SPRINGFIELD —  State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) released the following statement regarding the Governor’s Annual Budget Address delivered before the Illinois General Assembly.

“Cutting the services that the Governor proposed in his budget address will not move our state forward. Without funding for higher education, we will fall behind the rest of the nation and the world. Without a world-class transportation system, we cannot compete. Without hospitals, our sick and needy will be left vulnerable and without options. It is my belief that, as the legislative and budgetary process moves forward, we will identify more realistic solutions to putting our fiscal house in order without resorting to the draconian cuts proposed today.”

2015 grants available up to $5,000

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) is encouraging schools across the state to apply for the Rise & Shine Illinois 2015 Breakfast Grant. The deadline for schools to apply is Feb. 15.

“It is often said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Without breakfast, our students do not have the fuel to get them through the learning day. With these grants, many of our most vulnerable children will have the nutrition necessary to grow, learn and succeed,” Senator Van Pelt said.

According to the organization’s website, students who regularly eat a healthy breakfast score 17.5 percent higher on math tests than those students who do not, yet 449,092 students who are eligible for breakfast do not participate.

“This program has proven successful in increasing the number of students who participate in their school’s breakfast program, thereby increasing their chances of success,” Senator Van Pelt said.

Rise & Shine Illinois, a partnership of many organizations whose mission is to help feed children, has awarded the grants to schools since 2010. Since 2013, the organization distributed approximately $200,000 to schools across the state.

School districts interested in participating are asked to apply via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. For more information on Rise & Shine Illinois and its many programs and partnerships, please visit http://riseandshineillinois.org/

SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Patricia Van Pelt (D-Chicago) released the following statement after this year’s State of the State address at the State Capitol in Springfield:

“I think anyone who listened to today’s speech heard that we are in for a real tough fight that will define how we, as a state, treat working families who, by no fault of their own, are being asked to shoulder the financial burdens of the state.”

Read the IHDA's December 2014 newsletter by clicking the image above.