THE FOLLOWING IS A CHARLOTTE ANNE RUSSELL CHARITABLE TRUST RELEASE
Charlotte Anne Russell, Hoopeston Illinois native and graduate of John Greer High School leaves a legacy of generosity. Since its inception in 1988, the Charlotte Anne Russell Charitable Trust (CARCT) has donated just under 12 million dollars to its beneficiaries. This year alone
$716,000 was given to the following organizations:
Hoopeston Carle Hospital- $251,080.00
Hoopeston Area High School- $251,080.00
Hoopeston Public Library- $128,040.00
Smith College- $25,700.00
University of Illinois Foundation- $20,700.00
Purdue University- $20,700.00
Lakeview College of Nursing- $18,700.00
Carle Hospital in Hoopeston and Hoopeston Area High School have each received 4 million dollars since the CARCT’s inception. These funds have been used at Hoopeston Area to provide courses that would not otherwise have been available to students, for technology purchases, and improvements to the STEM lab. Hoopeston Area Superintendent Robert Richardson stated, “our students, staff, and community are thrilled to have educational opportunities presented through the interests of the Charlotte Anne Russell Charitable Trust.”
Richardson said, the trust is “making a difference in the lives of our students.” Charlotte Anne Russell’s donation to Hoopeston Community Memorial Hospital, now owned by Carle, is used for the recruitment of nurses and nursing staff and to provide equipment and
facility improvements.
Hoopeston Area Public Library has also been a beneficiary of the trust. Library Director Tricia Freeland: “We are very fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries of the Charlotte Anne Russell Charitable Trust. Without the funding of this trust, the Hoopeston Public Library would be unable to provide the level of support necessary to meet our community needs. The money has been used for building maintenance and improvements.
In addition, Freeland says, “With the increase in minimum wage these funds continue to help us provide valued resources and programming that benefit our community. Without this Trust, we would not have the funds to support the staff needed to do so.”
Educational Institutions have also benefited from Russell’s generosity. The University of Illinois Foundation and Purdue University, receive funds to be used for scholarships for students from Vermilion and Iroquois Counties in Illinois and Warren and Benton Counties in Indiana who are studying the college of agriculture. Lakeview Memorial Foundation, the foundation for Lakeview School of Nursing in Danville Illinois is also a beneficiary of Russell’s trust. Nursing
students in the same four counties qualify for scholarships through CARCT.
Russell’s alma mater, Smith College in Northampton Massachusetts, has also received generous donations from the trust over the last few decades. Scholarships to Smith College are available to any student in the four county area. With these funds, students can study anything they choose at Smith College.
In the trust document, Russell was very clear on how the money to each beneficiary should be spent. Charlotte Anne Russell believed strongly in the value of education at every level. Providing experiences that may not otherwise be available was her goal. Through the Charlotte Anne Russell Charitable Trust, she has contributed to the quality of education and created educational opportunities to countless numbers of students. Through her donations to the public library and community hospital the community as a whole has benefited greatly
