September 1, 2025 -We Are One Community, the charitable giving fund of local union organizations, distributed 19 grants totaling more than $16,000 to local charities to celebrate Labor Day 2025, and received a suprise grant of their own.
The charities received their awards at the annual Labor Day Picnic following the Labor Day Parade Monday, which included representation from over 20 unions.
Some of the recipents of the grants include Meals on Wheels, Webster Cantrell Youth Advocacy, St Mary’s Hospice, CASA, Good Samaritan Inn, the Boys and Girls Club, and Big Brothers Big Sisters.
Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly and Decatur Building & Construction Trades Council joined forces in 2011 to create the We Are One Community fund, which promotes collective giving and philanthropy among working families. The donor-advised fund is housed at The Community Foundation and the advisory board commits that 100% of all individual donations go directly to local services. They can do this because local unions cover the 1% administration fee and interest is reinvested to the fund.
The We Are One Community foundation also received a $15,000 unrestricted grant of their own from the Heart of Illinois Community Foundation, as well an additional $10,000 for the Mike Shampine Scholarship fund.
