EIU Media Relations

EIU celebrates scholarship recipients, donors at annual Tribute event

Michael Finkle, Jane A. Elmore named 2018 Outstanding Philanthropists

(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University’s annual Tribute event recognized a variety of student scholarship recipients, and celebrated the many donors who made those scholarships possible.

The event, held in early April, celebrated those students who are currently benefiting from at least one of the more than 600 scholarships the university offers students on an annual basis. In addition, the 2019 event highlighted the lifelong contributions of H. Michael Finkle and Jane A. Elmore, who were presented with the EIU Foundation’s 2018 Burnham and Nancy Neal Outstanding Philanthropist Awards for their ongoing contributions and support. Both Finkle and Elmore are alumni of EIU.

“The critical contributions of these valued EIU advocates and friends are appreciated beyond measure,” said Jonathan McKenzie, executive director of the EIU Foundation. “Their leadership and philanthropy has propelled the success of countless EIU students over time, and their commitment to this university ensures their legacies will be celebrated in perpetuity by the EIU Foundation and the students we continue to assist on its behalf.”

Michael Finkle earned a B.S. in business administration from EIU in 1962. He later completed the Wharton School Senior Account Executive certificate program and The American College Estate Planning for Professionals program. After a 47-year career as a financial advisor, he retired from Raymond James & Associates in 2014 and was cited as one of the nation's top financial advisors by three separate financial trade publications during his career. He is currently the Managing Director and general partner of HMF Global Macro Partners, LLP.

Finkle has a long history of leadership in various community service organizations; serving twice as president for the Danville District 118 School Board, board chair for the Danville Convention & Visitors Bureau Board, and chair for the United Samaritan Medical Center Board. His continued strong interest in education was reflected in his election to the board of trustees of Danville Area Community College and his appointment to the Illinois School Problems Commission. He is also a member of the president's council of the University of Illinois.

In 1986, Finkle was named Outstanding Alumnus by EIU Lumpkin College of Business and later served two terms on the Business School’s advisory board. He served six years on the EIU Foundation board of directors, serving as President from 2016-17. He and his wife, Nanette now reside in Marco Island, Florida where he is on the city’s planning board and is an elected board member and treasurer of the Hideaway Beach Association. According to his EIU colleagues, Finkle’s integrity and strong leadership skills have created positive and effective relations with the university and the community, and his devotion to EIU is unparalleled.

Elmore earned a bachelor’s of science in family consumer sciences in 1972 from Eastern Illinois University, a master’s of social work degree in 1974 and a master of business administration degree in 1983—both from the University of Illinois.

Elmore began her career as a therapist at the Moultrie Country Health Center, but soon went on to become the executive director of the Berwyn Cicero Council on Aging in Berwyn, IL.  After two years, she left to start work for the State of Illinois, serving as legislative liaison for the Departments on Aging and Rehabilitation Services and director of the Addictions Research Institute/Women’s Specialist for the Department of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse. She also served as deputy director of fiscal operations for the Department of Rehabilitation Services and finished her career with the State of Illinois as deputy director of Foster Care and Permanency Services. She was the first-ever recipient of the Illinois Foster and Adoptive Parent “HERO” award, and served as a senior consultant for Corporate Alternatives, Inc., president of ES Consultants, and an adjunct professor at the University of Illinois, Springfield College of Illinois, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Elmore was active professionally and personally on a number of boards and advisory committees for the National Association of State Foster Care Managers, National Association of Adoption Care Managers, and the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI), Chattanooga chapter. In her first year as president of NAMI Chattanooga, NAMI TN awarded her the Leadership Award. She also volunteered in orphanages in China and Guatemala. In addition, she and her husband were foster parents for a number of years.

Elmore maintained her connections with EIU by serving on the School of Business advisory council and the Family Consumer Sciences board. She donated money to renovate the Klehm Hall Student Lounge in memory of her mother, Esther Brothers Elmore, who was also a 1940 EIU graduate. She created the Esther Brothers Elmore Scholarship Fund and the Marjorie Baker Schnorf Teaching Scholarship in honor of her mother-in-law, who also graduated from EIU, and she recently established the Stephen B. Schnorf Emergency Fund in memory of her late husband—another EIU graduate—to help students experiencing financial emergencies that might result in them having to drop out of school.

Elmore is a passionate ambassador for EIU and continues to support worthy causes with her time, talents and financial support. 

The mission of the EIU Foundation is to encourage and provide private support to Eastern Illinois University, to promote the ideals of volunteerism and philanthropy among alumni, friends, and employees of the university, and to assist and support Eastern Illinois University’s educational and cultural mission by providing a supporting academic and artistic environment through scholarships and grants.

For more information about EIU, or to learn more about its various programs and services, visit the EIU website at www.eiu.edu, or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.