Photo Details (from left to right): Robert Ares (LLCU President/CEO, Dina Stewart (Empowerment Community Service Director), and Tara Murray (Empowerment Executive Director).
Decatur, Illinois, February 20th, 2026 – Land of Lincoln Credit Union (LLCU) made a donation of $50,000 to the Empowerment Opportunity Center on Thursday to officially kick-off a new partnership for a local Scholarship Program. The donation of $50,000 from LLCU will be combined with a $20,000 Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) previously awarded to Empowerment Opportunity Center to be able to offer $70,000 in local scholarship dollars to qualified applicants in 2026. The Scholarship Program is designed to provide educational financial scholarships to qualified low-income individuals who wish to pursue traditional two- and four-year degree programs, vocational programs, or certification programs.
“Many people desire the chance to improve their skills and competencies, or further their education, in order to make themselves more marketable in the job market, or to lead to living wage employment opportunities,” stated Tara Murray, Executive Director of Empowerment. “But many cannot afford the tuition and fees associated with these programs. This is where we can help. Through this donation and our partnership with LLCU, combined with CSBG, we will be able to provide more access to education.”
In this partnership, Empowerment Opportunity Center will manage the application process while LLCU will provide financial literacy education and counseling, something that each scholarship recipient will be required to complete. Scholarship recipients will maintain contact with both agencies throughout their education pursuit to continue to receive financial guidance and counseling.
“A few years ago, when LLCU Senior Leadership and our Board of Directors were constructing a 5-Year Organizational Strategic Plan, we made a pledge that once we reached $500 million in assets, we would implement an Education Assistance Initiative designed to award $50,000 in scholarships to low-income community members,” stated Robert Ares, LLCU President and CEO. “At the end of last year, we achieved that $500 million target and so it was time to fulfill our promise. We are fortunate to have such a great partner in Empowerment Opportunity Center to help us to do so fairly, effectively and efficiently.”
For LLCU, the overall plan is to roll out Education Assistance Initiative in all markets of their service area, adding a new market as LLCU continues to grow. Empowerment Opportunity Center will play an integral role in helping LLCU identify other potential local partner agencies using local connections through the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies.
For more information on the Empowerment Opportunity Center/LLCU Scholarship Program, or to apply, visit www.empowerdecatur.org or email: communityservices@empowerdecatur.org.