The Prairieland United Way 2021 kicked off on September 2 with a Jacksonville Area Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at the Morgan County Fairgrounds.
The 2021 United Way campaign theme is “BE SOMEONE’S HERO” and the fundraising goal is $460,000. Prairieland United Way helps local people by raising and distributing funds for health, education and employment-related service programs in Morgan, Scott, Cass and northern Greene counties.
The campaign leadership team consists of the board president, campaign co-chairs and the executive director. President of the United Way board this year is Lisa Stambaugh who works at CNB Bank & Trust, N.A. Stambaugh, joined the board in 2015.
The 2021 campaign co-chairs, Brian and Amy Gillespie, are huge advocates of Prairieland United Way. Both lifelong residents of Jacksonville, They are committed to the community.
Brian Gillespie, a driver/engineer at the Jacksonville Fire Department, is an alumnus of Jacksonville High School. He attended Illinois Wesleyan University and has completed many programs and certifications through the Illinois Fire Service Institute. He is currently the secretary/treasurer for Jacksonville Firefighters Local 637, he has also been a coach or assistant coach for local youth soccer teams. In addition, he has been involved in the Jacksonville Kiwanis Club and looks forward to the annual Pancake & Sausage Day.
Amy Donovan Gillespie is a reading specialist in Jacksonville School District 117. She is a graduate of Illinois College, with masters degrees from Western Illinois University and Olivet Nazarene University. Each summer, she directs a church camp for high school-aged youth and has worked with the Prairieland United Way by serving on allocations panels since 2007. In the community, she enjoys volunteering for local agencies – such as cleaning for TEOSA or the Western Illinois Youth Camp and assisting with Midwest Youth Services summer roundtable.
The Gillespies are both involved in their church, Central Christian Church, and were awarded the Sweethearts of the Year award in 2019. Brian has previously been board chair and Amy has served as chair of evangelism, while both are former youth group leaders.
The Gillespies are the proud parents of three wonderful children – Evan, Drew and Anna – whose activities take up much of their spare time! When not attending sporting events, listening to band performances or giving children rides to and from various lessons and activities, the two enjoy traveling and doing a variety of outdoor activities.
They are looking forward to a successful campaign this year and cannot wait to see how the community steps up to Be Someone’s Hero!
Prairieland United Way helps more than 35,000 people annually by funding 28 agencies and 37 programs. For more information about United Way, please contact Executive Director Karen Walker at 217-245-4557, or stop by the office located at the Jacksonville Municipal Building, 200 W. Douglas Ave., Jacksonville.
