The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation showcased leading supporters –including its first board chair – at Tuesday’s second annual SRCCF Honors in Ottawa.
The first board chair, Jay McCracken of Ottawa, was awarded the Beckett Lifetime Achievement Award by SRCCF co-founder Pamela Beckett.
Speaking of McCracken’s board tenure, Pamela said, “He didn’t just lend his name – he lent his heart, his wisdom, and his belief in what we could build together. I am forever grateful for that belief and the added blessing of a cherished friendship as well.
“It is my great honor to present Jay McCracken with the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of service, his devotion to education, his stewardship of history, and his unwavering belief in the power of community.”
McCracken was joined at the event by his wife Kim and daughter Megan Rolfs.
Other honorees included Jay LeSeure for Media Excellence; Flags of Freedom in Princeton for “Fund of the Year,” and Karen and Nelson Nussbaum of Ottawa, “Benefactors of the Year.”
LeSeure, who began his radio career at age 15, will celebrate his 41st year at WCMY in Ottawa on Nov. 1. He worked jobs in West Virginia, Missouri and Pennsylvania before returning to Ottawa for good in 1985.
In 2015 he began interviewing Pamela Beckett about the Starved Rock Country Community Foundation. In all, LeSeure said he has done more than 130 programs on the Foundation.
SRCCF President Fran Brolley said, “Thank you, Jay, for continuing to champion our Foundation. Your contributions to local news, the community and our Foundation are vast.”
Flags of Freedom was selected as the Fund of the Year for contributing over $500,000 to its SRCCF fiscal sponsorship since 2017. The organization fundraises to maintain the four giant flags at the intersection of Interstate 80 and Route 26 in Princeton, Illinois.
“Organization, hard work, discipline, and above all, great leadership has led to their success,” said Brolley. “Thank you Flags representatives for all you’ve accomplished – not for yourselves – but to honor the sacrifices of veterans and demonstrate Princeton’s pride in our nation.”
Flags was represented by Tom and Darlene Root, Rodney and Terry Johnson, Ann and Victor Register and Brad Oeder.
Benefactors Karen and Nelson Nussbaum made one of the largest donations in SRCCF history in 2023. Beneficiaries of their donor advised fund include the Illinois Valley Community College Foundation, Illinois State University’s ag program, St. Columba, Camp Tuckabatchee, SRCCF, and many other nonprofits.
“Karen and Nelson provide critically important donations to their favorite organizations – and instead of waiting for their estates to award gifts, they’re experiencing the joy of giving now,” Brolley said. “We are honored that Karen and Nelson chose SRCCF to fulfill their philanthropic objectives.”
