KANKAKEE – Last week, the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley announced Dairy Queen Blizzards raised $2,799 for the Erica Lynn Paulissen Memorial Scholarship.
“Honoring Erica’s memory through this event was very meaningful for the entire Noble DQ team. We are so grateful to the community for their strong support and making the event a success,” said Joe Rintelman, Director of Sales, Noble Stores LLC.
Nobel Stores-DQ donated $1 of every Blizzard sold on the day to Erica’s scholarship fund. Kankakee County Dairy Queen stores sold 1,365 Blizzards and received cash donations of $864. The Community Foundation received a total of $570 in donations for the fundraising event making the total raised that day $2,799.
Erica’s family was so overwhelmed by Noble Stores – Dairy Queen’s generosity that they decided to match those donations up to $2,500. “We would especially like to thank the community, our family friends, the entire Dairy Queen Event Staff, and the great folks at Noble Stores-DQ for their continued support of the Erica Lynn Paulissen Scholarship Fund.” David Paulissen, Erica’s uncle said.
“It was evident by the amount of support shown for this fundraiser that Erica was so well-loved by her friends, family, and co-workers. Her memory will continue to be a blessing on those whose lives she touched,” said Nicole Smolkovich, Executive Director of the Community Foundation, “Her scholarship fund will continue to shape future generations of leaders because of the generosity of so many.”
Erica Paulissen was the daughter of Jeff and Debbie Paulissen, born in Kankakee on December 15, 1997. She was a 2016 graduate of Herscher High School and Kankakee Community College. Erica was attending Governor’s State University where she was just five classes away from receiving a dual Bachelor of Arts Degree in Accounting and Finance and was a full-time manager of a local Dairy Queen when her life was taken by a hit and run vehicle on October 14, 2019.
The Paulissen family created the Erica Lynn Paulissen Scholarship fund to honor her legacy and further the educational opportunities of local graduating seniors. An officer of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, Erica was driven overall to succeed as a female entrepreneur and support those around her in discovering their purpose. Erica’s lifelong passion for literature, music, and world culture were undeniable as you got to know her. During her short life, Erica dedicated her energy to developing a sense of pride and purpose that will continue to inspire. Erica’s focus, maturity, warmth, and intelligence will be her legacy.
Donations to any fund at the Community Foundation, including the Erica Paulissen Scholarship Fund, can be made online at cfkrv.org, or by mail to the Community Foundation of Kankakee River Valley, 701 S Harrison Ave, Kankakee, IL 60901. For questions or additional information on funds, please contact Executive Director Nicole Smolkovich at 815-939-1611 or nicole@cfkrv.org.
