Excellence in Leadership Class Sets New Fundraising Record Through Community Service Project

The Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce’s 2025–2026 Excellence in Leadership class presented proceeds from its successful community service project, the inaugural Dec Days Festival and Top Deck Social, on May 26 at the Chamber office.

Held on April 18 in downtown Decatur, the Dec Days event featured a free daytime festival celebrating local vendors, food trucks, entertainment and community engagement, followed by the ticketed Top Deck Social featuring live music from Nashville-based artist Jackson Dreyer. Due to weather, the nighttime Top Deck Social was moved from the parking deck to the Morgan County-Decatur Farmers Market.

The class raised $34,732, surpassing last year’s record total of $32,183.09 and setting a new fundraising record for an Excellence in Leadership class. Checks totaling $9,077.41 each were presented to representatives from three local nonprofits: Brothers for Life Benefit Fund, the Community Free Clinic of Decatur-Morgan County and Meals on Wheels. In addition, each nonprofit separately received $2,500 in grant funding through WoodmenLife that the class applied for and secured.

The Excellence in Leadership program is the Chamber’s premier leadership development series. Established in 1987, the program was created to develop and build a network of leaders with the goal of increasing community awareness and encouraging community involvement. The class meets once a month for 10 months, with day-long sessions focusing on topics essential to the community. The program also includes a community service project, where class members select area nonprofits to support.