Board members of the Eastland Area Community Foundation (EACF) hosted a series of seminars on Wednesday, September 3, for Eastland area residents to learn more about how charitable giving can help build strong communities. Board Chair Dan Lamoreux led the conversation on ways residents can get involved with the EACF, and attendees learned about the EACF’s history, the Foundation’s community impact, ways they can give, and how they can benefit from the new Illinois Gives Tax Credit Act. The Illinois Gives state tax credit provides a substantial tax incentive for donors to contribute to eligible permanent endowment funds held at Qualified Community Foundations supporting Illinois charities and projects. Contributions help fund programs and projects that directly impact Illinois residents and improve local communities.

The EACF is hosted by the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, a nationally-celebrated foundation that works to empower communities and ignite generosity across seven counties in Eastern Iowa as well as portions of Northwest Illinois.

For more information or ways to get involved contact Dan Lamoreux at danlamoreux12@gmail.com or visit lanarkfoundation.org.

In 2018 a local couple were exploring and searching for a way to create a perpetual tribute to their daughter who had perished at 48 years of age after a prolonged and valiant battle with colon cancer and simultaneously support their local community. The Eastland Area Community Foundation (EACF) provided a way for them to perpetually manage their funding support with an endowment –The tsmJ Colorectal Cancer Detection Endowment– established under the auspices of the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque. An EACF Ambassador also suggested the Carroll County Public Health Department (CCPHD) as a service agency alternative. They could potentially manage and deliver services to the citizens of Carroll County Illinois with the funds generated. This led to the creation of a Memorandum of Understanding between the couple and the Carroll County Public Health Department. The Memorandum details how the funds generated either through the Endowment or by direct contribution are to be deployed for the residents of Carroll County through activities focused on the detection of colorectal cancer.

From inception of the CCPHD colorectal screening initiative to the end of calendar year 2025, approximately $25,000 has been gifted to the CCPHD for activity deployment for the citizens of Carroll County Illinois. Two of the initiative awareness media developed for the endeavor are shown (Fig one and two). More detail regarding associated CCPHD activities can be found at their website (CCPHD.com) and more factual detail regarding the origin and mission of the initiative at the tsmJCS.com website.

All of us at the EACF are deeply saddened by the passing of our founder and dear friend, Floyd Roberts. Through his vision and passion, he established the Eastland Area Community Foundation, leaving behind a lasting legacy that will continue to enrich the lives of many for generations to come. We will forever be grateful for his dedication and commitment, and his impact will continue to inspire us all. Recently we began our transition from the Lanark Area Community Foundation to the Eastland Area Community Foundation with Floyd’s blessing. In true fashion Floyd had a very positive attitude and excitement for this new chapter of our foundation. This foundation simply would not exist without his vision and his unwavering commitment.

In our first 10 years the Lanark Area Community Foundation has worked hard to make a difference in our area by establishing a home for charitable giving, grant funding, and resources for our friends and neighbors. In order to better serve our area and promote a sense of local pride the LACF is proud to announce that we are now known as EACF! The Eastland Area Community Foundation stands ready to help boost quality of life in the Lanark, Shannon and Lake Carroll area! Stay tuned or better yet ask us how to join in our mission of Connecting People Who Care With Causes that Matter.