Heartland fundraising campaign exceeds goal

Posted on April 30, 2015
Campaign chairmen Alan Chapman and Julie Dobski announce the results of Heartland Community College's "American Dreams: Local Results" campaign Thursday. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)
Campaign chairmen Alan Chapman and Julie Dobski announce the results of Heartland Community College’s “American Dreams: Local Results” campaign Thursday. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)

By Joe Ragusa

NORMAL – The Heartland Community College “American Dreams: Local Results” fundraising campaign earned almost $400,000 more than expected.

Campaign chairman Julie Dobski says money and help came from all over the community.

“The best thing about this campaign was we had lots of people,” Dobski said. “We did a lot of planning. The staff helped with a lot of groundwork. We were all able to work as a team, and that’s what brought it all together.”

Some of the money will go to scholarships, like the one given to Wendy Johnson, who is graduating this month.

“Going to college is not an easy task and to have somebody believing in you helps you believe in yourself,” Johnson said. “Even in those moments where you feel like you don’t have another ounce to give.”

The campaign started in February 2014 and has raised nearly $7.7 million for the college.

Colleen Reynolds contributed to this story.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…