LeMons legacy: Today, tomorrow, forever

Nellie LeMon embodied the generous, resilient spirit of her DeWitt community. Raised in foster care, she spent her adult life working in the restaurant business and serving as a caregiver to a local family. Before she died in 2009, she ensured that spirit would live on by working with the LincolnWay Community Foundation to make a gift and establish an endowment fund that will meet community needs forever.

“She was very forward-thinking,” says Pat Henricksen, executive director of the Community Foundation. “She understood that the community’s needs in 2009 would be different than those in the future.”

The Foundation leverages Nellie’s endowment to provide annual grants to nonprofits in the 12 communities it serves. In 2020, the Foundation awarded $20,000 to projects that support youth with bike helmets, preschool enrichment items and a new inclusive playground. The fund also made it possible to support community improvements like the DeWitt Community Library expansion and the Referral Center building campaign.

Whether investing in the Clinton County Fair Grounds, maintaining local museums or improving ballparks and playgrounds, the Foundation is always working to understand community needs and make charitable connections that pave the way for unique solutions.

The Foundation has helped build stronger communities in rural Clinton County for more than 30 years. These efforts are made possible by local generosity, a dedicated board, a committed staff member, and the support of the Forever LincolnWay endowment fund. This fund will help ensure the Foundation can continue assisting donors like Nellie and supporting community improvements today, tomorrow and forever.

Contact Pat Henricksen to learn more and make your impact for generations to come!