Eaton’s Lincoln plant presents $110,000 in funding to local not for profits

[April 29, 2022]    On Tuesday morning, Eaton Corporation’s Lincoln Manufacturing Plant hosted its annual grant award ceremony giving away $110,000 to local not for profit organizations in the community.

The awards were presented by plant manager David Clarkson and staff member Michelle Evers.

Evers is a member of the grant selection committee and began the day thanking all those who had come to witness and participate in the ceremony. She spoke about Eaton Corporation on the whole saying that the company, across its many locations gives out grant funds to not for profits within their communities annually. This year, the corporation would be giving away more than $9,000,000. In Lincoln, the plant would be giving out $110,000 to seven local organizations.

Evers introduced Clarkson and turned the event over to him. He began by thanking those in attendance for coming, then moved quickly to thanking the selection committee who had worked hard not only to choose this year’s recipients but also to secure the money that would be given out.







He thanked the recipients noting the value that they add to our local community through their work, and said he was proud that the company could support those efforts.

The first recipient was Community Action of Central Illinois. CAPCIL was awarded $60,000 to be used in the agencies senior nutrition and transportation programs. The check was presented by Evers and Clarkson and accepted on behalf of CAPCIL by Jolie Lercher, Becky Remmert and Brianne Titus.



Chester-East Lincoln School received $2,500 to purchase replacement Chromebooks for students. The award was accepted by Ashley Aper of CEL.



The Central Illinois Veteran’s Commission was awarded $25,500 that will be used in a future construction project of the Veteran Tiny Homes in the city. Accepting the check were CIVC board members Annie Coers, Marsha Fernandes, Patty Becker and Joe Schaler.

The Lincoln rural Fire Protection District will use their $6,500 award from Eaton to purchase thermal imagining body cameras for the firefighters. The award was accepted by LRFPD Chief Chris Buse.

Immanuel Lutheran Church members Jamie Voyles and Kay Bauer accepted a check for $3,000. The money will be used for the church’s Food for Thought program that provides school children with food they may consume over then weekends when they don’t have access to local school breakfast and lunch programs.



Lincoln Police Officer and School Resource Officer Tim Butterfield accepted a check for $4,500 for the Lincoln Police Department. The money will be used to purchase Stop the Bleed kits for Lincoln police officers.



The final award went to the United Way of Logan County. The $5,000 award will be used to advance the United Ways Dolly Parton Imagination Library program. The check was accepted by United Way Administrator Patty Becker and board members Stacy May, Nichole Folkman, Sheila Nelson and Vicky Wachendorf.

Before gathering everyone together for a group photo, Clarkson acknowledged that Mayor Tracy Welch was on hand for the awards.



Welch spoke briefly saying that he wanted to acknowledge and thank all the award recipients as well as Eaton for all the work they do to make our community better. He said that the money and the work spoke to the generosity of our community and the desire to serve those in need.

Welch was invited to join in for the group photo. With award ceremony completed, it was time for Evers to say thank you before staff headed back to their various work stations for the rest of their day.

The selection team at Eaton collects applications for grant funding each year. To learn more about how to apply for annual funding for your not-for-profit contact the Eaton offices in Lincoln.

[Nila Smith]