Published on October 30, 2026 11:47 am
Last Updated on October 30, 2026 11:47 am
The Southeastern Illinois Community Foundation (SICF) announced today that the Dr. Peter & Milla Kollinger Family Endowment has awarded a $2,000 grant to Jim Beam’s Corner Cattery, a nonprofit cat rescue and adoption center just north of Effingham.
The grant was recommended by Erich Kollinger, son of Dr. Peter and Milla Kollinger and a volunteer at the Cattery. It will help cover daily costs the Cattery cannot avoid veterinary care, medicine, food, litter, cleaning supplies, heating and cooling, insurance, and upkeep of its safe, free-roaming facility where cats wait for their forever homes.
“My parents loved animals, and supporting Jim Beam’s Cattery through their endowment is a meaningful way to honor that love. As a volunteer, I see how carefully donations are used—and I see cats whose lives literally depend on someone stepping in,” said Erich Kollinger.
Jim Beam’s Corner Cattery continues the legacy of longtime animal advocate Jim Beam. The 501(c)(3) organization has helped nearly 1,400 cats and about 40 dogs find permanent homes and places roughly 200 to 250 cats each year. It receives no government funding and operates with incredibly low staff overhead. Its intakes include cats slated for euthanasia at other shelters, cats surrendered by their owners, and seriously ill strays. Even so, the Cattery turns away roughly 20 cats a day for lack of space.
Kollinger credits the Cattery’s founders and other local advocates with Effingham County’s no-kill ordinance, which he says makes it the only truly no-kill county in Illinois.
Supporting the Cattery, he said, helps keep a local safety net in place for animals whose lives depend on it.
Looking ahead, Kollinger says the community needs a dedicated low-cost spay/neuter resource and a coordinated trap-neuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) program to address overpopulation at its source. In the meantime, dependable monthly gifts let the Cattery plan for the future. If 150 people gave $100 a month, the Cattery would have a steady foundation for its mission, and every recurring gift, at any amount, helps save more lives.
Donors with an endowment or charitable plan may also consider a modest recurring monthly distribution.
Jim Beam’s Corner Cattery is located at 18086 N. U.S. Highway 45, Effingham, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To adopt, volunteer, or donate, visit BeamsCorner.com or call (844) OUR-CATS.
