Liz Meier Morton Pumpkin Festival
Volunteer Give-Back Fund
This fund was was established in June of October of 2018 by the Morton Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of the Fund is to make annual distributions to assist in providing funding to non-profit and youth groups who provide a minimum of ten people to host a shift or activity during the Annual Morton Pumpkin Festival (“Festival”). The contributions will support the non-profit and youth groups for volunteering their time while providing sustainable growth for Festival and enhance the give-back mission of the Morton Pumpkin Festival.
In December of 2022, after the sudden passing of Liz Meier, the Morton Chamber of Commerce Board asked to have the fund renamed in honor/memory of Liz, who was the Chamber’s 2022 Distinguished Service Award Winner.
Elizabeth "Liz" Meier was one of those people that everyone knew they could count on. Whether one needed a hug, a kind word, help setting up an event or a ride to Chicago, Liz was there in a heartbeat. Liz had a zest for life that was visible in her giving. She knew how to make work fun, and whether you volunteered with her or were a fellow nurse, if your shift included Liz you knew you were in for a great ride. Everyone knew their worth when Liz was around. She had a knack for helping everyone feel their value. Her giving and loving spirit will live on through this fund. She loved her family and friends fiercely and with an intensity that will remain in hearts forever.
MORTON – Elizabeth A. “Liz” Meier, 44, of Morton, passed away Monday, December 5, 2022, at her home.
She was born on April 17, 1978, in Peoria, to Lawrence H. and Katherine M. (Strassburger) Meier.
Liz is survived by her father, Larry Meier of Tremont; sister, Kristin (Daniel) Harrington of Seattle, Wash.; niece and her favorite nugget, Julia Harrington of Seattle, Wash.; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Kathy Meier.
Liz spent her life serving others, whether through her profession as a registered nurse at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria or in her community. Since she was 15 years old, Liz could be spotted volunteering her time during the Morton Pumpkin Festival, where she was a co-chair of both the food tent and volunteer tent and also announced the festival parade. She was involved with the Morton Chamber of Commerce serving as the ambassador for six years and Tazewell County 4-H as a coordinator of the fair, a judge for cooking contests and in 2022, as a state judge at the Springfield State Fair. For the 20-year run of the Pumpkin Chuckin’ Contest, Liz was there either serving in the food tent, as a co-chair of the event or the event MC. Liz could be seen operating the high lift on Main, Jefferson, Jackson or Courtland streets in Morton either taking down or putting up the banners and Christmas decorations that help celebrate the Morton community. She was one of the volunteers and coordinators for the various events the Morton Tourism Association puts on every year. She had a hand in hosting car shows, Super Hero Day, the lighting of the Community Christmas Tree and other Holidazzle activities. Liz enjoyed volunteering with her family during the Knights of Columbus fish fries. She could be found in the kitchen alongside her father frying the fish. Liz also helped others by regularly donating blood through the Red Cross. In the spring of 2022, Liz was awarded the Distinguished Service Award during the annual Morton Chamber of Commerce Meet-Up.
Here’s a link to the memorial slideshow for Elizabeth A. “Liz” Meier…
The Morton Pumpkin Festival is a pumpkin-themed event that takes place in mid-September in Morton, Illinois. Morton is home to Nestle/LIBBY'S Pumpkin. 85% of the world's pumpkin is canned here each year. The Pumpkin Festival celebrates the beginning of the canning season and draws over 70,000 guests for pumpkin foods, carnival rides, parades, live entertainment, a 10K race, and over 30 events, venues and activities.
Each year it takes thousands of volunteers to make the Pumpkin Festival a success. Many of those volunteers come in the form of non-profit organizations such as soccer, baseball, football and other sports teams, church youth groups, boy and girl scout troops, Parent Teacher Organizations, etc. The Morton Chamber makes a donation to these groups in return for their efforts in helping with set-up and tear-down of various venues, garbage detail, etc.
Grants from this fund will be used to help ensure that donations can be made to these groups, even if proceeds of the Pumpkin Festival would be reduced due to weather or other unforeseen problems.
If you would like to make a tax deductible donation to this endowment fund, please click the button below for online donations. Or, you can mail a check to 135 S First Avenue, Morton, IL 61550.
