Volunteer of the Year
Jim Farrell

In 1992, Jim first volunteered for JA at Peoria Notre Dame High School. For many years he was teaching JA’s first computer simulation along with conducting a small business venture. Jim noted, “I feel very fortunate and blessed to have been able to teach our children while they attended Holy Family Parish School.” With all four of his own kids grown, Jim volunteered to teach JA classes at Roosevelt Magnet School in Peoria, Wilder Waite Grade School in Dunlap and St. Joseph’s Grade School in Pekin. He’s been teaching the past 7 or 8 years at Wilder Waite in the fall for Mr. Jeremy Conlee’s 5th graders and in the spring at St. Joseph’s for Ms. Joan Moore’s 8th graders. Jim is hoping to teach JA for some of his grandchildren, three of the six who live in the area, although it will be few more years as the oldest is 3.5 years old. Jim and his wife, Sharie, recently moved to Dunlap from Princeville to be closer to their grandchildren.