SPRINGFIELD, IL – The University of Illinois Springfield, Junior League of Springfield and the United Way of Central Illinois honored more than 40 Sangamon County volunteers, businesses and organizations during the 16th annual Good as Gold Ceremony on April 22 in the UIS Student Union.

The Good as Gold Ceremony was started in 2008 to honor people, businesses and organizations who freely give their time and talents to make Sangamon County a better place to live.

Business Honor Roll

A total of 11 Sangamon County businesses were named to the Business Honor Roll. The honor roll recognizes businesses that have made giving back to our community a priority. Awards were divided into three categories: businesses with 1-10 employees, 51-150 employees and more than 150 employees. One business in each category received the honor of Golden Distinction.

Businesses honored with 1-10 employees include AlignLife of Springfield, Bloom Hospitality and Catering, Formea Insurance Group, Illinois Local, Rose Aesthetics and Wellness Clinic and The Wakery. The Golden Distinction was awarded to Illinois Local, an organization that connects and supports independent businesses and entrepreneurs. Members network and build friendships, and many successful collaborations have been born out of the organization.

In the 50-150 employee category, KEB was honored with the Golden Distinction award. KEB supports a diverse array of local organizations such as the United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity, the Pregnancy Care Center and numerous others. KEB said it is “guided by a deep-rooted commitment to community engagement and the passions of our employees.”

Bank of Springfield (BOS) received the Golden Distinction award in the category of businesses with more than 150 employees. Other businesses honored include Ameren Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Illinois and Concordia Village. In 2023, BOS supported more than 200 different organizations through a combination of employee volunteer participation, sponsorships and charitable contributions. These organizations included Habitat for Humanity, United Way, The Motherland Gardens Community Project, Special Olympics, Animal Protective League and the King’s Daughters Organization.