Jami Truelove | East Peoria, Illinois

Jami Truelove is passionate about helping others find and pursue their passions. She is the President and CEO for Heart of Illinois Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS). Truelove started with BBBS in 2010 as a Case Manager, supporting the volunteers and families enrolled in the program. After a few years, she was promoted to Program Director where she supervised staff and led the agency to quadruple its annual reach. In 2017, Truelove was promoted to her current role, leading the team with experience in philanthropy, communications, team building, project management and fundraising.

Truelove opens up about the challenges she faced transitioning from Program Director to CEO. “Running a small nonprofit means wearing many hats in areas where I had little experience…However, learning from other community leaders and relying on the support of an experienced Board of Directors made a huge difference in navigating those challenges.”

In her role with BBBS, Truelove has attained ambitions she has held since childhood remembering, “I always envisioned myself working in a school setting…as a teacher or school counselor…I took psychology courses that sparked a deeper interest in the human brain…leading me to organizational psychology and leadership. While I enjoyed working with kids, I also found a passion for guiding and empowering adults...I’ve found the perfect balance between both…By encouraging our youth to reach their full potential, we can cultivate strong leaders and build a more vibrant, resilient community.”

Truelove appreciates that central Illinois “is deeply compassionate and generous,” taking great pride in their community. “No matter what you’re passionate about, there are countless opportunities to get involved.”

Truelove herself currently serves on the Board of Directors for Impact Central Illinois as the Nonprofit Relations Chair, serves on the cabinet of the local United Way campaign, is a Big Sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program and is a member of Junior League of Peoria. She previously was a committee member for the St. Jude Harvest Moon fundraiser, is a former Community Leadership School graduate and a Community Leadership School committee member and chair.

Truelove and her husband Chad enjoy traveling together and spending time with their two rescue dogs, Myles and Leo. Truelove shares, “I’m deeply passionate about animal welfare. There are many incredible local organizations making a difference, but one of my personal favorites is Pet Pack Initiative, where my husband and I rescued our two dogs.”

Outside of time with family, Truelove co-owns River City CrossFit where she regularly coaches. She advocates for community and wellness, dedicated to helping others achieve their health goals.