Partnerships with local labor organizations have long been an important part of the relationship with United Way of Champaign County. Over the years, United Way has provided valuable resources to local labor groups, and in turn, these organizations have been strong partners in supporting United Way’s mission.
Penny joined United Way of Champaign County in March 2026 as the Community Services Liaison to the local labor community. In this role, she partners with local unions to share information about available resources and to deepen engagement between United Way and labor organizations.
Penny is a graduate of Millikin University, where she studied Organizational Leadership.
She lives in Shelbyville with her husband, Jim, and their chocolate Lab, Samson. Penny has three grown children: her son, James (Ashley), who lives in Shelbyville with their five children, and her daughters, Jennifer (Kyle) and Jerrica, who live in Champaign. Her children are active supporters of United Way and have all participated in the ECL program.
Penny especially enjoys spending time with her family. In her free time, she can often be found attending baseball, football, and basketball games, listening to a wide range of music, and singing with her family band, The Hood Family Band.