David Hilst’s family struggled when he was a child. His father had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, and died when Hilst was only 8 years old. In spite of medical bills making finances tight and having a brother with Down syndrome, Hilst said, “My mom raised three boys with grit and grace. So things were pretty tough, and we were lucky to have help from those around us. The Springfield community was there for us. Now that I’m in a position to give back, I feel like it’s not just a choice – it’s a responsibility. It’s also what makes me happiest. I truly believe you don’t find fulfillment through money – you find it through service.”
Early this year, Hilst, the owner of an American Family Insurance office in Springfield, decided to do something significant. “I’ve lived in Springfield my whole life. I care deeply about this city, and I saw firsthand that donations were down for a lot of local charities. I knew if I wanted to be the kind of business leader I could be proud of, I had to give more than just lip service.”
Saying that he wanted to be an example, not just a supporter, Hilst decided to challenge himself and his small team to donate $1,000 a day to a local charity for 30 straight days.
“It was about doing our part and showing what it looks like when local business leaders step up in a real way,” he said. “The goal was to bring attention to local charities doing great work in our community and to inspire other local businesses to give.”
Hilst and his team posted their challenge on Facebook and requested charity nominations. “People from every corner of Springfield and the surrounding area wrote in,” said Hilst, “nominating causes close to their hearts and sharing stories of hardship, hope and resilience. We heard from teachers, parents, pastors, social workers and even kids. It reminded me how connected people are to these local missions and how badly they want to see them thrive. This wasn’t just a business initiative – it was community-powered from day one.”
Once they got started the momentum became too powerful to ignore, said Hilst. Every day they heard from more people and more causes. They ended up donating $37,000 in the initial 30-day period and continued finding ways to give even after the initial challenge ended.
“Truthfully, once you start donating, talking and working with these organizations, you realize they need more than you can give. At this point, we’ve given $55,000 and expanded the list well beyond that initial 30 charities,” he said.
Hilst and his team also wanted to do more than donate funds. They served dinner at Compass for Kids, attended events, volunteered, shared platforms and built partnerships with organizations.
“David has been so helpful for our community,” said Jean Bruner Jachino, director of strategic partnerships with United Way of Central Illinois. “We are grateful to have a partner who truly understands the importance of giving back. David doesn’t just give money. He volunteers time and talents to local organizations. His commitment to making our community stronger is inspiring.”
United Way is benefiting from a sponsorship for its Escape Room Challenge, set to open in September, which is an interactive exercise that shows how United Way serves families after a devastating natural disaster. Additionally, Hilst and his team are making sure backpacks for local children who are in foster care get filled before school starts.
Brian Ganz of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Illinois recalled Hilst reaching out to them. “He talked about his passion for our program and the Springfield community in general. He knows the Springfield community is better when Big Brothers Big Sisters is growing and healthy.”
Aside from sponsoring a recent golf fundraising event, Hilst is helping connect BBBS “with people who he knows have a passion for helping the youth of Springfield reach their full potential through one-on-one mentoring,” said Ganz. “We are trying to build up our network of volunteers that can help grow our fundraising and recruitment efforts. He is helping connect us to the right people.”
For Hilst, philanthropic efforts are rewarding both in big and small ways. “We were able to donate a good portion of money to provide the training for a golden retriever to become a service dog,” Hilst said. “This service dog went to a young boy in a wheelchair who writes to us and sends us pictures. Knowing that a child now has more confidence, more independence and a best friend because of a donation we made – that’s powerful.”
“I believe Springfield is a beautiful place with strong people,” Hilst added. “But we need more action. Business owners have to do more. If every business committed to giving what they could, to building up their people and serving their community, we’d have a different city in five years. My challenge to others: don’t just build a business – build something that makes your city better.”
Janet Seitz is a local communications professional, writer and artist. To share your story, contact her at janetseitz1@gmail.com.
This article appears in SBJ September 2025.