(EFFINGHAM, Illinois – November 12, 2025) Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation is pleased to announce the Siemer Milling Endowment for Youth Leadership Development has awarded ten grants totaling $30,900 to the following:
- Effingham CUSD Unit 40 received $3,500 for the First Annual Student Leadership & Business Connection Day.
- St. Francis Church received $2,000 for the St. Francis Youth Ministry Fund for Catholic Heart Workcamp.
- Crossroads Montessori School received $2,500 for the Crossroads Student Leadership & Service Program
- The Study Shoppe, Inc. received $10,000 for their after-school program.
- Mid-Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters received $2,000 for Programming and Youth Education.
- Crisis Nursery of Effingham County received $1,000 for their upcoming Rock for Kids 2026 event.
- CASA for Kids received $3,000 for their program of Self Advocacy for Special Interests.
- Aspire and Tristar Academy received $3,000 for Trauma-Informed Youth Leadership class.
- Imagination Library of Effingham received $1,500 for their Library Expansion.
- Effingham CUSD Unit 40 received $2,400 for the Multimedia class material tools.
The Siemer Milling Company Endowment for Youth Leadership Development, a fund of the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, was established in 2006 to provide a permanent source of funding to programs in Effingham County that support young leaders’ development. Since its inception, the Siemer Milling Company Endowment has contributed more than $350,000 to nonprofit organizations serving Effingham County.
For more information, contact Alex Pleasant at 217.342.4988 or alex@southeasternillinois.org.
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Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation was established in 2009 as a result of a merger between Effingham County Community Foundation (est. 1999) and Mattoon Area Community Foundation (est. 1980). Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization managing permanent and non-permanent assets for the long-term benefit of communities in southeastern Illinois.