Honoring the Founding Fathers 30th Annual Grants Banquet Last week, we gathered not only to celebrate the remarkable legacy and impact of the Highland Area Community Foundation — but to honor a dream. A dream that was born in April of 1994, when six extraordinary individuals came together with a shared belief: "This community deserves something more." They were visionaries. They were leaders. They were neighbors. They were friends. And they became the Founding Fathers of the Highland Area Community Foundation: • Floyd Rogier (represented by his wife Eunice Rogier - front picture) • from the left pictured Jim Burgett, Terry Riffel, Don Johannes, Larry “Biddy” Essenpreis & Gordon Smith (not in the picture - unable to attend). Their commitment planted the seeds for three decades of giving, growth, and community transformation. Tonight, we honor their vision — and we carry it forward.

HACF CELEBRATES 30 YEARS - AWARDS $176,188 IN GRANTS The Highland Area Community Foundation held its 30th Annual Grants Banquet October 9, 2025, at The Olde Wicks Factory in Highland with 200 in attendance. Jim Burgett, Past President of the Foundation, served as emcee for the evening. Prior to the grant presentations, guests enjoyed a musical performance by students of the Highland Music School, directed by Angelina McLaughli-Heil. A group of young violinists delighted the audience with a medley of classical pieces. Grants totaling $176,188 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 30 years to $1.6 million benefitting 132 various groups. Of the 76 grants awarded this year, $110,988 went to 42 community groups and schools from the Foundation’s unrestricted funds, and $65,200 went to various community organizations and schools, the Louis Latzer Memorial Public Library, the City of Highland, and local scholarships from 34 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. During the evening, Executive Director Kevin Hemann paused to reflect on the recent passing of one of the Foundation’s founding visionaries, Ralph Korte, who passed away in August. Hemann shared how Ralph and his wife Donna’s generosity helped establish the financial base for what would later become the Korte Recreation Center, a beloved community asset. Ralph Korte was remembered for a life marked by hard work, integrity, and generosity, with a legacy that extends far beyond Highland. In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the Foundation, Executive Director Kevin Heman honored and recognized the Founding Fathers of the organization – Floyd Rogier, Larry (Biddy) Essenpreis, Jim Burgett, Don Johannes, Gordon Smith and Terry Riffel. These six community leaders shared a dream that began in April 1994. The dedication, vision, and foresight of these remarkable individuals set in motion the groundwork for the Highland Area Community Foundation. We thank them for their belief that one community, working together, can make a difference that lasts generations. Foundation President Bob Luitjohan recognized retiring directors Ryan Goodwin and Rick Ringwald for their service and dedication to the Foundation. Both have served on the Board of Directors for two three-year terms. Ryan served as President for two years, and both served on the Marketing and Finance Committees sharing their insight and expertise to help guide the Foundation’s continued growth. Luitjohan thanked those in attendance for coming out to support the Foundation by sharing in the fellowship of the evening, celebrating our grant recipients, and being inspired to donate, 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 Olde Wicks Factory for the venue, Cygan Delaney Catering for the delicious meal, Mosaic Church for sound equipment, Case Media Design for their technical services and most of all, those attending in the spirit of celebration and giving. Highland Area Community Foundation board members for 2025-2026 are Kevin Dewaele, Ben Eberwein, Maria Geppert, Bonnie Gelly, James Gutzler, Jeff Hebrank, Linda Held, Gail Holthaus, Joe Horstmann, Jay Korte, Julie Korte, Mark Korte, Bob Luitjohan, Linda Manley, Lisa Michael, Judy Neier, and Jennifer Ostrander. 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.

𝑯𝑨𝑪𝑭 𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝑹𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑾𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑵𝒆𝒘 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝑷𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 (𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒓) 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝑹𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒚𝒂𝒏 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆-𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒔 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔. 𝑹𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒘𝒂𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒔, 𝒘𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑶𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆𝒔. 𝑮𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒍𝒔𝒐 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒔 2𝒏𝒅 𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒔 1𝒔𝒕 𝑽𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒔 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕. 𝑷𝒊𝒄𝒕𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒕𝒐 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒆𝒘𝒍𝒚 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 (𝒍 𝒕𝒐 𝒓) 𝑱𝒖𝒅𝒚 𝑵𝒆𝒊𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂 𝑮𝒆𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒕. 𝑩𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑩𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 1995, 𝒊𝒕 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚-𝒂𝒕-𝒍𝒂𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒗𝒐𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒅𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏. 𝑨𝒄𝒄𝒐𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒍𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒚-𝑳𝒂𝒘𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒃𝒚 𝒂 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒂𝒏𝒊𝒛𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔: 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒆, 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 𝑫𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒕 𝑩𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑺𝒕. 𝑷𝒂𝒖𝒍’𝒔 𝑩𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑬𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑨𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏’𝒔 𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒃. 𝑨𝒏 𝒂𝒅𝒅𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒆 𝒊𝒔 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒃, 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑳𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒃, 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑱𝒂𝒚𝒄𝒆𝒆𝒔, 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒄 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏’𝒔 𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒃, 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑩𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑾𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏’𝒔 𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒃, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑶𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕 𝑪𝒍𝒖𝒃 – 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒓𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒂𝒔𝒊𝒔. 𝑰𝒕 𝒊𝒔 𝒂 𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒒𝒖𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒍-𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚. 𝑩𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆-𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒚 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒆-𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎 𝒊𝒇 𝒉𝒆/𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒐 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔. 𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒂 𝒅𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒘𝒐 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎𝒔, 𝒉𝒆/𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒓𝒆-𝒆𝒍𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒍 𝒂𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒎. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝑹𝒊𝒄𝒌 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑹𝒚𝒂𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒆𝒍𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝑱𝒖𝒅𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒂 𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒚 𝒋𝒐𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑩𝒐𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝑫𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒔. 𝑭𝒐𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑨𝒓𝒆𝒂 𝑪𝒐𝒎𝒎𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝑭𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏, 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒂𝒕 618/654-4727 𝒐𝒓 𝒈𝒐 𝒕𝒐 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒘𝒆𝒃𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒘𝒘𝒘.𝒉𝒂𝒄𝒇.𝒐𝒓𝒈.

The Highland Area Community Foundation is currently seeking applicants for its 2025 grant awards. Grants are awarded for not-for-profit purposes to organizations or groups that provide community services within the Highland Community Unit School District, St. Jacob and Marine townships, and St. Rose Township. Since its beginning in 1996, the Foundation’s Grant Program has come a long way. In its first year, three grants were awarded totaling $1,500.00; and in 2024, 78 grants were awarded totaling $119,850. In the last 29 years, a total of $1.4 million has been awarded in grants benefiting 100 plus various groups in the Foundation’s service area. The Foundation seeks to make grant awards in response to current and emerging needs or gaps in needed services and to strengthen volunteer participation and citizen involvement in community concerns. Grant applications may be obtained from the Highland Area Community Foundation at 1216 Main Street, Highland, by calling 618/654-4727, emailing info@hacf.org, or downloading from the Foundation’s website, www.hacf.org. Specific criteria are listed on the grant application form. Deadline for submittal is June 30.

Girl Scouts Troop 342 Pickleball Court Project for Spindler Park Needs Help from the Community to Reach their Goal Paige & Lexi Lauth, Cadettes with Girl Scout Troop 342, started a Silver Award Project as their service project to raise awareness of the new pickleball courts coming to Spindler Park. They kicked off their fundraising campaign this summer and have partnered with the City of Highland and the Highland Area Community Foundation to accept funds for the Girl Scout Pickleball Court Project at Spindler Park. Their goal is to raise community awareness to help the city raise $27,500.00. These funds will be used for painting and striping the new pickleball courts. The balance of the money for the pickleball courts will be from grants applied for by the City of Highland Recreation Department. The girls are off to a great start and have raised over $19,000.00 to date but need more support from the community to reach their goal. The girls would like to thank the Highland community for all their support so far. If you would like to help these hard-working Girl Scouts, please continue to spread the awareness about this incredible project! They are very excited to see this project continue to flourish, and the Pickleball Courts become a reality! To make a tax-exempt donation to this project, please use one of the following methods: Method #1: Direct mail to the Highland Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 571, Highland, IL 62249 Make Checks Payable: HACF / Pickleball Courts Method #2: Online PayPal donations can be accepted by the Highland Area Community Foundation using the Website Donation Page: http://www.hacf.org/hacf_donate City of Highland All Abilities Playground/Park Pass Through Fund (for Pickleball Courts) This pass through fund was established December 19, 2017 to provide for construction, purchase of various playground equipment, etc. for an all-abilities playground/park. Method #3: Online PayPal donations can be accepted by the Highland Area Community Foundation using the QR Code above.

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.

FOUNDATION’S 29th ANNUAL GRANTS BANQUET OCTOBER 10 T he Highland Area Community Foundation’s 29th annual Grants Banquet is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024, and is once again being sponsored by Busey Bank. Grants totaling over $119,850 will be awarded to support community projects. In the past 28 years, over $1.4 million in grants and scholarships have gone back into our service area. HACF President Bonnie Gelly stated that the Foundation is pleased to have Busey Bank as Corporate Sponsor of our Grants Banquet again this year. Busey Bank has been a dedicated supporter of the Foundation for many years. “As a dedicated member of the Highland community for nearly three decades, we understand and respect organizations like the Highland Area community Foundation and value its mission to meet the needs of the community,” said Carol Porter, Assistant Vice President and Service Manager of Busey’s Highland service center. “We’re proud to once again sponsor this wonderful event and honored to be associated with such a great organization.” This year’s event will be held at the Lindendale Park Ballroom in Highland. Doors open at 6:00 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:30 p.m. Cost is $50 per person, $18 of which is tax deductible. Net proceeds from the event will be used to provide ongoing support for the Foundation. If you have ever wanted to see how great communities are built, this is the night! Join us to help celebrate 29 years of good people doing good things! Further information about banquet tickets and reservations may be obtained by calling the Foundation office at 618/654-4727.

Representatives of Busey Wealth Management attended the Highland Area Community Foundation’s quarterly board meeting on August 20, 2024, to present their annual financial report to the HACF Board. Busey Bank presented the Foundation with a check for $3,000.00 for sponsorship of this year’s grants banquet. Pictured are (from left): Kevin Hemann - HACF Executive Director, Sean Callison & Gail Washenko and Joann Barton – Busey Representatives, and Dr. Bonnie Gelly - HACF President. This will be the 19th year that Busey Wealth Management has sponsored the Foundation’s Grants Banquet. The 29th Grants Banquet is scheduled for Thursday, October 10, 2024, at the Lindendale Park Ballroom in Highland, Illinois. If you are interested in attending the banquet, please email the foundation office at info@hacf.org or call the office at 618-654-4727.

HIGHLAND AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION AND HIGHLAND KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS RECEIVE FIRST EVER INTERNATIONAL DONATION