Simmons Cancer Institute in Illinois and John Stoddard Cancer Center in Iowa receive donations from 10th annual Drain for the Cure fundraiser
SPRINGFIELD, IL/DES MOINES, IA – Springfield Plastics, Inc. has donated more than $850,000 to Simmons Cancer Institute at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois, and John Stoddard Cancer Center of UnityPoint Health in Des Moines, Iowa, over the past 10 years through its Drain for the Cure fundraiser.
“Springfield Plastics is surrounded by generosity on all sides, from our team members to our customers and communities,” said Steve Baker, President, Springfield Plastics. “We are truly thankful for every single donation made on behalf of Simmons Cancer Institute and John Stoddard Cancer Center during Drain for the Cure. We do this in honor of our family, friends, employees, and partners lost to cancer and to support those still fighting their own battles.”
Springfield Plastics donated $159,655.65 to Simmons Cancer Institute, and John Stoddard Cancer Center received $27,219.20 from the proceeds of the 2023 Drain for the Cure fundraiser. Donations were made by employees, customers, vendors, business partners, and friends of Springfield Plastics.
Donations were also collected through an initiative held by Dale Himstedt of D&H Drainage and Shane Gray of S&J Gray Trucking called Grain for the Cure in which Himstedt and Gray picked up donations of grain right from the field of any farmer willing to drop a few bushels into their dump wagons. Himstedt and Gray then took the grain to a local elevator to be sold in the donors’ names. Grain for the Cure has been going since 2021 and continues to grow.
“What Dale and Shane have brought to us through Grain for the Cure is amazing,” said Baker. “They are using their own time and resources to help raise money in the fight against cancer in our own community, and we could not be more grateful.”
This year, several Central Illinois-area schools got involved in Drain for the Cure. Auburn, North Mac, and Tri-City High Schools each hosted Game for the Cure events, where attendees could purchase Drain for the Cure merchandise and proceeds were donated to Drain for the Cure. Auburn (vs. Williamsville) and North Mac (vs. Pana) dedicated a football game and Tri-City (vs. Edinburg-South Fork) a volleyball game to raise money and awareness for Drain for the Cure. Tri-City also held a penny drive. Additionally, the Northwestern High School FFA helped Springfield Plastics with its Drain for the Cure fence signage installation and made a financial donation to the cause.
All proceeds from Drain for the Cure will go toward patient care and cancer research and prevention at Simmons Cancer Institute and John Stoddard Cancer Center.