Some of the projects that will be funded include forensic science lab materials at Knoxville High School, an outdoor learning oasis at United Junior High School, and an American Sign Language Curriculum at Monmouth-Roseville High School.

“By providing flexible funding directly to educators, mini grants not only bolster classroom learning but also foster a sense of support and appreciation within the local community for the crucial work teachers do every day,” said Sarah Grant, Director of Development at the Galesburg Community Foundation.

Mini grants receive funding from Community Funds, which are funds of Galesburg Community Foundation. Each Community Fund has a local advisory board that is empowered to award grants that positively impact their community and residents. Because they are endowments, Community Funds grow forever, creating a permanent source of financial support for local needs.

To expand funding for teachers in the United School District this year, the United 304 Foundation Fund co-funded grants with the Alexis Community Fund for United North Elementary School and the United 304 Foundation Fund co-funded grants with the Becky Carlson Teacher Mini Grant Fund for grants at United West Elementary School.

“Through collaboration, these funders are amplifying their impact,” said Joshua Gibb, President and CEO of Galesburg Community Foundation. “By pooling resources and expertise, they’re not just supporting educators; they’re investing in the future of our students.”

Below is a list of teachers, schools, projects, and funders of teacher mini grants for the 2024-25 academic year.

Knoxville CUSD #202

• Jennifer Black, Knoxville High School – Forensic Science Lab Materials (Knoxville Community Fund)
• Deborah Dunlap, Knoxville High School – Start German Program (Knoxville Community Fund)
• Jolene Parrish, Mable Woolsey Elementary School – Art Supplies (Knoxville Community Fund)
• Kaelee Potter, Mable Woolsey Elementary School – Building Academic, Creativity, and Functional Skills Supports (Knoxville Community Fund)
• Katie Smith, Knoxville High School – Life Skills Enrichment (Knoxville Community Fund)
• Ellen Shrader – Mable Woolsey Elementary School, Young Students Need Keyboarding Skills (Knoxville Community Fund)
• Katie Frey, Knoxville Junior High – STEM Recharge (Knoxville Community Fund)
• Amy Hopper, Knoxville Junior High – STEM Cricut Creations (Knoxville Community Fund)
• Terrah Myers, Mable Woolsey Elementary School – Math Professional Development Book Study (Knoxville Community Fund)

United CUSD #304

• Keeley Brinkmeier, United North Elementary – Flexible Workspace for Active Learning: Enhancing Collaboration and Creativity (Alexis Community Fund, United 304 Foundation Fund)
• Lynsey Temple, United North Elementary –Classroom Library Improvements (Alexis Community Fund, United 304 Foundation Fund)
• Melinda Fry, United Junior High School – Outdoor Learning Oasis (United 304 Foundation Fund)
• Nikki Robertson, United West Elementary – Classroom Materials (Becky Carlson Teacher Mini Grant Fund, United 304 Foundation Fund)
• United North Elementary – Operation Kindergarten Success (Alexis Community Fund, United 304 Foundation Fund)
• Mindy Murray, United North Elementary – If You Build a Library, They Will Read (United 304 Foundation Fund)
• Bethany Allen, United West Elementary – Classroom Library (United 304 Foundation Fund, Becky Carlson Teacher Mini Grant Fund)
• Chelsea Logsdon, United West Elementary School – SEL Sensory Room (United 304 Foundation Fund, Becky Carlson Teacher Mini Grant Fund)
• Anna Hinton, United Junior High School – Outdoor Learning Oasis (United 304 Foundation Fund, Becky Carlson Teacher Mini Grant Fund)
• Breanna Ryner, United North Elementary – SEL Learning (United 304 Foundation Fund, Alexis Community Fund)
• Kelsi Kleine, United West Elementary – Sensory Room/Office (United 304 Foundation Fund, Becky Carlson Teacher Mini Grant Fund)

Monmouth-Roseville CUSD #238

• Cammy Davis, Central Intermediate School – Flexible Classroom Seating (Monmouth and Roseville Community Funds)
• Nicole Trego, Monmouth-Roseville High School – American Sign Language Curriculum (Monmouth and Roseville Community Funds)

The post Enhancing Classroom Experiences: Community Funds Award Mini Grants to Teachers appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

From a mini golf course upgrade to a robotics team to a summer reading program, Community Funds in Alexis, Knoxville, Monmouth, Roseville, and Williamsfield recently distributed 15 grants to organizations that serve their communities.

Community Funds, which are funds of Galesburg Community Foundation, are guided by local advisory boards that are empowered to award grants that positively impact their communities and residents. Because they are endowments, Community Funds grow forever, creating a permanent source of financial support for local needs.

This year, the Community Funds collaborated to co-fund grants to four of the organizations that provide services to multiple communities. “This collective approach to granting from multiple Community Funds offers organizations a unique opportunity to access diverse resources and expertise, amplifying the impact of their initiatives,” said Jillian Isaacson, Director of Grants & Program at Galesburg Community Foundation. “Co-granting fosters innovation, collaboration, and sustainability, empowering organizations to address complex challenges more effectively and create lasting change in our communities.”

Below is the list of organizations that received Community Grants and the Community Funds that awarded the grants.

• Buchanan Center for the Arts – Arts for All (Monmouth)
• CASA of West Central Illinois – CASA Volunteer Recruitment (Alexis, Knoxville, Monmouth)
• Knoxville Robotics Team – FIRST Tech Challenge (Knoxville)
• Junk 4 Jingles – Funding assistance for Knox County Salvation Army Angel Tree children (Knoxville)
• Knoxville United Methodist Church – Food for Knoxville Food Pantry (Knoxville)
• Loving Bottoms Diaper Bank – Diaper and Period Product Distribution (Knoxville, Monmouth)
• Roseville Kids Place – Early Childhood Operations (Roseville)
• Strom Center, Inc. – Expansion of Space for Programs (Monmouth)
• Village of Alexis – Main Street Christmas Decorations (Alexis)
• Alexis Museum – Repairs (Alexis)
• Warren County Public Library District – Summer Reading Program (Monmouth, Roseville)
• Warren Achievement Center – Achieving Greatness: slowing the progression, or onset, of dementia (Monmouth)
• Warren County YMCA – Camp Meskwaki Campus Pavilion (Alexis, Monmouth, Roseville)
• Williamsfield Area Food Pantry and Resource Center – Williamsfield Area Food Pantry (Williamsfield)
• Williamsfield Parks Association – Doubet-Benjamin Park Mini Golf Upgrade (Williamsfield)

The post Community Funds Across Knox and Warren Counties Empower Local Initiatives with 15 Grants appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

This transformative addition, dedicated in memory of Maci Mulvey, represents a significant stride towards inclusivity, ensuring that every child can experience the joy of play.

Maci Mulvey was born with half a heart. At the age of three she had a cardiac arrest that resulted in her becoming wheelchair bound, nonverbal, and blind. But this didn’t stop Maci. Her parents, Dennis and Michelle Mulvey, took Maci everywhere—from the pontoon boat to sporting events. Maci graduated from Knoxville High School in 2018. She passed at the age of 19.

Throughout Maci’s life, the Mulveys witnessed firsthand how often individuals with differing abilities are overlooked when it comes to accommodations, which is why they made it their mission to raise the money needed to build an accessible playground in Maci’s hometown.

Funding for the $87,0000 project was a collaborative effort, supported by current and former residents, service organizations, and the City of Knoxville.

The Knoxville Community Fund provided a grant to help fund the installation of the equipment at the park. “Our goal in funding this project was to create an inclusive and welcoming space where all children, regardless of their abilities, can play and thrive,” said Mandy Balser, Knoxville Community Fund Advisory Board Member.

The Knoxville Community Fund is a fund of Galesburg Community Foundation. It is guided by a local advisory board that is empowered to award grants that positively impact the Knoxville community. Because it is an endowed fund, the Knoxville Community Fund will grow forever, creating a permanent source of financial support for local needs.

The new additions to the playground include ramps, sensory-rich elements, and adaptive slides and monkey bars as well as more traditional slides and climbing features. Even the installation was a community effort, with volunteers coming together to assemble the colorful structure just west of the park’s pavilion. “Children were there when we installed the equipment, and they couldn’t wait to play on it,” said Toby Meyers, Mayor of Knoxville, Knoxville Community Fund Board Member, and Maci’s uncle.

The impact of this initiative extends beyond the boundaries of Knoxville and offers families from around the area a safe, accessible, and inclusive option for play. In addition to playground equipment, James Knox Park offers pickleball and basketball courts, a fishing pond with a fountain, a pavilion with picnic tables, and restroom facilities.

For more information about the Knoxville Community Fund, contact Galesburg Community Foundation at 309.344.8898 or info@yourgcf.org.

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Last year, a project funded by the Roseville Community Fund installed planters in downtown Roseville. Like those flowers, now that the Community Fund has bloomed, Shaw says, “it has brought a lot of joy and beauty to our community, and it’s only going to continue to grow.”

In 2015, Knoxville residents worked with Galesburg Community Foundation to establish a local Community Fund. Since then, four more funds—in Alexis, Monmouth, Roseville, and Williamsfield—have been organized by local communities. Each is overseen by an advisory board made up of community residents.

“As an advisory board, our goals are to grow the fund and to make sure the money is going to local organizations making a difference,” says Toby Myers, mayor of Knoxville and Knoxville Community Fund advisory board member. “Our work is supported by Galesburg Community Foundation and the people in this town, and I’m happy to say it’s paying off.”

Local Community Funds are endowed resources that will support the community for generations. Now, Myers and his fellow board members want to make sure more people know about what the funds are doing and how to contribute. 

Donations remain in the community and go toward the projects that matter most to residents. “We try to have different perspectives on the board,” says Alexis Community Fund advisory board member John Elder. “It’s important to hear from different age groups, business owners, and people with different interests. We want the fund to serve everyone in Alexis.”

It’s working. Though it was established just two years ago, the Alexis fund is already drawing attention. “I see it as a way to maintain what we love about our hometown,” says Elder. “We have received donations from people who have moved away, we’ve received gifts as memorials, and we see gifts from people who live here now—everyone cares about the town and wants to see it thrive.”

Galesburg Community Foundation works with each local advisory board to establish the fund and offers support as needed to develop projects in each community. “The connection with the Galesburg Community Foundation is invaluable,” says Shaw. “They help us with marketing, let us know about new opportunities, and are always ready to answer questions. At the end of the day, they are there to support what we think is best for our community.”

Shaw says that support has translated into exciting developments for the Roseville community. “We’ve been able to make grants to the local food pantry and provide families with food around the holidays. We made a grant to upgrade restrooms in the Community Center to make them more accessible, and we upgraded the sound system there as well.”

This summer, the Monmouth Community Fund reached their fundraising goal to endow the fund and awarded community grants to six local nonprofits. One of those nonprofits was the Buchanan Center for the Arts for their Art Presenter Program for local grade schools. “These grants help make Monmouth a better place to live, to raise our families, and to keep people coming back here,” said Trevor Davies, Community Fund Advisory Committee Chair. “We’ve reached our first milestone, but we’re not going to stop there. We’re going to keep educating the community and letting everyone know about this fund and the great work that we’re doing with it.”

In Williamsfield, a Community Fund grant to complete a disc golf course is not only popular with residents but is bringing visitors to the community. “We’ve had clubs from Galesburg and Kewanee come use our course, which brings revenue to our other businesses,” says Williamsfield Mayor Robert Johnson. “It’s definitely been money well spent.”

Community Funds rely on gifts of all sizes, and they fund projects big and small. “We’ve made several grants to the schools here, some for classrooms and one to the music department,” says Elder. “They’re not always huge amounts, but in a small town, they can make a big difference. And the fund is growing every year, so we’ll be able to do more and more.” 

Myers says there was some skepticism when the fund was launched. “I think people weren’t sure how this would work, where the money would come from, or where it would go. But now that we’re a few years in, people are seeing the potential of this fund—it’s a real benefit for Knoxville, and it’s only going to continue to grow.” 

Photo: Grade school students in Monmouth display their artwork created through the Buchanan Center for the Arts Art Presenter Program, supported by the Monmouth Community Fund.

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The three have reached their term limits as the last of the founding advisory board of the Knoxville Community Fund, which was established by the Galesburg Community Foundation in 2015. But while they have stepped down from the board, Humphreys, Knapp, and Wenstrom look back with pride at the support they and fellow board members Peg Bivens, Tom England, Gina Martin, and Rick Yemm received from the Knoxville community as they were establishing the fund.

“I’m certainly not a fundraiser, but I knew what a foundation could do,” said Humphreys, a local farmer who was also an original member of Galesburg Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. “I talked to several people in Knoxville I thought would understand how this could work. Thankfully, three or four of those people just jumped right on.”

To encourage members of the community to donate to the fund, which was the first of its kind in the region, Galesburg Community Foundation offered to match the first $25,000 raised.

“I wasn’t sure if we could meet the goal, but low and behold, we did,” said Wenstrom, retired Knoxville school superintendent. “It was a real indicator of people’s loyalty to the community. When we explained the potential of the fund, people listened.”

The decision was made to honor those who contributed $500 or more to establish the fund. There are 72 names on a plaque inside the new city hall to recognize those individuals. “I had several give $2,500 instead of the $500 I asked for,” said Charlie Knapp, retired music educator.

“Members of the community respect Lance, Jim, and Charlie,” said current Knoxville Community Fund Advisory Board chair Christopher Hroziencik. “They really inspired people’s imaginations, to think about what this could be, not only now, but 10 or 20 years from now.”

As an endowed fund, the initial funds raised to establish the Knoxville Community Fund were invested by the Galesburg Community Foundation. In less than eight years, those funds and additional donations have grown the fund to nearly half a million dollars. The returns from that investment are being used to administer grants in the community. “Sometimes, nonprofits don’t have the resources to fulfill their missions,” said Wenstrom. “We help them do that to benefit everyone.”

Since the fund was established, more than 60 grants totaling almost $80,000 have been awarded to Knoxville’s nonprofits, schools, churches, and government agencies. From new equipment for the Knoxville Police Department to updated trash receptacles on Main Street, a community food pantry freezer, and upgraded classroom technology, the fund ensures the community has robust resources to address opportunities and challenges today and in the future.

Humphreys, Knapp, and Wenstrom are excited about what the fund has become, and what it can be. “It’s an active group,” Wenstrom says of current advisory members Tim Engebretson, David Wilt, Brett Wright, Mandy Balser, Toby Myers, Mary Austin, and Hroziencik. “They are having a significant impact today that will make a difference in the Knoxville community well into the future.”

Humphreys agrees. “We have people with the foresight to see how these funds can benefit the community for the long term, who look at the funds that are available, visualize what the community can be, and then invest in the future of Knoxville. So if you’re proud of your community, this is certainly the way that you can benefit it. This is forever.”

Learn more about the Knoxville Community Fund.

The post Trio Establishes a Legacy for Their Hometown: the Knoxville Community Fund appeared first on Galesburg Community Foundation.

Sadly, and unexpectedly, Peg passed on December 9, 2020.

Among the many roles Peg took on for her community, she was an Alderman for the City of Knoxville, Knoxville City Clerk, and upon her passing was the City Treasurer for the town. She also served on the Knoxville Library Board, the Knoxville Planning Commission, and was a member of the Chapter AM P.E.O. Sisterhood. Peg was an active member on the Board of Directors for the Knox County Historic Sites for decades and served as the Advertising Chair for the Knox County Scenic Drive and the Knoxville Committee. She was also a Founder and member of the Knoxville Community Fund steering committee.

Peg’s relationship with Galesburg Community Foundation began with the formation of the Knoxville Community Fund in 2015. Upon learning of the opportunity to grow a permanent, endowed, philanthropic fund for Knoxville, Peg was all in and quickly began spearheading the effort.

Peg was committed to community involvement and investment. In an article published in August 2020 by the Rural Schools Collaborative about the Community Fund’s plans to directly support Knoxville schools through a teacher mini-grant program, Peg expressed–

“Nothing in any community is stand-alone and in a small community it is especially important for people to work collaboratively, to involve all members in the community in whatever it is…and I think that is just so vital, especially for a small town, for Knoxville, and that’s one of the things that our community fund really tries to do whenever we can.”

President & CEO of Galesburg Community Foundation Joshua Gibb said, “Peg was one of the first people I met when we started conversations about the Knoxville Community Fund. Her passion for Knoxville became evident quickly. She was a true advocate for her community and helping ensure that the community’s future is bright. She inherently understood the value of establishing and growing an endowed community fund for Knoxville and what that would mean for the town, forever. She had no problem sharing about the fund and asking people to give to it. She knew it was too good of an opportunity not to talk about and ask others to be a part of.”

Not only did Peg thoroughly believe in the power of involvement and advocating for her community—she also believed in the power of philanthropy and giving. Not only did she have a willingness to invite others in to give to make a forever difference, but she did the same herself. Not only did Peg give generously during her lifetime, but it was also discovered upon her passing that she had made a planned gift to benefit the Knoxville Community Fund. Peg had a life insurance policy to benefit the Knoxville Community Fund. It was another way Peg demonstrated her love for her town.

Upon learning of Peg’s planned gift Josh said, “All I could do was shake my head and smile when learned that Peg had taken out a life insurance policy to benefit the Knoxville Community Fund. Peg firmly believed in the power of generosity and helping others experience it. She put her beliefs into action, even upon her passing. Its just another example of Peg’s ability to think ahead with her community in mind.”

Above all, Peg was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, community member and friend who will be dearly missed. And thanks to her genuine love for her community, there will be great opportunities for Knoxville for decades to come.

Planned gifts arranged through your will and estate, such as the one Peg left, are an investment in the place you call home and can have a long-term, transformative impact on the people and nonprofits you choose to support. Planned gifts can be made in a variety of ways such as the life insurance policy Peg left, designating a dollar amount or percentage of your estate, retirement plan, life income gifts, or gifts of real estate. Working with your professional advisor is an excellent way to determine the planned gift that is best for you and the causes you care about.

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