MATTOON — The 38th annual Cheers! recently raised more than $38,000 to support the Sarah Bush Lincoln Volunteer Guild Scholarship Program, which benefits area students pursuing degrees in healthcare-related fields.
“The generosity of our community is simply amazing. While the SBL Health Foundation wasn’t able to offer an in-person Cheers! event, community members still recognized the importance of the Guild Scholarship Program. We are honored to distribute these funds to deserving students.” Kim Lockart, SBL special events officer, said.
Mattoon Public Works director addresses Mattoon Kiwanis
The Foundation extends its gratitude to everyone who supported this year’s Cheers! event.
Event sponsors included American Boiler & Mechanical, Corbin Capital Partners LP, First Neighbor Bank, Mary L. Gaskill, Jean Jones, Linda Keeler, Monitor Sign Services, Brian & Jan Murphy, John and Edith Terwilliger, and Mattoon Area Family YMCA.
The Foundation also raised funds by selling raffle tickets for a chance to win a Sony PlayStation 5 Disc Console & Wireless Controller, donated by Colt Gutheridge. And a second raffle offering a chance to win diamond earrings valued at $1,650 donated by Towne Square Jewelers of Charleston. Michelle Butler won the gaming device and Kim Burgess won the earrings.
Since 1979, the Guild scholarship program has awarded more than $770,000 to provide scholarships to students in a 10-county area who are pursuing their education in medically related fields.
For more information about the scholarship program, contact Tracy Haddock, volunteer services director at Sarah Bush Lincoln, at 217-258-4180. For more information about Cheers! contact Kim Lockart, special events officer in the SBL Health Foundation, 217-258-2511.
Recognize these Mattoon-area locations?
Darby Pipe Shop
1984: Larry Kniepkamp weighs custom-blended tobacco for a customer of the Darby Pipe Shop. He custom builds briar pipes for his customers.
Depot
1980: Mattoon railroad depot.
Dodge Grove Cemetery
1987: This city backs its patriotic reputation with plenty of granite and bronze. For its size, 20,000 population, Mattoon has an unusually large number of monuments dedicated to those who died or served in wars. There are about 20 such memorials in or near Mattoon.
Dodge Grove Cemetery mausoleums
1988: the last major repairs on the mausoleum in Dodge Grove Cemetery wre done in 1938. Since then, time and vandals had taken their toll.
Dodge Grove Cemetery tombstone
1973: A small white marker tells all that is known for sure about the occupant of this grave in an isolated corner. This year the small Confederate flag that usually stands next to the American flag was missing. The reason for its disappearance is not known.
Friendship Garden
1987: Do Homann displays one of the garden’s fixtures. For 25 years Friendship Garden has been a haven for a variety of birds, trees, flowers and plants. The garden founded by Helen Douglas Hart, takes up a quarter-city-block south of downtown.
General Electric
1984: Tami Shull, as facilitator, keeps the discussion on track in the quality circle at the General Electric Lamp Plant in Mattoon.
General Electric
1987: General Electric’s Mattoon Lamp Plant.
Housing Trailers
1945: This is just one of the trailer camps that have been shoe-horned into any sort of vacant space Mattoon can find.
Hulman Warehouse fire
1981: The former Hulman & Co. warehouse near downtown Mattoon was destroyed.
