United Way - SJ-R weekly column - Greg Birky: The value of our community fund

Originally published Sunday, October 20, 2013 in the State Journal-Register.  Look for weekly United Way columns in the Our Towns section during the annual campaign.
 
Mobilizing a community of volunteers 
By Greg Birky, President of Illini Bank

Illini Bank, a locally owned community bank, I understand firsthand the importance of reinvestment in our community. A thriving, local economy allows our business to grow, provides security for our employees and allows local businesses to reinvest money back into our community.
As president of

However, our local economy can only continue to grow if we, as a community, protect our most vulnerable and invest in the future of our children. For this reason, Illini Bank, like so many businesses in the area, lends its support to United Way of Central Illinois and our Community Fund.

For more than 90 years, United Way of Central Illinois has worked to mobilize resources to meet community needs. One way in which United Way addresses community needs is through its annual campaign to raise money for our community fund. These funds are then allocated, by a panel of local volunteers, to nonprofit programs throughout our community which provide vital services in the areas of shelter, food, healthcare, victim services and education.

Decisions are always made at a local level because...Read More