The McDonough County United Way's pocketbook is a little bit thicker thanks to the 2026 Power of the Purse, which was held last month at Park Place in Macomb.
According to United Way Director Courtney Powelson, this year's event raised $66,624.84. The highest bid of the night was $8,500 during the Saturday VIP Live Auction, which was led by Kyle Kelso and his team.
'Both nights were successful - we had a wonderful turnout for Petite Power of the Purse Friday, and Saturday’s VIP Live Auction exceeded expectations. I am continually inspired by the generosity of this community. Power of the Purse truly shows what can happen when people come together for a common purpose,' Powelson said. 'It takes so many individuals - from sponsors and volunteers to attendees and advocates - to make an event like this possible, and I am incredibly grateful for each person who played a role. The impact of that generosity reaches far beyond the event itself and helps so many individuals and families throughout McDonough County.'
The money raised is used to support the 19 local, nonprofit partner agencies that serve McDonough County residents: Advocacy Network for Children; Alternatives for the Older Adult; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Boy Scouts; Camp Big Sky; CASA; Colchester Senior Center; Early Beginnings - Coop Parenting; Girl Scouts; Eagle View Transportation Program; Loaves and Fishes; North Central Behavioral Health; Prairie State Legal Services; Samaritan Well; Wee Care Day Care; WIRC Good Food Pantry; WIRC Victim Services; YMCA Home Delivered Meals; and YMCA Rock Steady.
'We cannot express how grateful we are to everyone who made this weekend so special,' Powelson added. “Every dollar raised stays local and directly supports individuals and families throughout our community.'
The next McDonough County United Way event is the Ladies Golf Classic, which will be held June 5 at Macomb Country Club. For those already looking ahead, Power of the Purse 2027 will be held March 5-6 at Park Place (Petite on Friday, VIP Live Auction on Saturday).
About the McDonough County United Way In addition to providing funding to 19 local nonprofit partner agencies, the McDonough County United Way supports the community through several ongoing initiatives. The organization partners with Macomb Schools to maintain Care Closets, which provide hygiene and health-related products to students who may need additional support.
The United Way also continues to promote early literacy through its Imagination Book Club, which provides books to local children to help build strong reading foundations at home. In addition, monthly reading events are held at Prairieview in Macomb and Greenbriar in Bushnell to further encourage literacy and engagement among young students.
The mission of the United Way is to fight for the health, education, and financial stability of every person in every community. Supporting the McDonough County United Way ensures that donations stay local and directly impact those in need.
