SPRINGFIELD – Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs  announced the Bicentennial Coin Contest, encouraging individuals to submit a design for the coin that will be created and distributed to commemorate the Illinois Bicentennial.

“A bicentennial coin is a great way to commemorate Illinois’ upcoming 200th birthday,” Frerichs said. “We call upon Illinoisans to tap their creativity and submit a design that captures the beauty of our state, its illustrious history, and depicts the great advantages Illinois has to offer.”

The treasurer’s office will accept electronic submissions for the Bicentennial Coin Contest from Illinois residents. Each design should depict an aspect of Illinois or Illinois history. One entry, per contestant, can be submitted now through May 1, 2018 at www.IllinoisCoinContest.com.

The winning design will be used for the commemorative bicentennial coin. To pre-order a commemorative bicentennial coin, visit www.IllinoisCoinContest.com and click on the “medallion pre-sale” graphic.

The public will have an online opportunity to vote on the top five designs in June. A final winner will be announced on June 18, 2018.

The Commemorative Medallions Act authorizes the state treasurer to issue medallions or coins to commemorate popular contemporaneous events of statewide interest. The State of Illinois will celebrate its 200th birthday on December 3, 2018.

To read all the rules, terms, and legal conditions associated with this contest, visit our website at www.IllinoisCoinContest.com. For more information and to follow updates about the Illinois Bicentennial events and celebrations, visit www.illinois200.com.

Chicago — Attorney General Lisa Madigan  announced her office’s list of Top 10 consumer complaints for 2017. Since taking office in 2003, Madigan’s office has mediated nearly 400,000 formal complaints from consumers across Illinois, fielded hundreds of thousands of phone calls and inquiries every year and recovered billions in direct relief to Illinois consumers through litigation and mediation.

Last year, Madigan’s office received 24,669 complaints, and identity theft ranked No. 1 for the first time since 2007, with 2,511 complaints. The jump, in part, is due to the massive data breach sustained by Equifax, one of the largest credit reporting agencies that compromised information for nearly 148 million Americans. In addition, education-related complaints made another big increase, jumping to No. 2 on the list with 2,399 complaints, further reflecting the country’s persistent student loan debt crisis.

Joining Madigan today to discuss this year’s Top 10 list were Todd Kossow, Director of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s Midwest Region, Steve Bernas, President and CEO of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of Chicago and Northern Illinois and Bill Hedrick, Inspector in Charge of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service in Chicago.

“Every year, my Top 10 list shows that scam artists, predatory companies and cyber criminals devise schemes to steal peoples’ money,” Madigan said. “This year’s Top 10 list confirms that contending with financial challenges such as identity theft, student loans and other personal debt are the major issues confronting Illinois residents. My office will continue to aggressively pursue consumer fraud and provide people with the help they need.”

Attorney General Madigan has fought aggressively to protect consumers from identity theft amid a series of unprecedented data breaches at some of the country’s largest companies and retailers. Madigan’s Identity Theft Unit at 1-866-999-5630 (TTY: 1-877-844-5461) provides one-on-one assistance to victims of identity theft and data breaches and has helped over 44,000 people remove over $29 million worth of fraudulent charges from their credit.

Top 10 Breakdown

Madigan’s annual Top 10 list of consumer complaints ranks every complaint her office receives on a range of topics. Madigan’s Consumer Fraud Bureau returned more than $46 million in savings through litigation and mediation to Illinois consumers in 2017. In addition to identity theft and education-related complaints, Madigan noted other categories that topped her list of complaints involved consumer debt and home repair.

For more information, visit Madigan’s website or contact her office about consumer fraud issues.

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Bruce Rauner has proclaimed March 11-17, 2018 AmeriCorps Week in Illinois.  Each year, the nation celebrates the service that tens of thousands of Americans perform through AmeriCorps.  The Serve Illinois Commission uses this week to salute the AmeriCorps members and alums for their hard work and thank the community partners that support them.

“Each year, thousands of AmeriCorps members in Illinois take time out of their busy lives to help their neighbors,” said Governor Rauner. “These volunteers work to keep children safe, the environment clean, help people find jobs, and much more.  AmeriCorps Week in Illinois reminds us to thank AmeriCorps members and alums for their service, to thank AmeriCorps’ community partners, and encourage more people to join in service.”

AmeriCorps provides opportunities for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups.  From neighborhood cleanups and building homes, to tutoring children and helping the homeless, Illinois’ 2,600 AmeriCorps members are celebrating by doing what they do best – serving their communities.

“When faced with a community need, Illinois’ AmeriCorps members step up,” said Serve Illinois Commission Executive Director Scott McFarland.  “These people from all walks of life come together in the spirit of service, and Illinois owes each of them a great debt.”

Since 1994, more than 39,000 Illinoisans have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to “get things done for America.”  Those members have given back more than 55 million hours to their communities, which equates to more than $1.4 billion in impact.  During the past 24 years, Illinois AmeriCorps members have earned more than $131 million in education awards to pay for college or eliminate student debt.  For every dollar invested by the federal government, Illinois communities receive $3.50 in service.  For every dollar the state invests, AmeriCorps brings in $124 worth of volunteer impact!

Illinois AmeriCorps by the Numbers

• 2,628 AmeriCorps Members Currently Serving
• 209,286 Youth Serviced Last Year
• 39,744 Veterans and Military Family Members Served Last Year
• 18,219 Additional Volunteers Recruited Last Year
• 39,000 Illinoisans Served in AmeriCorps since 1994
• 55,000,000 AmeriCorps Hours Contributed since 1994
• $131,000,000 Earned in Education Awards since 1994
• $1,427,250,000 Impact to Illinois Communities since 1994

The Serve Illinois Commission is a 40-member (25 voting and 15 non-voting), bi-partisan board appointed by the Governor and administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health.  Its mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the state.

For a full listing of AmeriCorps programs and information on how to find a volunteer opportunity any time of the year, please visit www.Serve.Illinois.gov.