joedy@enrichingourcommunity.org

Joedy Hightower joined the Effingham County Community Foundation and the Mattoon Area Community Foundation as executive director in April of 2004. As half-time director for each foundation, Hightower managed operations for both organizations for four years. In August 2008, an agreement was reached by the board of directors of the two community foundations to establish a collaborative structure to provide leadership assistance and operational support for member foundations as they promote philanthropy and build endowment to serve their individual communities. Hightower was appointed President of the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation in January 2009 and continues to manage the activities of both foundations as well as the development of new partnerships in the region.

Prior to 2004, Hightower was chief professional officer of the United Way of Effingham County for eight years and has been active in the non profit sector for the past 20 years. Other professional positions in her career include human resources and employee development management posts in the manufacturing industry.

Joedy Hightower serves on several community advisory boards focused on non-profit and community development. She represents Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation and its member foundations with membership in the Council on Foundations, Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations, Midwest Community Foundation Ventures, and Forefront.

Joedy can be reached at 217-342-5413.

amanda@enrichingourcommunity.org

As Development Officer Amanda Lessley determines the best strategies for supporting and sustaining the mission of the Community Foundation and its 130 affiliated funds. She coordinates annual events, donor stewardship programs and provides training assistance to advisory board leaders who are building endowments in communities in Southeastern Illinois. 

In 2002, Lessley graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a Bachelor of Science in Speech Communications. Since earning her degree, she has dedicated her career to the non-profit sector and has more than 12 years of experience in non-profit development and fundraising. She currently serves on the Jasper County Community Foundation Advisory Board and coordinates 100 Women Who Care Jasper County, a new giving circle designed to engage women in local philanthropy. Amanda and her husband, Brett reside in Newton, Illinois with their two daughters.

Contact Amanda Lessley at 217.342.5409

audra@enrichingourcommunity.org

As Marketing Coordinator, Audra is responsible for the media and public relations, social media marketing and design. In addition, Audra oversees the administration of the Community Foundation’s scholarship funds. This entails working with scholarship committees, counselors, students and application reviewers throughout the scholarship cycle.

Prior to joining the Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation staff, Audra worked for the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC) as a member of the ISACorps in the division of College Access and Outreach.

Audra graduated from Greenville College in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication: Public Relations with a double-major in English Literature. During that time, she completed a congressional internship, held multiple positions on the college radio station executive staff and acted as an on-air radio personality. She received her Masters of Arts in Communication Studies from Eastern Illinois University in 2015. Audra and her husband, Noah, reside in Olney, Illinois.

Contact Audra by phone at 217.342.4988.

connie@enrichingourcommunity.org

Connie oversees office management, accounting, gift and grant processing and reporting as well as administrative support for giving circles and corporate philanthropy programs.

Prior to joining Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation, Connie worked approximately 22 years as administrative manager for Southeastern Container, a manufacturing cooperative under ownership of Coca Cola bottling companies. During that time, she handled office administration, human resource duties and payroll functions. Connie also worked as a billing auditor for World Color Press corporate offices until their departure from the Effingham area.

Connie graduated from Beecher City High School and Sparks Business College in Shelbyville. Connie and her husband, Gene, reside in the rural Beecher City/Loudon Township area.