9%$2,860Goal: $30,000

Ottawa

Illinois Valley PADS

49 Walkers|14 Teams|14 Volunteers|25 Days Left

The Coldest Night of the Year is a winterrific family-friendly fundraising walk in support of local charities. Let’s gather together for people experiencing hurt, hunger, and homelessness... because it’s cold out there.

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About Illinois Valley PADS

Join Us for the Coldest Night of the Year – February 28, 2026

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Illinois Valley PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter) provides transformative programs, resources, and advocacy for individuals and families experiencing homelessness in LaSalle, Bureau, and Putnam counties. Again this year, we're partnering with Coldest Night of the Year USA, a family-friendly winter walk that raises funds and awareness for people facing the harsh realities of life without a home.


On February 28, 2026, we'll gather at Jordan Block in Ottawa, Illinois, and walk a one-mile route going north on La Salle St., crossing over Canal Towpath and back down Columbus St., symbolizing the journey our neighbors in need endure every day. Together, we'll shine a light on homelessness while raising vital funds to help IV PADS continue to offer dignity, respect, and support.


Be part of something meaningful - We forming 27 teams to walk and fundraise. Start a team, join a team, or support a walker to help us reach our goal and make a difference. Sign up or learn more at cnoy.com/location/Ottawa

Ottawa Scoreboard

Are you thrashing the competition (for a good cause)? Find out here! Stats are updated every 15 minutes. See how you stack up on the national scoreboard >

Teams
Walkers

#

Team Name

Captain

Members

Raised

1

Carus

Jake Kowalczyk

8

1,415.00

2

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

Kenneth Brown

4

425.00

3

First National Bank of Ottawa

Mary Beth LeSeure

5

300.00

4

LPHS Interact

Julie Jenkins

2

260.00

5

LaSalle County Cruisers

Craig Glogowski

2

100.00

6

Advantech Corporation

Ann Simmons

6

50.00

7

Illinois Valley Community College

Crystal Credi

2

50.00

8

Aglow Collective

Justine Larabee

3

10.00

9

Keep HOPE Alive

Hope Alyea

1

10

LilyPads and tadpoles peru

Jen Ringhofer

1

11

IV PADS Board

Thomas Rooney

2

12

Shepherd Middle School- SADD and Student Council

Macayla Gerdovich

1

13

Ottawa PADSicles

Brittany Smith

6

14

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

LInda Cooper

2

#

Name

Team Name

Donors

Raised

1

Carol Alcorn

1

250.00

2

Karen Nussbaum

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

1

200.00

3

Julie Jenkins

LPHS Interact

4

160.00

4

Julie Wheatland

First National Bank of Ottawa

1

150.00

5

Mary Beth LeSeure

First National Bank of Ottawa

3

150.00

6

Michelle Brady-Ebener

Carus

4

110.00

7

Kenneth Brown

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

1

100.00

8

Michael Dougherty

LaSalle County Cruisers

1

100.00

9

Sharon Loudon

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

1

50.00

10

Bailee Wallace

Carus

1

25.00

11

paula grady

Carus

1

25.00

12

Jake Kowalczyk

Carus

1

15.00

13

Justine Larabee

Aglow Collective

1

10.00

14

Ellen Evancheck

Illinois Valley Community College

15

Thomas Rooney

IV PADS Board

16

Hope Alyea

Keep HOPE Alive

17

Ava Engels

LPHS Interact

18

Joanne Sheldon

19

Crystal Credi

Illinois Valley Community College

20

Andy & Ann Johnston

Carus

21

jackie harris

Ottawa PADSicles

22

Stephanie Ruppert

Advantech Corporation

23

Ali Braboy

24

Karla Jones

First National Bank of Ottawa

25

LInda Cooper

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

26

Craig Glogowski

LaSalle County Cruisers

27

Alexis Mann

Ottawa PADSicles

28

Bob Day

Ottawa PADSicles

29

Brittany Smith

Ottawa PADSicles

30

Carrie Fuchs

Ottawa PADSicles

31

Amy Thomas

First National Bank of Ottawa

32

Heather Pursley

Aglow Collective

33

Stephanie Larsen

Advantech Corporation

34

Lanie Vaughn

Ottawa PADSicles

35

Heidi Nelson

Aglow Collective

36

Sue Saar

First National Bank of Ottawa

37

Jen Ringhofer

LilyPads and tadpoles peru

38

Hailey Larsen

Advantech Corporation

39

Ashley Gatza

Carus

40

Mindy Sheely

Advantech Corporation

41

Macayla Gerdovich

Shepherd Middle School- SADD and Student Council

42

Jeanne Ogden

Advantech Corporation

43

Mary Jo Urbanski

IV PADS Board

44

Ann Simmons

Advantech Corporation

Event Day Details

Save the date - CNOY Day is February 28, 2026!

Start/Finish Google Map

Jordan Block

101-123 W Main St, Ottawa, IL 61350, United States


Same map info as last year.

Schedule

  • 4:00 pm: Meet Check-in
  • 4:45 pm: Muster Gather for Opening Remarks
  • 5:00 pm: Move Send-off
  • 6:00 pm: Munch Light meal served
  • 7:00 pm: Mosey Goodbye + see you in 2027!

Not able to join us in person at the Main Event? We hope you'll register, fundraise and walk offsite with friends and family.

Route Details

  • Route Distances: Check out the maps below to see where we will be walking.
  • Rest stop: Keep an eye out for opportunities to rest and refresh with yummy snacks along the route.
  • Signage: Routes will be well-signed with our bold blue CNOY signs.
  • Route Support: Route marshals, rest stop hosts, and support vehicle drivers provide support along the route.
  • Children 12 and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.
  • No Pets: We love our little furballs like you do, but pets are not permitted at the Coldest Night of the Year except for approved and trained service animals. Read more about our pet policy >

Check- in

  • All walkers participating at the Main Event on Saturday, February 28, 2026 must check-in upon arrival.
  • Beanies! Fundraising walkers who raise $150+ (or $75+ for those under 18) will receive a CNOY Beanie as a thank you on event day, while supplies last.
  • Offsite fundraising walkers can contact their local event director to arrange toque pickup the week of the event.

Have questions? Visit the FAQ section!

Handling Money

  • Credit Card: The Best Option! Simple, secure, automatically tax receipted for gifts of $20+. Visit the Donate page, share your personal page link, or have your donor call the CNOY Head Office.
  • Checks: The Old Faithful - made out to Coldest Night of the Year with your name on the Memo line. Mail them to CNOY Head Office along with your completed pledge form.
  • Cash: You have 2 options:
  • 1. Login to FundHub, click “Enter $$ and Checks,” create pledges for your cash donations, pay them off with your personal credit card, and keep the cash. OR...
  • 2. Write a check (made out to “Coldest Night of the Year”) for the total amount of cash you’ve collected. Mail it to the CNOY Head Office with your completed pledge sheet.

Waivers

All participants must register online and accept the electronic waiver.

  • Adults accept the waiver automatically when they register online.
  • Youth/Children under the age of majority need a waiver signed by their parent or guardian.
  • An online form will be emailed to all parents/guardians before CNOY Day.
  • Waivers will also be available at check-in on CNOY Day.

What to Bring

A few common sense suggestions:

  • A cell phone for emergencies (recommended but not required)
  • Good waterproof shoes/boots for walking
  • Warm coat and mitts/gloves
  • Extra snacks if you have allergies or food sensitivities
  • Your own water bottle
  • A passion for the charity you're walking and fundraising for!

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Ottawa Maps

Check out this year's CNOY route maps below:

2025 CNOY Photos

Special thanks to our many amazing volunteer photographers!

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Contact Us


CNOY Ottawa 2026

The CNOYUSA Team Participant & Donor Services
Toll Free 1.877.743.3413 / Phone 519.603.2250
Email ottawa@cnoy.com

Got questions about the Coldest Night of the Year?
help@cnoy.com | 1.877.743.3413