This President’s Day, February 17, 2019, Midway Village Museum welcomed visitors for a special event, Presidents and Patriots. This unique event featured reenactors portraying President Abraham Lincoln and first lady Mary Todd Lincoln, and these special guests gave a little extra pomp to an already exciting announcement. Today, Midway Village announced the finale of a successful fundraising campaign to complete the Carroll Starr Endowment Challenge.

The Carroll Starr Endowment Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Illinois (CFNIL) in order to help local nonprofits grow endowments that will provide financial resources to support their operations into perpetuity. Upon successful completion of the Challenge, CFNIL matches $1 for every $3 raised by an organization, up to $50,000.
Midway Village successfully raised $150,000 during their Challenge; with the match from CFNIL that brings the total balance of this endowment to $200,000.

The finale celebration included a check presentation from Midland States Bank, which donated $15,000 to Midway’s Challenge to help bring them to a successful completion.

“Midland States Bank is excited to be a part of this preservation of history. We understand that our vitality as a community bank depends on the well-being of the communities we serve,” said Don Banks, Regional Market President for Midland States Bank.

“The endowment fund is important for the museum’s future,” said David Byrnes, President, Midway Village Museum. “Preserving our history creates a legacy for future generations; an endowment creates a legacy to ensure Midway Village Museum can present educational programs in the future, too.”

CFNIL congratulates Midway Village Museum on the successful completion of their Challenge! Nonprofits and community members interested in learning more about the Carroll Starr Endowment Challenge may visit https://www.cfnil.org/grants/carroll/.