The turn

Two careers that are really one job: deciding what a city needs to hear about.

A news director decides which stories get air and which do not. For twenty-one years at WIFR that was her call. The release notes what was unusual about it: she was “recognized as one of the few female news directors in the mid-1980s, breaking significant barriers in a male-dominated industry.”

Her peers made her president of the Illinois Associated Press in 1991, and Illinois state coordinator for the Radio-TV News Directors Association for seven years. That is the profession electing her to speak for it.

Then she changed which side of the story she stood on. At Milestone, Inc. the job is fundraising and marketing, and what the money buys is specialised care for people with developmental disabilities. She is, the release says, particularly proud of this work, because it reaches people who cannot care for themselves.

She was born in Rockford. Every job listed on this page is in Rockford. She credits the place for the career.

Illustrative portrait of Arles Hendershott Love marking up a script in a newsroom
21years as news director at WIFR, 1983 to 2004
20years as development director at Milestone, Inc.
1991president of the Illinois Associated Press
2024inducted into the Illinois State University Broadcast Hall of Fame

The record

Forty-five years, two industries, one city.

Illustrative portrait of Arles Hendershott Love on a television studio floor

In the newsroom

  1. 1979–1983

    Anchor, reporter and producer

    WTVO-TV

  2. 1980–1983

    Speaker

    Rockford Public Schools. Again in 1997.

  3. 1983–2004

    News Director and Community Relations Director

    WIFR

    One of the few female news directors in the mid-1980s.

  4. 1985

    Produced Pee Wee Explosion

    News story

    Awarded the Associated Press regional award for best spot news coverage.

  5. 1989–1996

    Television State Coordinator for Illinois

    Radio-TV News Directors Association

  6. 1989–1991

    Executive committee, then president-elect, then president

    Illinois Associated Press

    Committee 1989. President-elect 1990. President 1991.

Raising the money

  1. 20 years

    Development Director

    Milestone, Inc. · Fundraising and marketing

    Funds specialised care for individuals with developmental disabilities.

Dates and titles as stated in her Marquis Who’s Who release of 9 October 2025. Illinois State University additionally lists her as an assignment editor.

Recognition

Forty-seven honours, from 1979 to 2024.

2024

Illinois State University Broadcast Hall of Fame

Inducted on 15 April 2024, one of twelve alumni that year. Confirmed by the university, not only by her own record.

2024

Four proclamations

From the Governor of Illinois, the Illinois House of Representatives, the Illinois Senate and the Rockford City Council, marking the same year.

1986

Associated Press Award

Earned in the newsroom, three years into running it, and five years before the state association elected her its president.

Illustrative portrait of Arles Hendershott Love speaking at a lectern

Service

Since 1980, mostly in one town.

Her own record of community service, set out in full: every organization, every committee and every volunteer award, in the years she served them. Several are current, including the Winnebago County Sheriff’s public safety commission, the Rockford Park District Foundation, the Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce, and RAMP, where she became a board member emeritus in 2026 after 27 years on the board.

Illustrative portrait of Arles Hendershott Love setting up a community fundraiser
2003Alpine Kiwanis
  • Touch A Life-Community Service Award recipient, April-2003
1990–2002Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders
  • Board of directors 1990 to 1995
  • Helped with overall P.R. efforts
  • Development Committee Chair 2001 to 2002
  • Northern Illinois Leadership Council Member 2001 to 2002 (Built development committee)
1982–1984American Association of University Women (Rockford Chapter)
  • Board of directors 1982 to 1984
1997–2001American Cancer Society (Northern Illinois Chapter)
  • Board of directors 1997 to 2001
  • Advocacy Committee 1998 to 2001
1997–2003American Heart Association (Northern Illinois chapter)
  • Board of directors August 1997 to February 2003
  • Board President May 1999 to February 2003 (Built board, testified to State House Committee on AED legislation, developed program to place AEDs in community, oversaw Heartwalk growth from $40,000 event to $155,000, helped develop first Sneaker Ball Gala)
  • Winnebago Co. Heartwalk Redhat chairperson 1998
  • Winnebago Co. Heartwalk Leadership committee member 1999
  • Winnebago Co. Heartwalk Leadership comm/Sponsorship Dir. 2000, 2001,2002
  • Winnebago Co. Heartwalk Leadership Comm./existing teams chair 2001
  • Illinois Statewide Advocacy Committee member 1999 to 2001
  • Division Volunteer Service award, 1998
  • Special Heart Award for Midwest Affiliate Division (3 state area), 1999
  • Member of team receiving Midwest Affiliate Advocacy Award, 1999
  • Distinguished Service Award Winnebago- Boone County (for AED work) -2000
  • Outstanding Leadership Award Winnebago/Boone Co. 2001
  • Heartwalk dedicated volunteer award 2002
  • Stephenson County Heartwalk Redhat Chairperson 1999,2000
  • Member Midwest Affiliate Nominating Committee for Affiliate Board (3 state area) and
  • National Nominating committee for Awards and National Board -2000 to 2002
1997–2005American Lung Association (Northern Illinois Chapter)
  • Board of directors 1997 to 2005
  • Christmas Seals Committee 1999,2000,2001,2002 (helped secure celebrity Christmas Seal Chairs)
  • Critics Choice Committee 2003 (secured keynote speaker)
Since 2005Association of Fundraising Professionals
  • Member 2005 to present
  • Honor Our Own Committee 2015
1997–2001Barbara Olson Center of Hope
  • Board of directors 1998 to 2001
  • Board of Directors Vice President 2000 to 2001
  • Board of Directors Secretary 1999 to 2000
  • 50th Anniversary Committee, 1997 to 1998
  • Fund Development Committee 1998 to 2000
  • Community Development committee Chair, 1999 to 2000
  • Planning committee chair 2001 (secured 100% of the donations needed for a new van which led to major expansion of job site program, developed partnership with center and On the Waterfront, obtained state funding for AED for Center)
1998–2001Burpee Museum of Natural History
  • Youth Groundwater Festival Volunteer 1998/1999/2000/2001
1992–1993Children's Development Center
  • Child Find-committee 1992 to 1993
1998–1999Convoy of Hope
  • Management Team, 1998 event
  • Secured Corporate Donations, handled P.R./media
  • Management team, 1999 event secured Corporate Donations, handled P.R./media (developed job fair for event and health fair, securing all donations)
1997–1998DeKalb Airshow
  • Volunteer 1997 to 1998
1987–1993Discovery Center Children's Museum
  • Board of directors 1987 to 1993 served on various committees including personnel and marketing (secured all funding for the television studio at the museum)
1997–2001Family Consultation Services
  • Board of directorsector 1997 to 2001
  • Public Relations Committee 1997 to 1999
  • Nominating Committee 1998 to 2001
  • Nominating Committee Chair 1999 to 2001
2001First Assembly Of God Church
  • Christian Educators Trainer 2001
2001–2002First Evangelical Free Church
  • Substitute Sunday School Teacher 2001 to 2002
  • Media advisory committee 2002
  • Summerwood P.R. committee 2002 (secured weekly free hour of TV time on Insight communications for broadcast of church services, and obtained donation of 10 computer station for multi media lab)
1997–2004Focus on Schools Committee (Rockford Public Schools student recognition program)
  • Essay/Art contest judge 1997/1998/1999/2000/2001/2002/2003/2004
1998Friends of the Coronado
  • Telethon Planning Committee and show producer 1998
2002Friends of P.A. Peterson
  • Celebration 2002 event chairman
1997–2004Golden Apple Teaching Excellence award
  • Board of Director 1997 to 2004
  • Public Relations Committee 1997 to 2000
  • Sponsorship Committee 1999 to 2002
  • Banquet committee 2001 to 2004 (Helped develop award program from its inception)
Since 2020Illinois State University
  • College of Arts and Sciences, School of Communications Advisory Board 2020 to present
  • Homecoming Honored Alum 2021
1998–2004Junior Achievement
  • Volunteer
  • "Economics of Staying in School" (Jr. High) classroom volunteer 1998 to 1999, 1999 to 2000, 2000-
  • 2001
  • Site Host Ground Hog Day Shadowing Program, 1999,2000, 2001, 2002,2003,2004
  • Our Community (2nd grade) classroom volunteer 1999, 2000
  • Our City (3rd grade) classroom volunteer 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004
  • Elementary School Volunteer of the Year 2002
  • Keynote Speaker Volunteer recognition breakfast 2003
1984Ken Rock Community Center
  • Volunteer Leadership Award -1984
2005Kids Around The World
  • Volunteer for Tsunami Relief Efforts for India and Sri Lanka Orphanages, 2005
1996–2001La Voz Latina
  • 25th Anniversary Celebration Committee 1996 to 1997
  • 30th Anniversary Celebration Committee 2001 (PR committee chair)
2000–2009Lifescape Community Service
  • Big Wheels Do Meals Volunteer 2000,2001,2002,2003,2004
  • Capital campaign spokesperson 2003,2004
  • Telethon committee and program producer 2004
  • Golden Star Outstanding Volunteer award 2009
1998Love Your Kids Lock Your Gun Campaign
  • Executive Planning Committee 1998
1998Midway Village and Museum Center
  • September Swing fund raiser committee 1998
1993–1995Midwest Airfest
  • Board of directors 1993 to 1995
1993–2003Mountain Of Toys
  • Committee 1993 to 2003
1999–2003Muscular Dystrophy Association of Northern Illinois
  • MDA Lock- Up C Jailee (raised $1200 bail) April 1999
  • Jailee (raised $900 bail) June 2000
  • Jailee (raised $500 bail) June 2001
  • Jailee (raised $500 bail) August 2003
2000–2017National Society Fundraising Executives
  • National Philanthropy Day Awards judge 2000,2001
  • Honor your Own Committee 2015 to 2017
1997–2012Northern Illinois Botanical Society
  • Board of directors 1997 to 2002
  • Garden Glory event committee 1999, 2001
  • Garden Fair Committee 1999, 2001
  • Twilight in the garden committee 2011 to 2012
1980–2004Northern Illinois March of Dimes
  • Board of directors 1980 to 1985
  • Certificates of Merit 1981, 1982
  • Helped develop Public Relations Campaigns
  • Annual District Awards Committee 1999 to 2000
  • District Media Award 1999
  • WalkAmerica Honorary Chair 2004
1986–1996Northern Illinois University
  • Communications Department guest lecturer 1986 to 1996
2004–2010Northeast Christian Church
  • Crisis Care Counselor 2004 to 2005
  • Card ministry Coordinator 2004 to 2006
  • Audio Visual Department volunteer 2006 to 2010
1980–2005Northwest Illinois Special Olympics
  • Volunteer/Track and Field Committee 1980 to 2005
  • Helped with public relations and volunteer recruitment
  • Media Campaign Award for State of Illinois 1989
  • Spring games Volunteer Recognition Award 1999
1997–2012On the Waterfront
  • Admiral's Club Committee 2006 to 2012
  • Sponsor Relations Committee- 1997 to 2005
  • Weekend Warrior award for outstanding volunteer service, 1998
2000–2014OSF St. Anthony Medical Center
  • Women's Health Advisory Board 2000 to 2014
  • Foundation Capital Fund Drive Special Gifts Committee 2000 to 2001
  • Pink Ball committee 2004 to 2005
1997–2004Red Cross of Rock River Valley
  • Outstanding Service Award Administration and Service Area 2001
  • Marketing Committee 1997 to 2004
  • Speaker's Bureau Chair 1998, 1999 (developed partnerships between On the Waterfront and Illinois Snow Sculpting Competition and the Red Cross)
Since 1995Regional Access and Mobilization Project (RAMP)
  • Marketing committee 1995
  • Board Member Emeritus 2026 to present
  • Board of Directors 1999 to 2026
  • Board Past President 2025 to 2026
  • Board President 2006 to 2009, 2023 to 2025
  • Board Vice president 2002 to 2006, 2021 to 2023
  • Board Secretary 2000 to 2002
  • Board Vice President 2021-
  • Advocacy Committee 1999 to 2000
  • One of top 5 fundraisers for Rockford Wheel-a-thon 2000,2002,2003
  • #2 fund raiser for Rockford Wheel a Thon 2001 (over $1050)
  • United Way RAMP Volunteer of the Year 2009
1999–2000Rockford 2000
  • Planning Committee
  • Sponsorship/media Committee 1999
  • Disability Awareness event committee 1999 to 2000
Since 1991Rockford Area Chamber of Commerce
  • Welcome Home Committee 1991 developed program to welcome home Desert Storm vets
  • President's Club 1992 to 2005
  • Chamber Ambassador 1997 to 2007
  • Public Policy Committee 1997 to present
  • Health and Social issues committee co-chair 2005 to 2007
  • Mentor for Women mentoring women program 2004 to 2005
  • AED placement program and education committee chairman 2000 (developed program to place discount AEDs in businesses with free training and secured funding for AED for chamber)
1997–2015Rockford Boys and Girls Club
  • Board of Directors 1997 to 2015
  • Support Services Committee 2000 to 2002
  • Board Development Committee 2202 to 2003
  • Board Development Committee Chair 2003 to 2010
  • Toy Drive Committee 2004
1998Rockford Golf Classic Tournament for Special Olympics
  • Board of directors 1998 (Secured Corporate Sponsors)
2005–2015Rockford Health System
  • Ambassador 2005 to 2015
1986Rockford Jaycees
  • Presidential Award of Honor for Community Service, 1986
1981–1987Rockford Lens and Shutter Club
  • member 1981 to 1987
  • Board of Directors 1982 to 1985
  • President-1984 to 1985 (secured Arts Council Grants for special educational programs)
Since 2010Rockford Park District Foundation
  • Donor Development Committee 2010 to 2013
  • Sunsingers Ambassadors Co-Chair 2010 to 2013 (worked with Foundation staff developing new program designed to build awareness of the Foundation and its work)
  • IPRA/IAPD Community Service Award from the Rockford Park District Foundation—2012
  • Goose Patrol Member 2019 to 2023 2025 to present
1998–1999Rockford's Promise
  • Advisory Committee, 1998 to 1999
  • Fundraising/Sponsorship Committee member 1999
2002–2004Rockford Public Library Foundation
  • Literary Night Book reviewer 2002, 2003,2004
1980–2001Rockford Public Schools
  • Source Speaker 1980 to 1992, 1997 to 2000, 2000 to 2001
1998–2008Rockford Rescue Mission
  • Telethon Planning Committee 1998,1999,2001,2002,2003,2004,2005,2006,2007,2008
  • Financial development committee advisor 2001
  • Volunteer Award for Telethon hitting over $1,000,000, 2008
2012Rockford Rotary Club
  • Service Above Self Award, 2012
1988–2023Rockford/Winnebago County Crimestoppers
  • Board of directorsector 1988 to 2023
  • President 2012 to 2023
  • First Vice-Chair 2009 to 2012
  • Board Secretary 1999 to 2000, 2000 to 2001, 2001 to 2002,2002 to 2003,2003 to 2004
  • 2004 to 2005,2005 to 2006, 2006 to 2007, 2007 to 2008, 2008 to 2009
  • Public relations committeeittee chair 1992 to 1996, 1998 to 2002
  • School committee chair 2000, 2001
  • Received Outstanding Crimestopper of the year award 1995 and in 2000
  • Grants and Scholarship Committee 2001, 2006 to 2016
  • Annual Fundraiser Raffle Chair, 2000,2001,2002,2003,2004
  • K9 Officer Fund Raising Chair 2015
1987–2021Rockford Y.W.C.A.
  • Public Relations Committee 1987
  • Board of Directors 1997 to 1999
  • Personnel Committee 1997 to 1999
  • Chairperson Personnel Committee 1998 to 1999
  • Leader Luncheon Award Winner for Professional Women, 1991
  • Leader Luncheon Council P.R. Committee 1992
  • Leader Luncheon Individual awards committee 1993 to 1998 (chair 1995 to 1998)
  • Nominating Committee 2000 to 2001 2001 to 2002
  • Women of Achievement Planning Committee 2013 to 2016
  • Women of Achievement Scholarship judge 2015 to 2021
1986–1997Rock River Training Corporation
  • Class Speaker 1986 to 1997
2000–2004Rock Valley College
  • Commencement Speaker May 2001
  • Guest Lecturer, Broadcasting classes 2001, 2002,2003,2004
  • Foundation special gifts committee 2000 to 2002
1997–1999RocVale Children's Home
  • Balloon Rally Committee 1997 to 1999
  • Entertainment chair 1997 to 1998
  • Public Relations Co-Chair 1999
1998–2004Salvation Army
  • Christmas Kettle Bell Ringer, 1998, 1999,2000,2001,2002,2003
  • Women's auxiliary member 1999 to 2004
  • Second Vice President Women's Auxiliary 2000 to 2002
  • First Vice President Women's Auxiliary 2002 to 2004
1999Smoke Detector Give Away
  • Program Chairperson April 1999 (secured all funding for the smoke detector given away to needy families)
1999–2005Swedish American Health System
  • Women's Consumer Advisory Board 1999 to 2005
  • Spirit of Women Award Finalist 2001
2004The Mill
  • P.R./Development committee 2004
1997–2003United Way of Rock River Valley
  • Marketing Committee 1997 to 2002
  • Campaign Account Executive 1997 to 2001,2002,2003
  • Annual Campaign Cabinet Media Section Chair 1998
  • Annual Campaign Cabinet Media Section Chair 1999
  • Annual Campaign Cabinet Media Section Chair 2000
  • Annual Campaign Cabinet Services Group Chair 2001
  • Volunteer Service Award 1998/1999 campaign
  • Media Alliance committee for telethon 2001 to 2002
1998–1999U.S Air Force
  • United States Air Force Honorary Recruiter Award 1998
  • United States Air Force Salutes Award 1999
1983–2000Westminster Presbyterian Church
  • Various Committees 1983 to 1990
  • Learning Hour Teacher 1983 to 2000
1990–2003Winnebago County Bar Association
  • Law day free Legal Helpline 1990 to 2003 (developed the program from its inception)
Since 2015Winnebago County Sheriff's Department
  • Member Public Safety Commission 2015 to present
1989–1991Working with our Elders
  • Board of directors 1989 to 1991 (Helped Develop Public relations Publications)
1999WQFL/WGSL
  • Fund Raising Banquet Committee 1999
1988–1999ZONTA (service organization)
  • member/various committees 1988 to 1999
  • Received Best Public Relations Campaign Award for District 6, 1989

Professional organizations

1989–1992Associated Press Advisory Board for Illinois
  • member 1989 to 1992
  • President 1991 to 1992
1980–1997Illinois News Broadcasters Association
  • member 1980 to 1997
1986–1997Radio/Television News Directors Association
  • member 1986 to 1997
  • Illinois State Co-ordinator 1989 to 1993, 1995 to 1996
1998–2000National Broadcasters Association For Community Affairs
  • member 1998 to 2000
2006–2019Association of Fundraising Professionals
  • member 2006 to 2019

Philanthropy

Three endowed scholarships, in the places that taught her and the places she loves.

Endowed scholarships carry on paying out after the person who set them up has stopped working. These are hers.

Rockford, IllinoisRock Valley CollegeEndowed scholarship
Normal, IllinoisIllinois State University, School of CommunicationsEndowed scholarship at the school she graduated from in 1979
Madison, WisconsinUniversity of Wisconsin School of Veterinary MedicineEndowed scholarship

Education

  • Illinois State UniversityBS in communications, high honors, 1979. Normal, Illinois.
  • University of Missouri-ColumbiaMaster’s level coursework in broadcast management, 1990.

Certified, 2024

  • Certified Nonprofit ExecutiveNational Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Executives
  • Certified Development ExecutiveSame body, same year
  • Certified Nonprofit ConsultantSame body, same year

Memberships

  • National Association of Female Executives
  • Illinois News Broadcasters Association
  • Society of Professional Journalists
  • American Management Association
  • Zonta
  • Archaeological Institute of America
  • University of Chicago Oriental Institute

Away from the work: travelling, photography, dog training, and competing in dog sports.

Contact

Through the work, not through a form.

No direct contact details appear in the public record, so rather than a form that quietly discards enquiries, here are the two institutions she is publicly attached to.

Milestone, Inc.Rockford, Illinois. Where she has been development director for twenty years.
Illinois State UniversityThe university’s own announcement of her 2024 Broadcast Hall of Fame induction.

Career facts on this page are drawn from her Marquis Who’s Who release of 9 October 2025 and, where noted, from Illinois State University. Photographs are illustrative reconstructions of the settings she worked in, made with her approval. They are not documentary photographs of the events described.

© 2026 Arles Hendershott Love