Legal Question in Employment Law in Illinois

I work for a non for profit. My wife an I are a team. (She is considered a volunteer) She was accused of stealing 295-300 dollars. The time frame she was to steal the money was on a Sunday afternoon. However she was at a community function and has pictures with dates and times and people as witnesses that she was there. I pulled the alarm code report for activity on that day and found that someone had used my wifes alarm code to enter the building. I discovered that anyone on the network had access to the file with all employees alarm codes. However this was after my employer had conducted an internal investigation and "threw my wife under the bus" The investigation only involved talking to staff and did not stay focused on the issue. At the same time my Advisory board chair several months ago wanted to have a vote of "no confidence" which is out of bounds for an advisory board. They are not a board of directors. However he pushed her guilt before other board members and my employer. There was no one who waited until the facts were in. This was most humiliating thing I have ever faced. I have worked for this employer for 26 years and have lost my joy, my reason for working for this company. Eventually, I had to make a public announcement that I was being transferred ( I am well known in this community) On the web were comments that my wife and I were being moved due to stealing. Many rumors around the community I even answered questions on a radio interview addressing the rumors. It even effected my staff and became office gossip. This was difficult to handle. I have had many sleepless nights and have lost 10+lbs. Do I have legal grounds for a defamation of character against my board chair who is a volunteer and my employer? If you need more info let me know... this is difficult to keep concise.

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