62%$18,790Goal: $30,000

Ottawa

Illinois Valley PADS

100 Walkers|18 Teams|14 Volunteers|4 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.

Event Day
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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!

Show More

About Illinois Valley PADS

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

Read More

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

Keep HOPE Alive

Hope Alyea

2

5,100.00

2

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

LInda Cooper

20

3,305.00

3

Carus

Jake Kowalczyk

9

2,400.00

4

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

Kenneth Brown

8

1,810.00

5

PEO sisters -chapter EH

Diane Gassman

2

1,375.00

6

Advantech Corporation

Ann Simmons

11

1,025.00

7

IV PADS Board

Thomas Rooney

4

570.00

8

Ottawa PADSicles

Brittany Smith

10

555.00

9

LilyPads and tadpoles peru

Jen Ringhofer

1

420.00

10

Aglow Collective

Justine Larabee

7

385.00

11

LPHS Interact

Julie Jenkins

2

375.00

12

First National Bank of Ottawa

Mary Beth LeSeure

5

300.00

13

LaSalle County Cruisers

Craig Glogowski

3

300.00

14

His Hands

Candice Tinson

4

270.00

15

IV PADS General Team

Susan Garner

1

150.00

16

Illinois Valley Community College

Crystal Credi

2

100.00

17

Lily Pads Too Bullfrogs

Amanda Zachary

4

18

Shepherd Middle School- SADD and Student Council

Macayla Gerdovich

1

#

Name

Team Name

Donors

Raised

1

Hope Alyea

Keep HOPE Alive

2

5,100.00

2

LInda Cooper

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

1

3,305.00

3

Jennifer Amy-Dressler

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

6

510.00

4

Thomas Rooney

IV PADS Board

4

450.00

5

Jen Ringhofer

LilyPads and tadpoles peru

1

420.00

6

Karen Nussbaum

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

2

400.00

7

Diane Gassman

PEO sisters -chapter EH

3

275.00

8

Julie Jenkins

LPHS Interact

7

275.00

9

Stefany Wilkans

His Hands

2

270.00

10

Carol Alcorn

1

250.00

11

Donna Martin

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

1

250.00

12

Heidi Nelson

Aglow Collective

1

250.00

13

Michelle Brady-Ebener

Carus

9

240.00

14

Mary Malinsky

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

4

225.00

15

Susan Garner

IV PADS General Team

1

150.00

16

Julie Wheatland

First National Bank of Ottawa

1

150.00

17

Mary Beth LeSeure

First National Bank of Ottawa

3

150.00

18

Kenneth Brown

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

2

150.00

19

Marissa Trumper

Ottawa PADSicles

1

150.00

20

Robert Fuchs

Ottawa PADSicles

1

130.00

21

Lanie Vaughn

Ottawa PADSicles

3

125.00

22

Dave McClure

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

1

100.00

23

Joanne Sheldon

1

100.00

24

Colleen Mcclure

PEO sisters -chapter EH

1

100.00

25

Stephanie Ruppert

Advantech Corporation

2

100.00

26

Craig Glogowski

LaSalle County Cruisers

1

100.00

27

Carrie Fuchs

Ottawa PADSicles

1

100.00

28

Mindy Sheely

Advantech Corporation

1

100.00

29

Michael Dougherty

LaSalle County Cruisers

1

100.00

30

Ann Simmons

Advantech Corporation

1

100.00

31

Sharon Loudon

Open Table Church Walking Wonders

2

100.00

32

Melissa Ruvalcaba

Aglow Collective

1

50.00

33

Scott Ruppert

Advantech Corporation

1

50.00

34

Ashley Gatza

Carus

2

45.00

35

Jeff Hettrick

Aglow Collective

1

25.00

36

Lisa Hettrick

Aglow Collective

1

25.00

37

Bailee Wallace

Carus

1

25.00

38

Alexis Mann

Ottawa PADSicles

1

25.00

39

Andrew Darling

Ottawa PADSicles

1

25.00

40

paula grady

Carus

1

25.00

41

Heather Pursley

Aglow Collective

1

25.00

42

Stephanie Larsen

Advantech Corporation

1

25.00

43

Hailey Larsen

Advantech Corporation

1

25.00

44

Jake Kowalczyk

Carus

1

15.00

45

Justine Larabee

Aglow Collective

1

10.00

46

Ellen Evancheck

Illinois Valley Community College

47

Jodi Spurling

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

48

Carol L Pearse

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

49

Logan Smith

Ottawa PADSicles

50

Ava Engels

LPHS Interact

51

Traci Leemhuis

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

52

Linda Asta

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

53

Wendy Coffey

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

54

Crystal Credi

Illinois Valley Community College

55

Juli Stillwell

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

56

Andy & Ann Johnston

Carus

57

Rene Forsyth Forsyth

LaSalle County Cruisers

58

Ilse Bute

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

59

jackie harris

Ottawa PADSicles

60

Melvin Baerga

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

61

Mary Williams

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

62

Donna Bennett

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

63

Victor Bennett

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

64

Bob Cavanaugh

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

65

Ali Braboy

66

Amber Miller

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

67

Jim Clark

Keep HOPE Alive

68

Candice Tinson

His Hands

69

Karla Jones

First National Bank of Ottawa

70

Susan Koeppe

IV PADS Board

71

Patti Gould

His Hands

72

Ann Russell

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

73

Bob Day

Ottawa PADSicles

74

Brittany Smith

Ottawa PADSicles

75

Amanda Zachary

Lily Pads Too Bullfrogs

76

Xavier Telford

Aglow Collective

77

Emily Brandis

Lily Pads Too Bullfrogs

78

Tyler Hebert

Lily Pads Too Bullfrogs

79

Amy Thomas

First National Bank of Ottawa

80

Kristin Eaton

His Hands

81

Randy Hanck

Advantech Corporation

82

Emily Weber

Advantech Corporation

83

Sue Saar

First National Bank of Ottawa

84

Marianne Perino

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

85

Macayla Gerdovich

Shepherd Middle School- SADD and Student Council

86

Jeanne Ogden

Advantech Corporation

87

Jared Schneider

Carus

88

Mary Jo Urbanski

IV PADS Board

89

Pastor Seamus Enright

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

90

Carrie Sabatini

Advantech Corporation

91

Resa Mai

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

92

Jena Graves

Lily Pads Too Bullfrogs

93

Stan Simmons

Advantech Corporation

94

Don Mai

First United Methodist Church of Ottawa

Ottawa Maps

Check out this year's CNOY route maps below:

2025 CNOY Photos

Special thanks to our many amazing volunteer photographers!

OttawaOttawaOttawaOttawaOttawaOttawaOttawaOttawaOttawaOttawaOttawaOttawaOttawa

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