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Crime Stoppers President - Bill Pongracz 1999-2000

Meet Bill Pongracz, 1999/2000 President of CrimeStoppers of Sangamon and Menard Counties.

Bill was born and raised in Columbus, Indiana, and attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering degree in 1985. A job offer from a national engineering consulting firm, Professional Service Industries, Inc. (PSI), prompted Bill to move to Memphis, Tennessee as a Staff Engineer. In March of 1986, Bill was offered and accepted a manager's position with PSI in Springfield, Illinois, where he currently resides. Since then, he has obtained his Professional Engineer (P.E.) registrations in both Illinois and Indiana, and currently serves as PSI's Central Illinois District Manager, overlooking operations in Springfield and Champaign.

While living in Springfield, Bill had a desire to become more actively involved in the community. In 1993, Bill volunteered to be a Big Brother in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, and there he met seven year old Aaron Van Schyndel. For the past 7 years, Bill and Aaron have developed a strong, fulfilling friendship that Bill is sure will last a lifetime. The interests that Bill and Aaron share in sports, outdoor activities, and sense of humor is sure to keep this relationship growing.

While the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program fulfilled a more personal desire for community involvement, Bill wanted to do something that would have a more broad impact on improving the community. The CrimeStoppers program seemed the perfect fit. Bill was immediately impressed with the program's popularity and direct effect on improving the quality of life in the Springfield area.

Since joining the program in 1997, Bill has served as Vice President during the 1998-1999 period, and currently serves as President. Bill states "CrimeStoppers allows an individual, whether a Crimestoppers board member or a member of the public, to become actively involved in fighting crime through anonymously providing tips, or by helping to raise funds to pay for the cash rewards provided to these tipsters. It's truly gratifying to know that when you see through the TV, radio or newspaper that a Crimestoppers tip lead to an arrest of a criminal, that you were directly or indirectly involved in that program."

217-788-8427

1-800-397-2288

-Text TIP672 - (plus your tip)
TO: CRIMES (274637)

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