FCAI Central Chapter
AURORA, Ill., Jan. 31-- At a January meeting at The Lariat Steak House in Peoria, officers and trustees of the Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois (FCAI) Central Chapter were elected for 2008. The announcement was made by outgoing president Rick W. Vandegraft, RW Vandegraft Painting & Decorating, Normal. Elected President was Bernie Wright, President of Bedrock Painting in Normal; Chapter Vice President will be Kurt Hand, Superintendent, Vogue Painting, Chillicothe; and Secretary-Treasurer will be Todd Johnson, a Sales Rep with Sherwin-Williams in Peoria. Officers serve two-year terms. Those elected to trustee positions were: Mike Chiras, PC Painting & Decorating, Washington; Bobbie Taylor, Mid-Illinois Company, Peoria; and Adam Vandegraft, RW Vandegraft Painting & Decorating, Normal. Chapter trustees are elected to serve one-year terms. This chapter holds an annual golf outing with proceeds benefiting local charities such as the Children's Home and Habitat for Humanity McLean County. In 2007 the chapter donated $5,000 to Illinois State University's Milner Library Tech Department. And, for more than five years they have been awarding $1,000 scholarships to deserving students attending area junior colleges.
FCAI's Central Chapter primarily meets in the Peoria area and represents a 19-county area in central Illinois that includes Bureau, LaSalle, Putnam, Stark, Marshall, Kankakee, Iroquois, Ford, Livingston, McLean, Woodford, Marshall, Peoria, Tazewell, Mason, Fulton, McDonough, Schuyler and Hancock. They hold monthly dinner meetings where they network with peers and listen to industry experts present the latest developments in the finishing contracting industry from safety issues to painting and the latest wallpapering techniques.
FCAI Launches Community Care Project
Grant Requests Sought From Social Service and Non-Profit Agencies
Peoria, IL — July 3, 2008— The Finishing Contractors Association of Illinois (FCAI), Central Chapter, is proud to announce a new program to assist area social service agencies and non-profit organizations – the Community Care Project.
Each year, FCAI donates approximately $20,000 to organizations for restoration, building projects, equipment replacement, and educational needs from the industry advance fund (Northern Illinois Painting and Drywall Institute) to community groups. This year, the group is launching the Community Care Project to award grants to social service agencies and non-profit organizations. Non-profit agencies must be established under the 501(c)3 status. Grant requests will be accepted from organizations in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford, and McLean counties. “We are pleased to offer this program to local organizations. FCAI has a strong history of community involvement and financial support to central Illinois groups,” says president, Bernie Wright. “Some of our past contributions have been directed to the Children’s Home, Baby Fold, Peoria Historical Society, Habitat of Humanity, and area universities. We also sponsor several scholarships at Illinois Central College for students in construction-related programs.”
Grant requests are to be limited to projects, worked needed, or purchases related to building upgrades or restoration, maintenance projects, equipment replacement, or educational needs. A request form may be obtained by calling Chris Shay at 309-687-4790. Grant request forms must be submitted by September 1, 2008 to and can be mailed to:
FCAI Community Care Project
c/o Christine L Shay, dba/design & marketing
4410 N. Miller Ave, Peoria Heights, IL 61616
For more information, please call Bernie Wright at 309-261-3453.