IEA Region 1 will present more than $8,000 to 4 local Harrisburg area organizations | Events

CARTERVILLE, IL (KFVS) - Region 1 of the Illinois Education Association, based in Carterville, will be presenting checks worth more than $8,000 to four local Harrisburg area organizations on Wednesday, December 5 at the Region Council holiday dinner.

According to the association, the money was collected through donations from IEA members around the state in response to the tornado that ripped through Harrisburg in February 2012.

The checks will be distributed at 7 p.m. at the Kokapelli Golf Course, 1401 Champions Dr., Marion.

Recipients of the money will be:

The Ferrell Scholarship -- $2,262 – Jaylynn Ferrell, 22, a nursing student, was the youngest of six people killed in the early morning tornado and her family has set up a scholarship fund to be awarded to future nursing students. Jaylynn’s mother, Patty, a teacher and IEA member from Pope County is slated to be on hand to receive the check in her daughter’s honor.

Fowler/Bonan Foundation -- $2,000 – The Harrisburg-based foundation formed by Dale Fowler of Harrisburg and Bill Bonan II of Benton, provides free, new clothing and shoes for underprivileged children based on a referral system from local schools. A foundation representative will be at the event.

Harrisburg Kiwanis -- $2,000 – The Kiwanis Club does a variety of wonderful projects in the area, including the Helping Heroes Program, which gives money to projects that protect emergency response personnel. The Kiwanis also will have a representative at the dinner.

Harrisburg Fraternal Order of Police -- $2,000 – The FOP is made up of all Harrisburg police officers. Among the programs they fund is Shop with a Cop, which allows less fortunate children to receive clothes and toys for Christmas. The children and their parents shop with a police officer just before Christmas.

According to Eric Gregg, Harrisburg Mayor, these organizations were all vital in helping victims of the tornado.

IEA Region 1 says they are proud to be able to facilitate the donation of this money to each of these well deserving organizations and are very thankful for all they have done for the community and will continue to do in the future.

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