Retiring John Penn donates $160,000 to local children's charities

MikeMatejka

08 Mar, 2023

Stay 4’s Paul Segobiano and Liz Skinner, the Promise Council’s Karen Hanson and Linda Bowman, react as John Penn announces each organization will receive $85,000, proceeds from Penn’s retirement dinner.

Two McLean County non-profits that aid school children received a substantial boost with $85,000 each from Laborers International Union of North America retired officer John Penn.

Penn retired January 31 as LIUNA’s Midwest Region manager and as a LIUNA vice-president. A retirement party was held on January 26, but Penn only allowed it if it would aid local charities.

The two programs receiving $85,000 were the Promise Council and the Stay 4 project. Promise Council works within McLean County schools to identify specific needs that children face. This can include buying shoes, underwear and socks so a child can continue in school. The Council’s current budget is approximately $60,000, so this donation more than surpasses their annual expenditure. They annual spend about $15 per child in need.

Stay 4 works with schools statewide, identifying promising young people who might drop-out. The young people are offered scholarships if they complete high school, plus Stay 4 aids them with immediate needs and mentoring to ensure they can remain in school.

Penn is a McLean County LIUNA Local 362 member and completed 49-years as an union elected officer.