PEORIA, Ill. — Laura Cullinan, a prominent Peoria-area philanthropist and president of the Gilmore Foundation, died Saturday night after a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) overturned on private property in Peoria County. She was 50.
Cullinan, of Edwards, was a passenger in the UTV when it left a paved path or driveway near the 5600 block of North Kickapoo-Edwards Road, struck a wooden post and rolled over shortly before 11 p.m. on Oct. 24. She was partially pinned beneath the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said an autopsy determined she suffered severe blunt-force trauma to the head and chest and died instantly. Toxicology results remain pending.
The driver, Joshua A. Bellamy, 52, of Peoria, was charged with aggravated driving under the influence. Four people were in the vehicle at the time of the crash. The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office continues to investigate.
Cullinan had served as president of the Gilmore Foundation since January 2020. Under her leadership, the foundation committed millions to improve the quality of life across Peoria, Tazewell and Woodford counties, supporting arts and culture, education, human services, health care and community development. In 2024 alone, the foundation directed about $14.4 million to local organizations, including Illinois Central College, the Peoria Riverfront Museum, Peoria Symphony Orchestra, OSF HealthCare, Carle Health, the University of Illinois College of Medicine-Peoria, Dream Center Peoria and others.
Most recently, the foundation pledged nearly $850,000 to help launch a doctoral Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist program at Methodist College, expected to begin accepting students in 2028. Cullinan and her husband, Alan, also founded the Peoria Food + Wine Festival, which has raised funds for causes including children’s mental health services.
A Notre Dame graduate with a law degree from Loyola University Chicago, Cullinan previously worked as a staff attorney at Sidley Austin and as corporate counsel at RLI Corp. Community leaders remembered her as a dedicated advocate who combined professional expertise with deep personal commitment to Central Illinois. Peoria Mayor Rita Ali described her as “a phenomenal leader,” while others called her a “beautiful soul” whose generosity left a lasting mark.
Funeral arrangements had not been publicly detailed as of early this week. The investigation into the circumstances of the crash remains active.