Stacey Cole - Central Illinois Business Magazine Woman of the Year

• published: 10 Oct 2015
• views: 58

From Central Illinois Business Magazine (http://www.centralillinoisbusiness.com/): 2015 Forty Under 40 Woman of the Year N/A Woman of the Year Stacey LaBrecque Cole assistant director of development, college of ACES, University of Illinois Stacey LaBrecque Cole has a way about her- a passion, a purpose. She has an undeniable presence, and this young professional has put it to good use. "I never turn one person down," she said from her ornate orange and blue office at the college of agricultural, consumer and environmental sciences, better known as ACES on the University of Illinois campus. "I'm human and so are they." Cole spearheaded the "Students Helping Students I Pay It Forward Campaign" that was launched in April of 2014. Kids helping other kids to stay in school by donating a dollar here and a dollar there. She is a 15-year veteran of ACES, serving currently as the associate director of development. Well, it worked. They raised $19,000 in mere weeks, and 87% of those donations were from students. According to Wendy Pinkerton, senior partner of Demeter Communications, Cole is outstanding in raising private support. She secured $1,000,000+ in private support last fiscal year using knowledge of best practices and planned giving vehicles. Cole said the idea hit her at three in the morning. The idea was a culmination of ideas she gathered while dealing with a tragedy she had in her own life with her son Kody, who is legally blind and has albinism. She became a mother at 19, her self-professed, most important job. Being a single mom was hard enough, but Kody's dad was abusive. She knew they were meant for better. She enrolled at Parkland Community College. "I remember being at the bus stop, and there was Lou Henson! We started talking, and he told me something I will never forget," she said. "He said, "Don't ever quit school!" He was a coach. His job was to keep kids in school. He was just doing his job. He will never know how much his words meant to me. They kept me going." Stay in school she did. After graduating from Parkland, with honors, she moved on to the University of Illinois. "I admire Stacey's intelligence and drive that enabled her to graduate Summa Cum Laude from the University of Illinois while raising a special needs son as a single mom, working three jobs simultaneously, and ultimately achieving a very successful career at the University of Illinois," Deborah Tedrick, Cole's prior supervisor and friend.