East Central Reporter

Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Foundation successfully raised close to $30,000 at the 41st annual Cheers! event. The funds will support the SBL Volunteer Guild Scholarship Program.

The event took place on March 1 at the Foxmore in Shelbyville and attracted nearly 300 attendees. It featured a performance by the band 8South and included a Texas Hold‘em style Poker Tournament with 31 participants. Eric Hutchinson emerged as this year’s grand prize winner, receiving four Green seat Cardinals Baseball tickets valued at $1,500, donated by Roy Schmidt Honda. Raffle prize winners included Jenna Vogel, who won diamond earrings valued at $2,000 from Towne Square Jewelers, and Adam Lehman, who received a Nashville package including a two-night stay at the Graduate Hotel worth $650.

The Volunteer Guild awards scholarships to students within SBL’s 10-county service area pursuing degrees in medically-related fields. Since its inception in 1979, the Guild has awarded over $880,000 to local students.

“Cheers! is a fantastic way to fund scholarships for local students who need financial assistance for their college education,” said SBL Special Events Officer Kim Lockart. “We are grateful to The Foxmore for hosting the event and grateful for those who sponsored and attended.”

SBL extended gratitude to all sponsors supporting Cheers!, including Commercial Refrigeration as this year’s Partner; VIP 1 sponsors such as First Federal of Central Illinois; First Mid Insurance Group; First Neighbor Bank, NA; Ron and Kathlene Harshman; McCarthy Building Companies; Gary and Jeri Morris; Rural King; and Towne Square Jewelers. VIP 2 sponsors included David and Marci Barth; Bergfeld Properties; Dr. Joe and Amanda Burton; Morgan’s Meat Market; and Roy Schmidt Honda.

For more information about Cheers!, contact the SBL Health Foundation at 217-258-2511. For details about the Guild Scholarship Program, reach out to Volunteer Services at 217-258-2500.