Cheers to a well-deserved honor for Larry Johnson
Nobody was surprised – except perhaps Larry Johnson – when he was announced as the Stephens Philanthropy Award winner at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Community Foundation for the Land of Lincoln in September.
For us, it’s hard to imagine anyone more deserving of this award than Larry. When you think of a “behind the scenes” force in this community, you think of Larry Johnson. He is a visionary who connects people with causes he instinctively knows they will care about and then convinces them to commit their time and resources.
Larry has an uncanny ability to recognize a need and immediately know who could help. Maybe you’ve been approached by him. If so, you know what we are talking about. He combines a persuasive personality with a relentless approach to create enthusiasm for philanthropy in this community.
Perhaps you’ve heard of The Fat Ass 5K and Street Party for Charity? It is an actual foot race that offers beer, ice cream, doughnut and corndog stations along the route as well as live entertainment. Larry and his family were invited to volunteer by the event's mastermind, Paul Schafer, back in 2008. It has become a family tradition ever since. The group created a contagious energy around a philanthropic cause and brought people together to raise funds in a fun, irreverent way. Over time they have given hundreds of thousands of dollars to charity.
Related story:Acknowledging his vision and energy, Larry Johnson receives Stephens Philanthropy Award
He’s also worked tirelessly on behalf of the Illinois Military Museum, the Knights of Columbus, St. Martin de Porres and dozens of other area nonprofits.
We speak from experience when we say Larry has a way of seeing and analyzing clearly where you are as a nonprofit. He then shares with you where he thinks you should be!
In the case of the former Sangamon County Foundation, Larry saw endless potential if we could transform that entity into a more comprehensive, broadly reaching organization. He used those persuasive skills to push us to think outside of the box.
He encouraged our small group to embrace new approaches. He suggested we host a breakfast to tell people about a better way to serve local residents. We were somewhat skeptical, but he was certain people would attend out of curiosity if nothing else. About 75 or 80 people came that morning to learn more about what it would look like to reorganize as a community foundation.
He not only helped energize people, but he also made the case for us to hire a forward-thinking executive director, which brought John Stremsterfer to the table.
Larry preaches the value of a fine-tuned purpose for nonprofits. He recommended we come up with an “elevator story” – three or four sentences we could share with someone about the story of the Community Foundation before they got off the elevator on the eighth floor.
Most importantly, Larry is a devoted family man to his wife and children. He is extremely well-respected within the professional community and considered an expert in charitable operations. He’s also a lot of fun to be around.
We were delighted when Larry received the Stephens Philanthropy Award because of the impact he makes wherever he goes. He is a curator of ideas and a connector of people. Springfield is fortunate to have him.
Judy and Harvey Stephens received the inaugural Stephens Philanthropy Award five years ago at the Community Foundation’s 15th anniversary celebration and are actively involved in charitable endeavors throughout Springfield and surrounding areas. To learn more about the Community Foundation, visit CFLL.org.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Cheers to a well-deserved honor for Larry Johnson
