Champaign, IL - Today Urban League of Champaign County announced the kickoff of a special energy assistance project called the Illinois Fan Club.  The project is the result of a partnership between The Urban League of Champaign County the Illinois Community Action Association (ICAA), the Lt. Governor Patrick Quinn and the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services.  The Illinois Fan Club is designed to provide relief to senior citizens and the people with disabilities who need fans.

At a Springfield news conference, held at the home of a recipient of one of the fans, the Lt. Governor Quinn said, “This is a ‘fan club’ everyone should join.  We are hoping the funds donated can be matched with individual and corporate donations to bring some precious relief to our neighbors who may be sweltering behind closed doors.  Let’s heed the lessons learned from Illinois’ killer heat wave eleven years ago when more than 700 people died from heat related illness.”

Quinn announced a $10,000 grant from the Office of Lieutenant Governor to ICAA to help provide free fans to senior citizens and people with disabilities in downstate Illinois communities.  He also appealed to Illinois residents to donate to the Illinois Fan Club, and to take time to check in on elderly family members and neighbors.

Tracy Parsons, Urban League of Champaign County, President/CEO said, “Our share of the resources is only $625, but we are hoping this will be an opportunity for businesses and individuals to also make a donation to us so we can provide this much needed service to the community.”  Anyone who wishes to make a local donation can contact the Urban League at (217)363-3333.

Quinn echoed these sentiments by saying, “The $10,000 grant is seed money from the Governor’s Rural Affairs Council to enable ICAA to get the Illinois Fan Club program up-and-running.  My hope is that the grant can be used by local Community Action Agencies to leverage corporate and individual donations as well as donations of fans for distribution through Community Action Agencies throughout the state.”  Eligibility will be based on financial and health needs.

John Colgan the Vice President of ICAA said, “Following the Lt. Governor’s lead, we will also be receiving $10,000 from the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services for a total of $20,000.  We hope these two donations will trigger additional contributions from people all over the state of Illinois.”

Mr. Parsons said, “As the local agency providing energy assistance to needy people, we are very pleased to be part of this partnership.  We understand the need, and we are always eager to help our local community.”

In 1995, more than 700 died during one of our nation’s worse heat wave.  With a 126 degree heat index on July 13, 1995, power outages affected tens of thousands.  Many of the victims were senior citizens who had no fans or anyone to look in on them during the heat wave.  A landmark analysis of the tragedy – “Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago” by Eric Klinenberg – found that a decline in social and family networks were a major cause of the disaster.

“This summer we’ve already experienced several days over the 90 degree mark here in Illinois and the dog days of summer are yet to come,” Quinn said.  “Join the Illinois Fan Club and a grateful senior citizen will become a member of your fan club.”

“The Illinois Fan Club exemplifies the good neighbor spirit needed to prevent suffering during these brutal summer months,” Quinn said.  “No elderly person should be sitting alone in a suffocating room without a fan and a good neighbor who drops by every day.”

The program begins Monday, July 17, 2006. The Urban League offices open at 9:00 a.m. and fans will be issued on a first come first served basis.

For more information about the Illinois Fan Club, you can call The Urban League of Champaign County at (217) 363-3333.