IMRF honors Matteson resident's commitment to volunteerism
Second of seven volunteers to be honored by IMRF during 2015
The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) announced today that it is recognizing its active member Hilda Marshall for her outstanding volunteer work as a mentor with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago at the Urban Programs West branch. Marshall is the second of seven IMRF members that the organization will honor during 2015. All seven were nominated for recognition as part of IMRF's Year of the Volunteer contest, which is spotlighting volunteerism within IMRF's membership. IMRF will celebrate all seven volunteers in December at its Oak Brook headquarters, and announce one "Volunteer of the Year." A staff donation of $1,000 will be made to the winner's preferred service organization.
Marshall, a Matteson resident and an active IMRF member with Leyden School District 212, began volunteering at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago at the Urban Programs West branch in 1996. Currently, Marshall volunteers at the Kelly Hall YMCA branch.
As a volunteer, Marshall serves as a mentor coordinator and also mentors young children. The Kelly Hall Mentoring Program has about 50 adult mentors who are matched with at-risk youth. When selecting mentors, the program takes into consideration the mentors' background, education, and experience, so that they can find the right mentor for each child. The mentoring program supports all ages of children; from young children to high school youth. The underlying focus of the mentoring program is education and literacy. Through the mentoring program, Marshall helps these young individuals and children improve their grades in the classroom, improve tardiness, apply to college and even look for scholarships.
"Hilda is a great example of an IMRF member who has positively influenced so many young individuals. As a mentor, she provides these young individuals with a sense of direction and encouragement."-IMRF Executive Director Louis Kosiba
Marshall's commitment to volunteering goes beyond just serving as a role model to these young individuals. She goes above and beyond to connect with them on an emotional level and establish long-lasting relationships.
"As a volunteer, if you are giving of your time to someone or something else; it will be you that receives the most in return," Marshall said. "Yes, I have sacrificed countless hours year-after-year as a volunteer, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Helping these young individuals see a brighter future and getting them off of the street is a gratifying experience."
IMRF Executive Director Louis W. Kosiba thanked Marshall for her dedication to improving the lives of young individuals and families on the west side of Chicago. "Hilda is a great example of an IMRF member who has positively influenced so many young individuals," Kosiba said. "As a mentor, she provides these young individuals with a sense of direction and encouragement."
The Illinois Senate has declared 2015 the "Year of the Volunteer" in Illinois. The statewide initiative - sponsored by dozens of Illinois organizations including the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, Generations Serving Generations, and the Illinois Department on Aging - aims to increase volunteerism and strengthen Illinois' network of service organizations. IMRF is supporting the effort through promoting the "Year of the Volunteer" and available service opportunities; through an online survey that is gathering data on volunteerism in Illinois; and through IMRF's "Year of the Volunteer" story profile contest.
About IMRF
The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) was created by the Illinois General Assembly. Since 1941, IMRF has partnered with local units of government to provide retirement, disability and death benefits for public employees. With a funded status of about 93.1 percent and nearly $34.7 billion in assets, IMRF is well-funded and sustainable. Today, IMRF has more than 405,000 members and serves nearly 3,000 different units of government, including towns and villages, libraries and park districts, and counties and school districts (non-teaching personnel). The average member who retired in 2014 is receiving a monthly pension of $1,439. For more information, visit this page.
