IMRF Honors Top Volunteer

IMRF Honors "Volunteer of the Year" with $1,000 Donation

Hilda Marshall of Matteson is one of seven IMRF members recognized in the "Year of the Volunteer"

The Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) ushers in the traditional season of giving with a “thank you” for some worthy volunteers – a special breakfast and a $1,000 staff donation to one honoree’s preferred service organization.

IMRF member Hilda Marshall, a resident of Matteson, Ill., is IMRF’s “Volunteer of the Year.” In recognition, IMRF staff will donate $1,000 to the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, where Marshall volunteers. She is one of seven IMRF members who were nominated for recognition as part of Illinois’ “Year of the Volunteer” initiative, a statewide effort to increase volunteerism.

Marshall’s love for children goes far beyond her regular work duties at Leyden High School District 212. Marshall makes a 35-mile trip from her home in Matteson to mentor teens at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, Kelly Hall branch, on Chicago’s West Side.

"I have sacrificed quite a bit of time as a volunteer, but I wouldn't have it any other way," Marshall said. “If you give your time to someone or something else, it will be you who receives the most in return.”

Mentoring since 1996, Marshall leads the Kelly Hall YMCA’s Y-Pals program, blending a focus on education and literacy with fun and special field trips. The program, which targets at-risk youth, supports children of all ages – from the very young through high school youth. Mentors help the children improve their grades in the classroom, improve tardiness, apply to college and even secure scholarships.

"Hilda is a great example of an IMRF member who has positively influenced so many young individuals by sharing her time and talent,” said IMRF Executive Director Louis W. Kosiba. “We’re thrilled to honor her service.”

IMRF, the best-funded statewide pension plan in Illinois, is recognizing Marshall and the six other outstanding members at its Year of the Volunteer Award Ceremony at IMRF's main office, 2211 York Road, Oak Brook, on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015.

Comprised of a wonderful blend of both retirees and active employees, IMRF's other member-volunteers will each receive staff donations of $100 to their preferred service organizations, in gratitude of their generosity to their communities.

The other honorees include:

• Marilyn Campbell, Georgetown, Ill., for volunteering with the Danville VA Hospital
• Scott Garrison, Lake Zurich, Ill., for volunteering with the Ancient Oaks Foundation
• Shelly Kellums, South Elgin, Ill., for volunteering with the Illinois Chapter of Concerns of Police Survivors
• Marianne Marlow, Rockford, Ill., for volunteering with Rockford Public Schools
• Domingo Mata, Carpentersville, Ill., for volunteering with Friend, I Shall Help (F.I.S.H) Food Pantry
• Sherron Nance, Carterville, Ill., for volunteering with Herrin and Memorial Hospitals

This celebration is the culmination of IMRF’s year-long “Year of the Volunteer” collaboration with several organizations. Sponsored by Serve Illinois, Generations Serving Generations, Robert R. McCormick Foundation, the Illinois Department on Aging, the Corporation for National and Community Service, the Illinois Board of Higher Education, the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois Community College Board and more than 100 organizations and businesses committed to civic engagement, IMRF says this is merely the beginning.

“Illinois is ranked 27th for volunteering in the United States. After meeting IMRF members like Hilda, we know that our state can do a lot better,” Kosiba said. “At IMRF, we are committed to continuing to support programs that link Illinoisans with service opportunities in 2016 and beyond.”

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.