Community Foundation Elects New Board Chair & Members

Dr. Douglas Palmer, of Canton, and Julie Shepard, of Quincy, join the Community Foundation as new board members. 

Palmer is the President of Culver-Stockton College. “I am excited to join with a group of community-minded and service oriented leaders as a Trustee of the Community Foundation,” said Palmer. “The capacity-building work of the Foundation is truly inspiring.”

Shepard is the Administrative Coordinator of Community Health Innovation at Blessing Corporate Services. “I am excited to have the opportunity to serve on the Community Foundation Board of Directors,” said Shepard. “I am excited to be a part of an organization that is an important partner in providing support and leadership to address complex community issues in our region both today and into the future.”

Also at the Community Foundation’s annual meeting, Lance Grady, of Mt. Sterling, was elected board chair. Grady has served on the board of directors since 2015 and was elected as vice-chair in 2020. He is the owner of L. Grady Realty and The Grady Agency in Mt. Sterling. 

"I am humbled to serve as the board chair for The Community Foundation,” said Grady. “As we implement our new strategic plan, I am excited to see the continued and strengthened impact we can have on the twelve counties we serve. The work that our organization gets to be a part of is such a vital component of making our region a better place and I couldn’t be more honored to be a part of it!”

The Board of Directors also recognized and thanked four retiring board members for their service. Lydia Ahrens, of Hannibal, retires after serving since 2013, most recently serving as chair from 2020-2022. Michael Costigan, of Quincy, retires after serving since 2019. David Fox, of Carthage, IL, retires after serving since 2016. Gordon Ipson, of Hannibal, retires after serving since 2016. 

The Board of Directors also includes:

• Pat Benson of Hannibal, founder of Benson Financial Group
• Bill Durall of Pittsfield, retired Air Force 
• Chelsea Fellinger of Canton, Lewis County assistant prosecutor
• Amy Graham of Carthage, director of the Carthage Community Development Corporation
• James Hansen of Quincy, partner at Schmiedeskamp Robertson Neu & Mitchell LLP
• Dave Hetzler of Quincy, Interim Dean of Career and Technical Education at John Wood Community College
• Amy Lehenbauer of Palmyra, office & cattle operations manager at Lehenbauer Farms
• Corey Moon (Vice Chair) of Edina, associate circuit judge for Missouri’s 2nd Judicial Circuit
• Brian Nation of Barry, vice president at Central State Bank
• Debbie Niederhauser of Quincy, retired educator 
• Lyle Paben of Bowen, bank president of Bank of Advance 
• Kamryn Schrepfer (Treasurer) of Quincy, certified public accountant at Gray Hunter Stenn LLP
• Kristin Spear, of Quincy, owner of Paws at Home

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The Community Foundation Serving West Central Illinois & Northeast Missouri builds permanent charitable funds to assist area nonprofits and communities. 

Its mission, “connecting people who care with causes that matter,” is achieved by gathering funds, growing them through investments, then granting to nonprofit organizations, causes or communities that mean the most to its donors.   

Since 1997, the Community Foundation has made more than $12 million in grants. It serves 12-counties: Adams, Brown, Hancock and Pike in Illinois and Clark, Lewis, Marion, Ralls, Pike, Knox, Shelby and Monroe in Missouri.  

The Community Foundation has IRS 501(c)(3) status, and contributions made to the Community Foundation generally qualify for the maximum allowable deductions for income and estate tax purposes.  

For more information, call 217-222-1237, go to mycommunityfoundation.org, or www.facebook.com/mycommunityfoundation.