September 2016 e  - Memorandum


Our Mission 

"To provide effective and rewarding ways for donors to fulfill their philanthropic objectives."

Our Vision

"To be recognized as a trusted philanthropic leader in the communities we serve through the delivery of the highest quality donor services, customized and unique grant and scholarship programs, and bold initiatives to address community needs."

Upcoming Events
September 9 - 10, 2016
Giant Steps Golf Outing at Rich Harvest Farms

Saturday, September 10, 2016
Fox Mill 5K & Color Run/Walk
in Honor of Cameron Pepera

Saturday, September 10, 2016
Suicide Prevention Services
Life Walk

Saturday, September 10, 2016
Banding Together for A+ Foundation for West Aurora Schools
Friday, September 16, 2016
St. Augustine College - "Raising Dollars For Scholars" Golf Outing
Sunday, September 18, 2016
Anderson Animal Shelter's 

Friday, Spetember 30, 2016
VNA Health Care UnCorked Wine Tasting Fundraiser

Saturday, October 1, 2016
Lifespring Benefit Auction

Tuesday, October 4, 2016
Marklund's Run Walk and Roll 5k

Friday, October 7, 2016
Last Day to Submit Letters of Intent
________________________________

Grant News
The Community Foundation is accepting Letters of Intent from 
non-profit agencies for the Fall 2016 grant cycle. The forms are available on our grantmaking page .

Foundation grants are awarded for capital purposes in the areas of education, social services, health care and arts & humanities.

After Letters of Intent are submitted, each agency will be contacted to determine their eligibility, talk about their project, and schedule a site visit.

The deadline to submit a Letter of Intent is Friday, October 7, 2016.
________________________________


Grantee Spotlight
St. Augustine College

Last year, St. Augustine College was awarded a Community Foundation grant for landscaping and repairs at its 841 Lake Street location in  Aurora.

 
These photos show St. Augustine's parking lot before and after the landscaping project.

St. Augustine College aims to serve as the bridge to a better future for all those who want to progress through education. It is the first bilingual institution of higher education in Illinois and one of few in the country.

There are 200 students enrolled in morning and evening classes at the Aurora location, and nearly 1,500
students attend the five locations in the Chicago area.

The college is active in the community and partners with organizations such as the City of Aurora and Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to offer opportunities for students, faculty and staff to be engaged as partners and volunteers.   For more information, visit  www.staugustine.edu.


The Foundation's Julie Christman (second from right) visited with the staff of St. Augustine College.
________________________________


Scholarship
News
books_laptop_apple.jpg
The 2016 Community Foundation Scholarship Program is now complete.  We had over 700 applications and awarded nearly 350 scholarships. We awarded roughly $675,000 for the 2016-2017 academic year.  This level of support is a record for the Foundation! 

Applications for the 2017 Scholarship Program will be available in late November 2016 through early February 2017. 

A list of this year's scholarship recipients and the awards they received can be viewed on our  website. Congratulations to all of these students, and best of luck as you head back to school!
________________________________


Our Donors
We are deeply grateful to the individuals, businesses and organizations that commit to the charitable needs of the community. Follow the link below to view this year's donors. 


The lists of our donors are updated quarterly. They are available to view on our website.
Introducing New Funds!
Three New Funds Created Within CFFRV

Water Street Studios , located in Batavia, is a nonprofit organization committed to making the creative arts accessible to the Fox River Valley. They recently established the Water Street Studios Endowment Fund  within the Community Foundation.  A gift to  to this fund will help assure that this vibrant hub for the appreciation, creation, education and support of the arts, and its core community of artists, students and patrons will continue to grow, thrive and enrich the lives of everyone in our community. 

The Marie Wilkinson Legacy Fund was established to help with underwriting expenses related to the historical preservation and promotion of Marie Wilkinson's legacy, beginning with a historical autobiography.   Marie Wilkinson (1909-2010) devoted her life to causes that advance the dignity of all people in the City of Aurora.  She established the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry and later the Marie Wilkinson Child Care Center.  She was responsible for the formation of the Aurora Human Relations Commission in 1964, an organization she chaired for over thirty years. Her influence was so far-reaching that a park was named in her honor.  Be a part of extending Marie's spirit by donating to the Marie Wilkinson Legacy Fund.

The Emily R. Frantz Scholarship for Public School Teaching Fund was established to provide scholarships to graduates of East Aurora High School who plan to pursue a career teaching in the public school system.  Emily Ravlin Frantz (1917-2007) was  enrolled in her first year of college in 1934 when her brother Lloyd became ill with polio. She had to stay home on the family farm and help take care of him. Emily never went back to college, but she and her husband Tom made sure that all four of their children graduated from college.  Emily married Thomas T. Frantz in 1939. They lived in Aurora during the war years, then in Sugar Grove from 1946 to 1952 in the oldest house in the township (which is now the office of the Sugar Grove Historical Society). Emily and Tom eventually moved back to Aurora. Together they raised four children, Tom, Jeffrey, Doug and Lois, all of whom graduated from East Aurora High School.  Emily was PTA President of the Sugar Grove Grade School, Center School in Aurora, and East Aurora High School. She worked at the Beacon-News and later at Brady Elementary School in Aurora as a teacher's aide. She also sang in the choir and was active in Fourth Street Methodist Church.  Emily was a quiet person, very hard working, but preferring to be behind the scenes. She placed a high value on education, often saying, "It's one thing nobody can ever take away from you."
Fine Line Creative Arts Center
CFFRV Brings Pizza Party to Fine Line
In an effort to thank the nonprofit agencies that serve our area, the Community Foundation brings a pizza party to a different agency each quarter. The agency is chosen by a random draw of our Facebook followers. Our latest party recipient was Fine Line Creative Arts Center in St. Charles. 

Fine Line Creative Arts Center is a not-for-profit educational art school that offers classes for adults in fine arts and crafts for all levels of experience. They provide instruction, exploration, and appreciation of traditional and contemporary fine arts and crafts in an inspirational and natural setting. They offer year-round classes in textiles, ceramics, jewelry and metalsmithing, glass arts, painting, paper arts and more.

Currently located in a restored barn on four acres in the St. Charles countryside, Fine Line opened its doors in September of 1979 as a small gallery in Geneva, Illinois.  Since that time, it has relocated twice and grown to be one of only a few regional art centers in this country.

Ellen Ljung shows Foundation staff Greg Probst and Heather Johnson a loom in the shop.
Fine Line Executive director Lynn Caldwell and board president Ellen Ljung gave the Foundation staff tours of the facility, which included glimpses into the weaving, pottery, and glass workshops. 
There is also a shop on site where artists can sell their work.


null
Jeff Hartman thanks Fine Line staff and volunteers.
During the event, Foundation president Jeff Hartman took a moment to thank the Fine Line staff and volunteers for their service to the community. He also spoke about the value of the partnership between the Foundation and local agencies. "We are honored to provide support for Fine Line in its mission," Hartman said. "We are also thankful for the trust and confidence you have shown in the Community Foundation by starting an endowment fund with us that will support your agency in perpetuity." Fine Line has received Community Foundation grants over the past several years to purchase new doors, lighting, and an electric kiln. The agency established an  endowment fund  within the Community Foundation in 2007. 
   
Fine Line Creative Arts Center is making efforts to become more visible in the community and to get the word out about it's classes and artists. "Fine Line has been called the 'best kept secret' of the Fox Valley," Ellen Ljung explained. "Not many people know about us, but we provide so many creative outlets for people to explore."

To learn more about what Fine Line Creative Arts Center has to offer, visit their website.
A Tribute to Eleanor C. Hungar
New Historic Video Features Eleanor Hungar
In 2006, the Eleanor C. Hungar Scholarship Endowment Fund was established within the Community Foundation through a generous bequest from the estate of Eleanor Hungar. Our most recent historic video highlights the life of Eleanor and traces her career at Freeman Elementary School in Aurora. Visit the Foundation's  Video History Series page to view this tribute to one of Aurora's most talented and admired educators in the history of the West Aurora schools. 
Back To School With Fit For Kids!
Agency is Making Kane County Fit For Kids 

It is Back to School time for Making Kane Fit for Kids!

Making Kane County Fit for Kids is a public-private partnership that promotes community based initiatives of healthy eating and active lifestyles. Here are a couple of ways Fit for Kids is promoting healthy habits in the community. 

Walk to School Day:  October 5, 2016. Walking to school incorporates the regular physical activity children need  while also igniting a culture of healthy habits both at school and home. Last year, thousands of students from 63  schools participated in Kane County. Walk to School Day is a global event involving students from 40 countries  walking or biking to their schools on the same day.


Brown Bag for Healthy Kids Challenge: Businesses and organizations are designating one day for employees or  members to bring healthy lunches and donate to Making Kane Fit for Kids. Dollars raised go towards reducing  childhood obesity in Kane County through healthy initiatives in schools. 

For more information, visit makingkanefitforkids.org .

Donations can be made by visiting the Kane County Fit For Kids Fund page on our website.
                   
  111 W. Downer Place, Suite 312,   Aurora, IL 60506
  127 South First Street, Suite 215, Geneva, IL 60134
  Ph: 630-896-7800      Fx: 630-896-7811