The University of Illinois Alumni Association bestows the Alumni Humanitarian
Award on alumni of the University of Illinois at Springfield.
Betty Marcy ’76
CBM
Community volunteer
Betty Marcy has volunteered for
the accounting and bookkeeping needs
of several Springfield area nonprofits,
and has used her accountancy skills
to better the lives of hundreds
of people. For instance, she has
served as treasurer of the Friends
of Springfield Refugees, a group
that has provided a safe haven for
hundreds of political refugee families
over the years.
When the Central Illinois Food
Bank began, Betty donated a computer
and helped the organization transition
its books to a computerized system.
In addition, she served as a board
member and volunteer treasurer with
Springfield’s Habitat for
Humanity for more than five years.
Betty has served on VITA (Volunteers
in Tax Assistance), and assists
low- income seniors with filing
their taxes. She’s been a
volunteer at Laketown Elementary
School, where she monitored desegregation
and provided volunteer aid for first-,
second- and fourth-grade classrooms.
As a nontraditional student, and
always great in math, Betty took
courses to become an accountant
and to set up her own business.
Yet she has used her education to
serve and benefit hundreds in the
community.