Mary Frisk Loken: “Hands-On” Volunteer and Donor

Central Illinois resident Mary Frisk Loken has always taken a grassroots approach in her 60-plus years of dedication to LSSI. She has served all over the organization—on the board, as a member of the Women’s Network, as a Cornerstone Trustee, and as a Cornerstone Society member.

Loken, a PhD-trained educator and member of Peace Lutheran Church in Springfield, vowed to visit a program in every section of the organization when she was president of the Board of Trustees in the mid-1980s. She was a consultant for several of LSSI’s children’s programs including Augustana Home, which served children with multiple disabilities.

“When thinking about LSSI, the theme of ‘God’s work, Our hands’ comes to mind,” Loken said. “I was proud of serving with a hands-on model, gaining response and input to be able to understand the goal of each program.”

Loken always saw LSSI as a statewide organization and felt it important to have “bricks and mortar” south of I-80. She and her late husband Dennis strongly believed in staff training and began a named fund to send LSSI staff in the central and southern regions of the state to professional development opportunities. She continues to stay involved as a trustee of LSSI’s Cornerstone Foundation Board and as a Cornerstone Society member.

“My relationships at LSSI have been wonderful,” said Loken. “I’ve been proud of what we have been able to accomplish and look forward to LSSI’s future.”