July 03, 2025
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Bureau County United Way kicks off campaign season

Goal set at $107,000

By Kim Shute

From left, Kristin Mangrich, board member, Sara Hudson, board president, Tyler McCombs, board vice president, Denise Ihrig, Bureau County Senior Center director, Don Dirks of Prairie State Legal Services, Rick Wilkin of Bureau County Red Cross, Victoria Yepsen, executive director of Bureau County United Way, Tracy Wright of Gateway Services, Lynn Delaney of U of I Extension Bureau County, Dawn Reglin, board member, Francis Morse of U of I Extension Bureau County Unit Council member and Beth Standley, board member. (Kim Shute)

PRINCETON — Bureau County United Way is once again kicking off its annual fundraising campaign.

Executive Director Victoria Yepsen, along with her board of directors, will be working to reach goal, which has been set at $107,000.

“We work to annually fund our nonprofit agencies that serve the community – giving everyone in Bureau County an opportunity to reach their greatest human potential,” Yepsen said.

“We have been having fun this summer doing some pre-kickoff events including lemonade stands with time volunteered by Princeton’s youth, which were sponsored by Milk Moustache, Downtown Liquidation and Heartland Bank and Trust. We’ve partnered with United by Craft, Barrel Society, Blue Jay Way Records, Dog House of LaSalle, Flo’s on Pulaski and La Katrina and we’ve done Shop for United Way sponsored by Elegant 1 Boutique, which are all new events,” Yepsen said.

The official 2022 Kickoff Celebration was at Hawg House Saloon in Princeton on Saturday, Sept. 25.

Other events in the works for this year’s campaign include Britni’s Birthday Give-Back at Fresh Find’s Hallmark store, donating proceeds of sales from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5, and a Halloween Family Movie Night with Apollo Theater on Thursday, Oct. 21, with time and ticket sales to be announced.

“This is my first full campaign year. I began in October of last year and I have been so honored to take on this role and help raise funds for our agencies,” Yepsen said.

“As I reflect on my experience with BCUW this past year, it has been challenging, but rewarding. Starting new as the director during a pandemic was difficult, but the board of directors believed in me and we hit our 2021 goal together. I also feel fortunate to be in this role and see the giving people living in Bureau County. In a year of much division and fear, our community members can come together and share a common goal — to help neighbors in need.

“I also continue to be blown away by what our agencies provide to the people of Bureau County. Their service inspires me the most and I feel very proud to be a part of something so crucial to the place we all live in,” Yepsen said.

BCUW helps fund the following agencies: Braveheart Children’s Advocacy, Bureau County American Red Cross, Bureau County Food Pantry, Bureau County Senior Center, Center for Youth and Family Solutions, Freedom House, Gateway Services, Girl Scouts of Central Illinois, Prairie State Legal, Second Story Teen Center, University of Illinois Extension Bureau County, Youth Service Bureau and W.D. Boyce Council of Boy Scouts.