•August 9, 2017•

C.E.F.S. showcased their annual accomplishments in helping people and changing lives during the 52nd board of directors meeting held in Effingham August 3.

Jean Finley, board chairperson of the C.E.F.S. board of directors, stated, “The agency celebrated the achievement of customers, the tremendous work of the volunteers and board members, the hard work and dedication of the employees, and the community spirit of the community partners.” Further, chairperson Finley stated, “The agency recognized the 2017 family of distinction, the Miriam Ciro family of Effingham, which made a tremendous level of personal growth and achievement towards achieving economic security.” Chairperson Finley added, “Miriam Ciro’s successful participation in our agency programs exemplified our efforts in helping people and changing lives.”

C.E.F.S. Chief Executive Officer Kevin Bushur stated, “During the 2017 annual board meeting 20 individuals and families were recognized who had overcome personal obstacles in achieving self-sufficiency. In addition, the agency recognized 10 organizations, community partners, and businesses that provided an outstanding level of community service to our agency during the past year.” Bushur further stated, “The agency honored nine outstanding volunteers for providing excellent volunteerism, civic engagement and community service to the agency. Two individuals were also honored with a Paul D. White Lifetime Achievement Award for a lifetime of dedication to helping those in need.”

C.E.F.S. awarded $8,000 in educational scholarships to three individuals pursuing post-secondary education degrees. The educational scholarship funding was provided by the Community Services Block Grant Program from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

Busher presented the 2017 annual report that highlighted the agency accomplishments achieved during the past fiscal year. CEO Bushur indicated, “Our Community Action Agency has met the mission of the agency by effectively serving the needs of people in the service delivery area.”

“The agency fulfilled the promise of opportunity by educating individuals and families, by empowering people to help themselves and each other and by improving their lives,” Bushur said. “We believe that people should have the opportunity to achieve economic security, and our agency programs and services made a real difference in the lives of residents in our service area.”

He added that 16,612 people in 7,650 unduplicated families received agency services, with the assistance of 137 local community partners and with the help of 3,910 volunteers providing 105,934 volunteer hours, the agency was able to provide local coordinated efforts to benefit people in need.

C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation is a comprehensive human service provider in  the service delivery area providing direct services, referrals and linkages to address the issues facing limited-income residents and providing local community solutions to meet those needs.

For more information about C.E.F.S. Economic Opportunity Corporation, visit the agency website at www.cefseoc.org or call the C.E.F.S. central office in Effingham at 217/342-2193 or contact your local county C.E.F.S. Outreach field office.