(Above) Members of Team Agracel recently selected Make-a-Wish Illinois as the recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Agracel Can Do Fund. (Front row, L-R) Kate Bloemer, Sarah Horner, Beth Funneman, Make-a-Wish Illinois fundraising coordinator, Dan Haarmann, Sharon Harper, Janet Grunloh (Second row, L-R) Second row – Lynn Higgs, Arlin Ruholl, Dean Bingham, Jason Kester, Jack Schultz, Todd Thoman, Mark Keller, Jen Dust, Lisa Huston (Third row, L-R) Jason Runde, Mike French, Ryan Witges, Joe Schultz, Andy Foster, Connor Green, Mike Mumm, Jason Vaughn
Team Agracel recently announced that it has voted to support Make-a-Wish Illinois with a $10,000 grant through the Agracel Can Do Fund. Dan Haarmann nominated Make-a-Wish Illinois for the grant because of his involvement with the Buckin’ for Wishes Rodeo, an annual fundraiser held at the Effingham County Fairgrounds in Altamont and coordinated by Beth Funneman, a local Make-a-Wish Illinois wish coordinator and event chair. Proceeds from the rodeo support Make-a-Wish Illinois, which grants wishes to children in Illinois with life-threatening medical conditions.
The Agracel Can Do Fund was established in 2004 as a component fund of Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation. Agracel employees (known as Team Agracel) serve as the fund advisory committee and decide how funds are dispersed. Members of Team Agracel nominate and vote for the nonprofits and projects in their communities which they would like the fund to support. Once they have narrowed the choices to the top three, those organizations pitch their cause to the group. Once the presentations are made, Team Agracel votes for a recipient of the annual Agracel Can Do Grant. To date, Team Agracel has contributed more than $290,000 in grants.
