Each Spring and Fall, the Kiwanis Club of Aurora Foundation awards grants to local nonprofits. Spring awardees will be introduced during the July 30 Kiwanis Club noon meeting at Prisco Community Center in Aurora.
The Kiwanis Foundation made awards of $7,500 in grants, split among nine applicants: Association for Individual Development, Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry, Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Breaking Free, Inc., Fox Valley Montessori School, Fox Valley Park Foundation, Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation, Royal Family Kids Camp of Kane County and Simply Destinee.
• Since 1961, the Association for Individual Development (AID), has served individuals with developmental, intellectual, physical and/or mental health challenges, those who have suffered a trauma and those at risk. AID operates in the greater Fox Valley area and other western suburban counties. Serving more than 5,500 children and adults, AID operates community day centers in Elgin, Aurora, Batavia and Yorkville as well as mental health outpatient clinics throughout the Fox Valley.
The Kiwanis grant will help provide expressive therapy as part of the Children’s Behavioral Health program for five- to 17-year-old at-risk young persons.
• A grant to the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry will help support food and nutritional assistance to individuals and families in need.
Aurora Area Interfaith Food Pantry operates one of the largest food pantries in Northern Illinois, distributing 47,000 grocery baskets full of food to approximately 23,000 unique, low-income residents annually.
The mission of the food pantry is to help end local hunger by ensuring that everyone has access to enough nourishing food, thereby helping the overall community stay healthy and productive.
• The Kiwanis grant will help in the development of a new hands-on, interactive fire safety exhibit at the Aurora Regional Fire Museum.
The museum is in Aurora’s old Central Fire Station. The museum is open to the public and features a variety of interactive exhibits designed to educate and entertain children and families.
• Breaking Free is committed to one goal: Helping individuals and families live in a community where everyone reaches their full potential. They do this by building strong family foundations and rebuilding those impacted by substance use and other life challenges.
For more than 40 years, Breaking Free’s passionate and proven approach has been strengthening the lives of 15,000 individuals annually. The staff members use nationally-recognized prevention and educational programs to build the life skills individuals need to thrive and make positive decisions for themselves and their families.
The Kiwanis Foundation funds will be used to support the Nurturing Parenting Program designed to combat child abuse.
• Grant funds will be used to buy 10 two-way radio communication units for Fox Valley Montessori School for emergency use.
Fox Valley Montessori School is community based. Each Montessori classroom is designed to allow each child to engage at his or her developmental level. A minimum of 15 hours of continuing education per teacher is required annually.
• Fox Valley Park Foundation applied funds to Summer playground fees for children ages six to 11 whose families are experiencing financial hardship.
The Fox Valley Park Foundation was established in 1981 as a nonprofit corporation to promote social equity, health and wellness, and conservation for the Fox Valley Park District community. The Foundation Board is comprised of Park District Commissioners and members from the community at large.
Aided by generous supporters, the Fox Valley Park Foundation provides access to recreation for all residents regardless of financial ability.
• Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation used Kiwanis funds for scholarship assistance for the Summer Day Camp Program.
The Fox Valley Special Recreation Foundation supports the recreation, leisure and social opportunities provided for individuals with disabilities by the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association since 2010.
The FVSRA is comprised of seven member agencies that span nearly 450,000 households.
• Royal Family Kids Camp of Kane County used the grant dollars toward three summer camps for children in foster care or from at-risk homes.
Royal Family Kids Camp is about creating positive, life-changing moments for innocent children who have been victims of neglect, abuse, and abandonment. Their motto is to Treat People Royally, Keep Moving Forward and Make Moments Matter. The Camp’s vision is for every foster child, ages six to 12, to experience a life-changing camp and mentoring club.
• Simply Destinee is a youth Dance Team that promotes suicide awareness in memory of Destinee A. Oliva.
Simply Destinee and its team members are dedicated to caring for Aurora’s youth and inspiring positivity in their lives, families, and community.
Simply Destinee kids can express themselves through all different styles of dance such as salsa, bachata, merengue, cumbia, hip hop, swing, and waltz.
The grant funds will go to a new art program at Simply Destinee and will purchase supplies for this new endeavor.
For more information about grants and an application, go to aurorakiwanis.org/Page/16580. Grant applications are due for the next cycle November 1.
—Kiwanis Club of Aurora