The 2023 Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter Community Award is presented to Wilma Bates in the areas of Educational Development and Physical and Mental Health.

Wilma has lived in our community for the past 26 years. She is currently employed at Illinois State University, working on behalf of the College of Education and the Lab Schools to raise funds, including raising over $8 million last year.

Wilma currently serves on local boards, including Bloomington Public Library Foundation Board and ISU Administrative Professional Council.  She has also served on boards for the Susan G. Komen Memorial Affiliate, Unit 5 Citizens Advisory Committee, and ISU Lab Schools Advisory Committee, to name a few. She is a member of the Central Illinois Chapter of The Links Incorporated and serves in various roles in the organization.

Wilma and Richard, her husband of 30 years, are the proud parents of two sons: Keita, a graduate of The Ohio State University and current player of the NBA’s San Antonio Spurs, and Kai, a recent graduate of Butler University serving as a GA/ Student Coach for Butler and who will be attending grad school in the fall.

Wilma is a passionate community servant and believes in giving back.  She and her family are on the front lines of making public spaces safe by donating (Automated External Defibrillator) AEDs.  Kai, a survivor of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) on February 9, 2017, is the reason Wilma and her family are committed to making sure public spaces are safe.

This lifesaving equipment is vital to giving someone a chance to survive SCA. Over 90% of those that go into SCA do not survive.  The use of an AED increases the survival rate by 100%.  The dedication to awareness of the importance of knowing CPR and making AED donations is now the mission of Wilma and her family.

To date, 13 AEDs have been donated around Central Illinois and Indiana. Wilma has partnered with local churches, Unit 5, Illinois Heart and Lung, American Heart Association, PONY baseball league, JFL football, Western Avenue Community Center, Boys and Girls Club, YMCA, Butler University, and Illinois High School Association. Thanks to Wilma’s efforts in working with local politicians, she enacted the pre-game Time Out. Prior to the start of each athletic event in IL, there is conversation that includes coaches, refs, and school administrators to confirm the presence of an AED, if there will be an athletic trainer or medical professional at the contest, and if an ambulance is required, what entrance should be used.

Wilma’s drive to save lives through such caring education and service is forever at work and far-reaching.

The 2022 Bloomington-Normal Alumnae Chapter Community Award is presented to Dodie Dunson in the areas of Educational Development and Physical and Mental Health.

Dodie (Big Guy) Dunson was born and raised in Bloomington, IL. He grew up on the west side of town and has always been extremely proud of his roots.

As a youth, he participated in activities at the community center previously known as Sunnyside Center and now known as the Lawrence Irvin Neighborhood Center (LINC).  In high school he worked at the Western Avenue Community Center and LINC as a recreation coordinator, forming basketball teams between the different housing projects in town.  The sport of basketball has always been a part of Dodie’s life as a young boy, and for those of you that know him – it still is.

He worked for Western Avenue Community Center as Director for 30+ years.  He is currently the Director of Family Engagement at the Boys and Girls Club of Bloomington/Normal. The club empowers young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible adults.

Some of Dodie’s many accomplishments include the following:

• Town of Normal Citizen award
• 100 Black Men Excellence award
• Inducted into the Bloomington High School Hall of Fame
• African American Hall of Fame Museum (Peoria) award
• Created the Western Avenue/LINC teen club
• Developed in-house and traveling basketball leagues with upward of 36 teams participating.
• Assisting college-bound high school boys and girls with college preparations (tutors, ACT prep, transcripts, school visits)
• Founder and Creator of the Team Illinois AAU basketball club
  • Numerous high school boys and girls have received college athletic scholarships as a result of this exposure
• Recipient of the Bloomington/Normal Rotary Club – Paul Harris award
• Recipient of the Bloomington Cultural Fest award
• Recipient of the Dan Brady Citizenship award

He is married to Jaci Dunson, his wife of 39 years.  They are the proud parents of 2 sons:

Dodie II and Brandon are both college basketball coaches.  He enjoys spending time with his family, attending basketball games, and is passionate about helping others.  He has dedicated many years to this profession and truly believes in finding goodness in people.  Many of the kids coming through his programs over the years can recite his motto: “Don’t let anyone’s negative opinion about you become your reality”.  You can do anything you set your mind to.