by Dave McKinney, in the Aug 3, 2009 Chicago Sun-Times
In June, former Illinois Gov. Jim Edgar -- who left office in early 1999 -- dipped into his still-sizable campaign fund to write a check for $25,000 to the Mahomet Public Library near his Downstate home.
It was the largest single private donation the library has ever gotten. And it represents a continuing philanthropic push by the ex-governor, funded by the nearly $680,000 he still has in his campaign fund more than a decade after finishing his political career.
When Edgar left office, he took $1 million of his $2.8 million campaign fund and gave it to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in what was thought to be one of the largest charitable donations made by an Illinois politician.
With the remaining money, Edgar has kept on giving to charities. So far, Edgar has devoted more to not-for-profit groups in 2009 than in almost every other year since he made that $1 million gift to Ronald McDonald House, which focuses on sick children and their families. Since January, Edgar has given $25,000 to the C-SPAN-like Illinois Channel and $10,000 to the Eastern Illinois University Foundation, which represents his collegiate alma mater.
Full Article: http://www.suntimes.com/news/watchdogs/1697567,CST-NWS-watchcorner03.article
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