Decatur Unions Grant $15,600 To Local Charities

DECATUR, IL - We Are One Community, the charitable giving fund of working families, will be distributing $15,600 in grants to 22 local charities to celebrate Labor Day 2020.  The presentation will be done at the Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly monthly meeting at 6:00 PM on August 27th at the IBEW Hall. 

Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly and Decatur Building & Construction Trades Council joined forces in 2011 to create the We Are One Community fund, which promotes collective giving and philanthropy among working families.  The donor-advised fund is housed at The Community Foundation and the advisory board commits that 100% of all individual donations go directly to local services.  They can do this because local unions cover the 1% administration fee and interest is reinvested to the fund.

The all-volunteer advisory board, made up of union members who give to the fund, usually present the grants at the annual Labor Day picnic in Fairview Park, however, this year’s picnic was cancelled due to COVID-19 so the presentations will take place prior to Labor Day.  We Are One Community grant distribution is just another way that unions add to the value of our community.   This year’s charity recipients include:

$2,000:  Old Kings Orchard Community                 $750:  Big Brothers Big Sisters

$2,000:  Good Samaritan Inn                                     $520:  Boys & Girls Club

$1,500:  Meals on Wheels                                           $500:  Decatur Power Tumblers

$1,000:  Decatur Family YMCA                                  $500:  Salvation Army

$1,000:  Habitat for Humanity                                  $500:  CASA

$1,000:  Boy Scouts                                                       $500:  John C. Ellis Lodge #17

$1,000:  Child First Center – Advocacy                    $500:  Children’s Museum of Illinois

$1,000:  Webster Cantrell Hall

An additional $1,330 in designations will be mailed to the following agencies:  American Cancer Society ($260), American Red Cross ($260), St. Mary’s Hospice ($260), DOVE ($250), Shriners Hospital ($100), Special Olympics ($100), and Macon County Animal Shelter ($100).           

In addition to community partnerships, the distribution of grants will kick off a new year of giving to the We Are One Community fund.  Local unions will be encouraged to host fundraising campaigns and promote payroll deduction with employers.  Donations collected in the 2020 calendar year will be granted on Labor Day 2021.

All donations are tax-deductible.  To contribute to the charitable fund of working families, mail to:  We Are One Community, c/o The Community Foundation, 101 South Main St., Suite 400, Decatur, IL  62523.  “LIKE” us on Facebook.com/weareonecommunity.  For more information, contact We Are One Community Chair - Amy Rueff, 217-433-5126.

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