HACF AWARDS $119,850 IN GRANTS The Highland Area Community Foundation held its 29th Grants Banquet on October 10, 2024, at the Lindendale Park Ballroom in Highland with 175 in attendance. Jim Burgett, Past President of the Foundation, served as emcee for the evening. Grants totaling $119,850 were announced by the Foundation grants committee at this year’s banquet which was sponsored by Busey Bank. This year’s grants bring the total of Foundation grants awarded in the last 29 years to $1.4 million benefitting 100 plus various groups. Of the 77 grants awarded this year, $70,150 went to 41 community groups and schools from the Foundation’s unrestricted funds, and $49,700 went to various community organizations and schools, the Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library, the City of Highland, and local scholarships from 31 specified funds. Grants Committee Chair Jeff Hebrank announced grant recipients with grants going to a variety of Highland area organizations serving the less fortunate, youth, senior citizens, the arts, Highland history, sports, and various other community needs in our service area. Foundation President Bonnie Gelly recognized retiring directors Shari Ammann, Shirley Bellm, Scott Geest, Jeff Hebrank, and Todd Imming for their service and dedication to the Foundation. All five have served on the Board of Directors for two three-terms. Jeff will continue to serve on the board of directors as legal counsel. Gelly thanked those in attendance for coming out to support the Foundation by sharing in the fellowship of the evening, celebrating our grant recipients, and perhaps being inspired to donate, called to serve, or contribute in any way to help continue the mission of the Highland Area Community Foundation. In closing out the evening, Burgett thanked Busey Bank, our Banquet Sponsor since 2005, donors, grant recipients, Scheffel-Boyle for their continued support, the grants committee, Banquet Chair Linda Manley and her committee, the Helvetia Sharpshooters for the venue, Cygan Delaney Catering for the delicious meal, Mosaic Church for sound equipment, Highland High School’s WDOG Media Group for their technical services, Boy Scout Troop 8040 for set-up and tear down for our event, and most of all, those attending in the spirit of celebration and giving. Highland Area Community Foundation board members for 2024-2025 are Kevin Dewaele, Ben Eberwein, Bonnie Gelly, Ryan Goodwin, James Gutzler, Jeff Hebrank, Linda Held, Gail Holthaus, Joe Horstmann, Jay Korte, Julie Korte, Mark Korte, Bob Luitjohan, Linda Manley, Lisa Michael, Jennifer Ostrander, and Rick Ringwald. For more information on the Foundation’s various funds or programs, call Executive Director Kevin Heman, Paula Redman or Kathy Klostermann at 618/654-4727. Seated in front row, l to r: Kyle Osterbur of Holly’s House of Hope, Nancy Genteman of Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library, Mark Rosen of City of Highland, Gail Holthaus of Greg Holthaus Memorial Fund, Pastor Nancy Brooks accepting for Grantfork United Church of Christ Youth Fellowship, Barb Eberhart of Grantfork United Church of Christ, Nancy Hediger of Highland Garden Club, Linda Klaus of Highland Area Senior Citizens Club, Teresa Cornelius of HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital, Brenda Hebrank representing Missionary Society of St. Therese, and Sheila Beil of Highland Arts Council. Second row, l to r: Jeff Hebrank, Foundation Grants Chairman; Carol Porter of Busey Bank, Banquet Sponsor; Aimee Goodwin of Hard Road Theatre Productions, Missy Loyet of L.U.N.C.H. Bunch, Linda Korte of Giger Cemetery Association, Diane Williams of Highland Area Christian Service Ministry, Julie LaFrance of Highland Quilt Boxers, Haidee Todora of St. Paul Catholic School, Tina Steibel of Hospice of Southern Illinois, Valerie Haas of Highland Middle School, June Blaine of Metro-East Humane Society, Cindy Langston of St. Jacob Elementary School, Erin Cotto of Highland High School Dance Team, Diane Boeser of Relevant Pregnancy Options Center, and Holly Ayer of Highland High School Math Department. Third row, l to r: Hillarie Holzinger of Highland Chamber of Commerce, Jordan Keeven of Highland High School Girls Golf, Kim Keeney of Highland Primary School, Cyndi Huelsman of Meals on Wheels, Jacob Rose of Highland Knights of Columbus, Suzanne Meyer of Highland Woman’s Club, Karen Barker of Highland Historical Society, Luanne Murphy of Heartland Community Chorus, Makenzie Wilson of Hitz Memorial Home, Chad Korte of P.I.C. Park, April Cook of St. Rose School, Steven Brendel representing Grantfork Police Department, and Andrew Hanford of Highland EMS. Back row, l to r: Rick Embry of The Highland Home, Dale Schmitt of Keystone Cemetery Association, St. Jacob; Phil Decker of Village of Grantfork, Russell Marti of Anderson Cemetery Association, Caleb Houchins accepting for Highland High School, Chris Becker accepting for Highland Community Unit School District #5, Nathan Biggs of Highland Police Department, Darren Apken of Village of Marine, Chris Schomber of Marine Elementary School, and Ben Wolfe of Highland-Pierron Fire Department.