BOURBONNAIS, Ill. — This Giving Tuesday, University of Illinois Extension in Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties invites you to consider a gift that will help strengthen communities and provide direct impact locally.
"A gift to Illinois Extension is a gift to the community," said Marilu Andon, Illinois Extension county director serving the tri-county unit. "Every dollar helps us bring research-based education and practical solutions to local families, youth, and businesses. When you give to a local fund, 100% of your gift will be stewarded in the county where you donate. Your support ensures we can continue to empower healthier communities, stronger economies, and brighter futures right here at home.”
Ways to support Illinois Extension
Give to the local 4-H program
Give to the local 4-H program in Grundy, Kankakee, or Will counties and support programming directly in your county. For more information, visit go.illinois.edu/GKWGive.
Give to the local Master Gardener and Master Naturalist programs
Give to the local Horticulture Use Fund and support Master Gardener, Master Naturalist, and Master Composter programs directly in Grundy, Kankakee, and Will counties. For more information, visit go.illinois.edu/GKWGive.
Give to support statewide efforts
Do you prefer your gift to have a statewide impact? Illinois Extension offers the following ways to donate:
- Did you know it costs just $20 per member to join 4-H, yet for some families, this fee can be a barrier to participation? Give through the Illinois 4-H Foundation and select from a variety of different funds that need your support.
- View the state Illinois Extension giving page to see statewide initiatives such as the Annual Fund, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, and more.
Give a larger gift, remember Illinois Extension in estate planning, and other ways to give
Whether you are looking for tax savings, want to give cryptocurrency, want to remember Illinois Extension or one of our programs in your estate planning, or something else, Illinois Extension can connect you with an expert who can explain the process, make recommendations, and provide all the tools you need. Get in touch with the director or communications team to discuss your support: go.illinois.edu/gkw-staff
Why give to Illinois Extension
"Your gift to Extension in Grundy, Kankakee, or Will County will directly impact local communities and help us make a meaningful impact," says Andon. "You can rest assured that any gift will be stewarded in your local communities or program areas in accordance with the wishes that you expressed."
Illinois Extension’s staff has been embedded across the state’s 102 counties for more than 100 years, translating university research, delivering more than 28,000 annual educational programs with over 800,000 program attendees.
With the support of partners, Illinois Extension and the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences at the University of Illinois are investing in the development of programs, resources, and educational efforts across the state.
Independent reports estimate Illinois Extension provides $603 million in annual economic and functional benefits—nearly 10 times its operating budget. Your gift helps sustain this incredible return on investment.
WRITER: Anthony Warmack, communications and marketing coordinator.
SOURCE: Marilu Andon, county director.
MEDIA ACCESS: For press inquiries, contact Anthony Warmack, warmacka@illinois.edu, 217-244-5813. Want to keep in touch with news from Illinois Extension? Sign up for press updates.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.