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Good as Gold

University of Illinois Springfield’s annual Good as Gold Ceremony spotlights local volunteers and nonprofit organizations. The event is a collaboration among the UIS Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center, the Junior League of Springfield and United Way of Central Illinois. Distinctions were awarded to various businesses, students and staff. Nonprofit organizations and community members nominate outstanding […]

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PNC invests in children

PNC staff believe it’s never too early to invest in a child’s future. In 2004, PNC employees launched Grow Up Great, a $500 million initiative that prepares children from birth through age 5 in underserved communities for success in school and life. It has supported more than 10 million children across 22 states and Washington, […]

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Helping others reach the American dream of home ownership

Larry Robinson is constructing a better life for others one house at a time. He founded Springfield’s J&L Properties in 2010 and recently formed J&L Foundation to focus on revitalizing poverty-stricken neighborhoods, particularly on Springfield’s east side where he grew up. “Most of my properties are in lower-income neighborhoods,” said the 41-year-old Robinson, “and about […]

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Motivated by faith and family

Quigg Engineering Inc. has served clients since 2006 and “provides a progressive and thoughtful approach to planning, engineering and surveying, always remaining aligned with clients’ needs, to provide professional, quality and timely engineering and consulting services,” according to the company’s website. Engineers innovate and solve problems, but beyond highway and bridge design, land surveying, environmental […]

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A worldwide company that gives back locally

Locally founded Bunn-O-Matic Corporation is a worldwide beverage equipment company, and its coffee makers are commonplace globally. But there’s another aspect to what they dispense, and that’s corporate citizenship. As is stated on BUNN’s website, “At Bunn-O-Matic, being a good corporate citizen is embedded in our primary mission, ‘To act with purpose to make a […]

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Serving an aging population

In addition to holding church services and engaging in mission work, Calvary Church operates a day care, a private Christian school from pre-K through high school and a thrift shop which uses its proceeds to benefit children’s causes locally and globally. According to Ryan Mobley, Calvary’s groups and discipleship pastor and business administrator, “Part of […]

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The Samaritans of HSHS St. John’s Hospital

Volunteers can be the life force of an organization. HSHS St. John’s Hospital’s volunteer group, the Samaritans, provide vital services that add to the comfort of patients and their families while offering an opportunity to give back to the community. Katie Sundby, who until recently served in the Children’s Miracle Network at HSHS St. John’s […]

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Computer Banc serves our community and beyond

Since 1999, Springfield’s Computer Banc has served as a depository for donated computers which are refurbished and distributed to nonprofits, schools and the underserved at a reduced cost. The organization is also an authorized nonprofit Microsoft refurbisher, meaning it is officially licensed to repurpose computers with up-to-date Windows software and is the largest nonprofit Microsoft-registered […]

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Illinois Women in Leadership is taking a service trip to Kenya

Illinois Women in Leadership has been empowering area women for two decades, and the nonprofit group has about 200 members in the Springfield area. Its IWIL credo promotes professionalism and leadership through purposeful inclusion, education, mentoring, networking and community involvement. Through its history, IWIL members have mentored many people and made an impact in various […]

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Women for Women

When former Springfield Mayor Karen Hasara visited Hilton Head, S.C., nearly 20 years ago, she was inspired by a group she came across. “I saw a photo and article about a women’s giving circle there and thought it would work here, she recalled. “It seemed like a good fit for us in the Springfield area […]

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