memorial Endowed Scholarship is awarded to nontraditional students to support their unique needs throughout the college journey.
As for the Terwilligers, they hope the recipients of their scholarship can carry on the legacy of kindness and love that their son left behind far too soon. “John always wanted to help people feel special,” Edie said. “I want the people that have the scholarship to be special, feel special and go out into the world to spread kindness in their own way.”
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LAKE LAND COLLEGE FOUNDATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2022-2023 OFFICERS Rich Hartke — President Renee Huckstead — Vice President Tom White — Secretary Deacon Patient — Immediate Past President BOARD MEMBERS Kathleen Anderson Denise Bence Larry Blackerby Micah Dickens Angela Dyer Kellie Eastham Austin Frank Rudy Huber Amanda Martin Tyler Micenheimer Bob Payton Blake Pierce Debra Sandercock Meg Yargus Steward Linda Von Behren EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Dr. Jonathan “Josh” Bullock, College President Kaye Dent, Legal Counsel Christi Donsbach, Foundation CEO Madge Shoot, Foundation Treasurer/ College Comptroller Tom Wright, Lake Land College Board of Trustees Liaison COLLEGE ADVANCEMENT STAFF Christi Donsbach, Executive Director for College Advancement Bailey Cole, Foundation Awards & Corporate Relations Coordinator Donna McCoy, College Advancement Representative Amanda Allen, Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Penny Walk, Donor Information & Database Coordinator
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PHILANTHROPY
Awards SARAH BUSH LINCOLN HEALTH SYSTEM 2022 OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION
Sarah Bush has served as a generous partner to Lake Land College, most recently supporting the Allied Health division through student scholarships, emergency funding for students and equipment for health care related programs. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System has distinguished itself time and time again as a healthcare provider, employer and community partner while remaining true to its mission over the years: to provide exceptional care for all and create healthy communities. Its leaders and staff have quickly responded to changes in the way healthcare is delivered, so area residents have the benefit of receiving excellent healthcare close to home.
CECIL PAUL & MARJORIE WILSON DAVIS ESTATE 2022 OUTSTANDING PHILANTHROPIST The Lake Land College Foundation recently received its largest cash gift in the history of the organization. The $1.7 million gift was donated to benefit Shelby County students from the Cecil Paul and Marjorie Wilson Davis Estate. This transformative gift positively impacts hundreds of students’ lives from Shelby County through traditional scholarships, dual credit and dual enrollment opportunities.
Cecil Paul and Marjorie Wilson Davis were very involved in their communities and professions and wanted to be able to give back by creating opportunities for Shelby County residents to pursue a college education.
CHRISTINE PILSON
2022 CRYSTAL SWAN RECIPIENT
The Crystal Swan Award is awarded to a Lake Land College Foundation Board Member who has gone above and beyond. This year’s recipient is Mattoon native, Christine Pilson. Over the years, Christine has volunteered countless hours to local schools and organizations. She has served on the Mattoon YMCA Board of Directors, Lake Land College Foundation Board of Directors and the Mattoon Public Library Board of Trustees. She was the May Merriment Coordinator and Financial Development Officer for the Mattoon YMCA.
NIC NELSON
2022 OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER FUNDRAISER
The Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser award is bestowed upon an individual who has given time and talent on behalf of Lake Land College students in securing private funding. This year’s recipient is Nic Nelson. Since 2008, Coach Nelson has built a legacy with the Laker softball program with nine appearances at the NJCAA Division 1 World Series. Coach Nelson’s teams have excelled academically with dozens of players earning an NJCAA Academic All-American recognition and a 100% graduation rate of all sophomores from Lake Land College. Not only is Coach Nelson dedicated on the field, but also wears a fundraising hat and successfully secures donations from community members and relationships of the softball players to help with the teams expenses and travels. These funds provide a great opportunity for the team to travel all over the United States and gain experiences that otherwise wouldn’t be possible.
Legacy Laker Society
The Legacy Laker Society honors individuals who made the commitment to support the college through planned gifts such as trusts, bequests, life insurance policies, etc. These gifts will ensure that the Lake Land College tradition of excellence will be continued well into the future. Membership in the Legacy Laker Society is nonbinding. A special thanks to our Legacy Laker Society members including: Dr. William & Mrs. Anna M. Ayres Mr. Randall & Mrs. Virginia Beasley Mr. Wayne & Mrs. Clara Borgic Ms. Lynn Cain in memory of Mr. Robert L. Cain Ms. Waneta Catey Ms. Mary Cole Mrs. Hazel Moore Crosby Mr. Floyd & Mrs. Chlotilde Curl Mr. George Danks Mr. C. Paul & Mrs. Marjorie W. Davis Ms. Joyce Denks Mr. Walter & Mrs. Jeannette Dickerson Ms. Leah J. Dvorak Mr. Gerry & Mrs. Marge Fedrigon
Mrs. Karen Fuqua Mr. Martin Garbe Mr. Warren Goble Mr. Mark Henderson Mr. Obed Henderson Mr. Joseph Hendrix Ms. Mary Higgs Ms. Leslie Hill Ms. Mary Hill Dobbs Ms. Sophie O. Kreke Ms. Consuello Luttrell Dr. Lowell E. Massie
Dr. George T. Mitchell Mr. Burnham & Mrs. Nancy Neal Mr. Donald & Mrs. Jane Perry Mr. Joe & Mrs. Alleen Stephen Mr. Charles & Mrs. Mary Striker Mr. Thomas Woodyard For a complete list of all our donors please, visit us online at lakelandcollege.edu/foundation.
IT’S A GREAT DAY TO GIVE TO THE LAKE LAND COLLEGE FOUNDATION! If you have questions about giving, how to create a scholarship or if you’re interested in leaving a planned gift, please contact Christi Donsbach at 217-234-5354 or cdonsbach@lakelandcollege.edu.
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Financials FISCAL YEAR 2023
TOTAL NET ASSETS THROUGH JUNE 2023
FIRST-TIME DONORS
$3,099,537 UNRESTRICTED GIFTS
FOUNDATION DONATIONS
MORE STUDENTS
AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS THAN PREVIOUS YEAR
STUDENTS RECEIVED SCHOLARSHIPS IN FY23
AVERAGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDED IN SCHOLARSHIPS THIRD FARM CONTRIBUTION FOR ALL STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED TO
STUDENTS
EMPLOYEES
RECEIVED ASSISTANCE FROM THE LAKER CARING FUND TOTALING MORE THAN
TOTAL ALUMNI
GRADUATES