The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley (CFFRV) announced 14 grants were awarded totaling $254,796 to support local nonprofit organizations doing critically important work to improve the quality of life in Chicago’s Fox River Valley.
Individual grants via the Community Foundation’s fall 2023 grant cycle range from $2,300 to $100,000, and will help the following Fox Valley nonprofits better serve local residents’ needs:
Anderson Humane, a leading animal shelter in South Elgin, cares for more than 3,000 injured and orphaned animals each year. Their Community Foundation grant will fund needed renovations to the shelter to better care for animals and create mutually beneficial human-animal connections.
Batavia United Way’s mission is to increase the public’s awareness and support of social service needs as well as act as a conduit for the collection of community contributions. Their Community Foundation grant will fund phone and computer upgrades.
Campton Historic Agricultural Lands, located between Geneva and Elburn, works to preserve and protect the historic, agricultural, and natural resources for future generations. Their Community Foundation grant will be used to purchase and install a new fire and security alarm system at the Garfield Farm Museum.
City of Lights Theatre & Cabaret, founded in Aurora in 2021, is a new performing arts group working to educate and enhance the Fox Valley community by presenting quality, professional-caliber musical theater using local artists. Their Community Foundation grant will buy wireless microphones with receivers.
Fox Valley Music Foundation, is dedicated to preserving and presenting wonderful music of the Fox Valley area. Their Community Foundation grant will help purchase backline music instruments and equipment.
Fox Valley Older Adult Services (dba Fox Valley Community Services) has helped local senior citizens live active, independent lives since 1972. Their Community Foundation grant will go towards the purchase and installation of new carpeting for their program room in Sandwich.
Lighthouse Foundation in St. Charles provides substance use recovery and mental health services to clients in need. Their Community Foundation grant will be used to purchase medical supplies and furnishings.
Mutual Ground, Inc. in Aurora empowers individuals, families, and communities to eliminate domestic and sexual violence and the harms of substance use. Their Community Foundation grant will be used to make exterior repairs to the building’s outdoor concrete walkway.
Oswegoland Seniors, Inc., a Fox Valley nonprofit serving the senior community, promotes their well-being by improving their quality of life and extending independent living. Their Community Foundation grant will be used to install technology upgrades.
SciTech provides STEM learning through mobile initiatives and community engagement. Their Community Foundation grant will be used for furniture, equipment, and technology for their Batavia office.
St. Charles Arts Council serves and promotes arts and cultural activities in St. Charles. Their Community Foundation grant will help to purchase a new computer.
The START Program is an Aurora-based non-profit offering youth mentoring services and activities at no cost. Their Community Foundation grant will purchase physical activity equipment for the youth they serve.
TriCity Family Services, based in Geneva, provides quality, accessible and affordable mental health services. Their Community Foundation grant is for a door replacement and an upgraded network provider.
VNA Health Care in Aurora is dedicated to improving health equity and reducing health disparities with high-quality, accessible, and compassionate care. Their Community Foundation grant will go toward building renovation and expansion.
“We are so fortunate to have community partners like The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley. We are incredibly grateful for their generous grant,” said Dean Daubert, CEO, Anderson Humane. “These funds will help us make much-needed housing, safety, and infrastructure improvements at our shelter. The deserving dogs in our care will be able to enjoy much-needed kennel upgrades. It will greatly improve their comfort, and hopefully bring them one step closer to finding a loving family.”
— Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
Celebrating 75 Years: The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
In 1943, Charles Hoefer, publisher of the Aurora Beacon News, convened community leaders to study post-war plans for a better Aurora. Meetings occurred weekly and would lead to the creation of a community foundation several years later. The first meeting of the Aurora Foundation was held on November 23, 1948. The Foundation launched with one $5,000 fund, and it awarded its first scholarships of $150 each to four students.
Today, the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is the third-largest community foundation in Illinois. It is a non-profit organization with more than 660 funds and over $126 million in assets, thanks to the many individuals and families who have generously supported the Foundation’s general fund or established their own charitable funds.
In 2023, the Foundation celebrated its 75th Anniversary, awarding more than $2.3 million in scholarships to 450 Fox Valley college and trade students, as well as 41 grants totaling over $615,000 to support local non-profits doing important work to improve the quality of life in the Fox River Valley.
In sum, since 1948, the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley has provided more than $103 million to the community in the form of scholarships for students and grants to local non-profit organizations.
For more information, visit cffrv.org.