Kankakee, IL United Way Gets Surprise $50K Gift at Celebration

Kankakee, IL – More than 150 community members gathered in Kankakee County on Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026, as United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties celebrated local volunteers, businesses, programs and disaster relief efforts.

According to United Way of Kankakee & Iroquois Counties, the organization’s 2026 Annual Celebration was held at Deer Ridge Barn under the theme “UNITED We Thrive, Grow, Rebuild.”

One of the evening’s major recognitions went to Meijer, which received United Way’s Emerging Champion Award. The organization cited Meijer’s support for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the Emergency Response Fund, food security efforts and assistance for families affected by the March 10 storm.

United Way also recognized its leading workplace fundraising campaigns for fiscal year 2026. Corporate supporters included ITW, Riverside Healthcare, Iroquois Federal, Nicor Gas, Aqua Illinois, Peoples Bank of Kankakee County, Dow Chemical, ComEd, Peddinghaus and Kankakee Community College.

Volunteers were another focus of the celebration. United Way reported that 310 volunteers contributed more than 1,270 hours during the fiscal year.

The evening ended with an unexpected financial boost when Nicor Gas presented United Way with a $50,000 gift. United Way said the contribution will support its continued investment in local impact programs and disaster relief efforts throughout Kankakee and Iroquois counties.

United Way currently supports 22 programs across 16 local nonprofit organizations.

The organization said those partnerships are aimed at addressing community needs by bringing together nonprofit providers, businesses, donors, volunteers and local institutions.