(EFFINGHAM, Illinois – November 14, 2023) Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation is pleased to announce the Siemer Milling Endowment for Youth Leadership Development has awarded eight grants totaling $20,816 to the following:

· Mid-Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters received $5,000 for Programming and Youth Education.

· FBLA (Eastern Area) Stewardson-Strasburg received $5,000 for the Future Business Leaders of America – Eastern Area Leadership Conference.

· Arts Connection of Central Illinois received $2,500 for the Summer Youth Theatre Camp 2024.

· Aspire and Tristar Academy received $2,250 for Trauma-Informed Youth Leadership class workbooks.

· Imagination Library of Effingham received $5,066 for the start-up of books.

· Effingham CUSD Unit 40 Mentoring Program received $1,000 for the Dressed for Success program.

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, please contact Alex Pleasant, CEO/President, at 217-342-4988 or alex@southeasternillinois.org.

Pictured L – R: Julie Flack, Kimberly Jansen, Amber Kidd, Becky Meyers, Megan Tylka, Katie Siemer, Stacey Rios, Rhonda Wines, Briar Smith and Kristen Bertrand.

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Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation was established in 2009 because of a merger between the Effingham County Community Foundation (est. 1999) and the 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.