Now approaching her ninth year at the Illinois CancerCare Foundation, Lauren Obalil serves as foundation/communications coordinator, helping to ensure that local cancer patients have access to clinical trial research, education and patient services. She assists with the development and management of foundation events and programs, overseeing more than 70 corporate sponsor relationships and 50 volunteer leader partnerships, as well as 20 foundation ambassadors.
Obalil was responsible for introducing the CUREageous fundraising event, which has raised more than $1 million for the foundation’s mission over the last nine years, as well as Golfin’ in the Wild, which has brought awareness of cancer research to a new generation via the foundation’s Young Leaders Board. In addition to leading these events, she has been a liaison to more than 20 third-party fundraising events and assisted in planning the Advancing a Cure educational series—just one element of her community education outreach. She also oversees the Trust in Hope program, which provides Thanksgiving meals and holiday gifts to families and children.
As owner and operator of Lauren O Photography, Obalil holds an annual Mother’s Day fundraising event, with all proceeds donated to Illinois CancerCare Foundation. She is a volunteer model for The Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary Fashion Show and a longtime friend of The Dax Foundation, which provides help to the families and children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. She is also a proud volunteer for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop and for Feed My Starving Children, which provides meals to malnourished children.
A 2012 graduate of the Peoria Area Chamber of Commerce Community Leadership School, Obalil received the Leadership Appreciation Award from the South-West Peoria Kiwanis Club for her volunteerism and community service. A proud wife and mother of two, she and her family enjoy supporting their alma mater, Bradley University, at basketball games and other alumni events. iBi
