Jill Althage’s Gift
A Story of Connection and Financially Resourcing 2U
Jill Althage has been connected to 2U since 1980. She moved to Chicago from Kalamazoo, Michigan for a librarian job at Northeastern Illinois University. She quickly found our congregation. Jill came from the Seventh Day Adventist tradition. This was not the religious community that spoke to her heart and her spirit, and she was looking for congregational life that would nourish her. She had already read Emerson, connecting deeply to his understanding of God. Unitarian Universalism became a clear faith tradition that could meet her spiritual needs. 2U quickly became her spiritual home.
Jill’s experience being raised in the Seventh Day Adventist tradition instilled in her a fear of being identified by God as “wicked.” She was afraid that after death she would be separated from her mother. When her mother visited 2U, Jill’s mom noted how friendly 2Uers were. This affirmation of 2U helped Jill feel more relaxed into the community. Over the years Jill’s theology became clearer. There was no punishing God, God had no face, no judgment, just infinite love. Jill has no concern about heaven or hell, instead focused on what happens in the here and now on earth.
In 1982, Jill met Larry Lefferts. On Larry’s first day at 2U no one seemed to be able to find the collection plate. He promptly offered his hat. Brand new, Larry was already stepping up to help at 2U. As the service was coming to an end, 2U received a bomb threat. It is hypothesized that it came from a neighbor who was angry about parking issues (seems like a bit of an extreme way to resolve conflict). Jill and Larry met for the first time outside the church on the corner. While they did not have an immediate connection, the second time they met, Larry invited Jill to join him for a shopping expedition. Then the connection was quick.
Less than a year later, Jill and Larry were married by the ministerial intern, Susan Weicum. Over the decades both Larry and Jill played essential roles at 2U. Larry was on the finance committee, the secretary of the Church Council, and organized fundraisers. Jill has been on the Board, hospitality committee, nominating committee, building rental team, and search committee for an interim as well as settled minister (the one that brought Rev. Jason). Jill’s greatest love has been the library, created during the end of Rev. Adam Robersmith’s ministry.
Jill has decided the time has come to make a significant financial contribution to the congregation in honor of Larry and her shared ministry with 2U. Jill is contributing $100,000 for 2U’s work in the world. Half of this contribution will go into 2U’s endowment. The other half will be designated for the Board’s discretion. These gifts will sustain both the long-term ministry of 2U and empower immediate ministry needs.
Jill’s hopes for 2U include nurturing the health of the congregation, fostering a sense of kindness between members, creating a culture of greater sustainability for volunteers, increasing engagement in the community, increasing funding for staff (particularly to support lay leaders and worship creation), and celebrating a new ministry that continues to strengthen 2U.
Jill’s gift to 2U is a direct commitment to support a community she believes in. All people at 2U are invited to give financially in a way that is meaningful to them. Generosity is not determined by the amount given; it is determined by the access to resources one has. From those with much, much is required. A gift may be large dollar amounts, or it may be a prayer of care and solidarity. Generosity comes from the heart. This is the gift Jill can give. This story is a celebration of giving, an invitation to participate in giving what you can, and a reminder that one of the greatest powers of giving is to put the decision about how resources are used in the hands of those you share values with. 2U’s leadership is worthy of you trust and your generosity.
The annual meeting is right around the corner. The 2026-2027 budget will be voted on by the congregation. 2U’s members fund the ministry of the church. This church has been funded by thousands of people since 1857, each dollar a blessing. Jill’s gift tells a story. It tells a story of her decades at 2U. It says that there are many pages still to be filled in the book of 2U. Each person at 2U has a pen to add words to those pages. Write with love.
