The smiles at the Illinois State Fair entrances were rewarded on Monday afternoon at the fairgrounds as the American Business Club of Springfield presented checks to the organizations that staffed the gates this year.
ABC members presented more than $126,000 to 55 groups that the club enlisted to handle this year’s gate admissions. ABC has organized the fair’s gate staffing since 2004.
Club President Trent Thompson said many of the volunteer groups return every year.
ABC has contributed more than $5.7 million to the Springfield area over the past 40 years.
