“Albert Zari believed in the power of education,” said Patricia B. Stewart, trustee of the Albert M. Zari Foundation.
“While he only had an eighth-grade education himself, Mr. Zari became a successful businessman, and his wish was to provide scholarships to local students to give them an opportunity to further their education.”
That wish will continue to come true for Fox River Valley students, thanks to the recent transfer of $6.6 million of assets from the Albert M. Zari Foundation to the Albert M. Zari Scholarship Fund.
Already, over $6.9 million in scholarships have been awarded to 348 Fox Valley students via the Albert M. Zari Scholarship Fund, established in 2015 and administered by the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley.
“With the recent transfer of over $6.6 million of assets from the Zari Foundation to the Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation, these scholarships will continue into the future,” confirmed Albert M. Zari Foundation trustee Jeffrey A. Schroeder.
Zari, a resident of St. Charles, passed away in February 2014 at the age of 94. A native of Chicago, he was the son of Peter and Delfina Zari and husband to Carole. With an eighth-grade education, and after completing an electrician’s apprenticeship program, Zari became a successful businessman. He was the founder of A.M. Zari Construction Company.
To reflect his belief in the power of education, Zari directed that the Albert M. Zari Foundation be established upon his death. The Albert M. Zari Scholarship Fund was then created after his death to carry out his wishes to provide scholarships.
Living proof is Deborah Armah, a 2025 graduate of Yorkville High School, now studying nursing at Lewis University. Armah is one of the 348 area students who have benefited from an Albert M. Zari Scholarship to date. “Like Mr. Zari, I also believe in the power of education,” she said. “This scholarship will hopefully lessen the weight of loans on my family, and make it a little easier to pursue a degree in nursing. I chose nursing because I believe there is a big disparity in healthcare when it comes to people of color, and I want to help lessen this disparity especially when it comes to black women and maternal mortality.”
Patrick Collins, a 2023 graduate of Kaneland High School and fellow Zari Scholarship recipient, said, “this generous support will significantly aid me as I pursue my undergraduate degree in Agribusiness at Illinois State University. With a background rooted in hands-on agricultural experience and a passion for advancing modern farming practices, I am excited to continue growing both in and out of the classroom. This scholarship not only eases the financial burden of my education but also motivates me to give back to my community and apply my learning to improve the agricultural landscape.”
If you’re a Fox Valley resident in search of support to attend college, graduate school, or trade school, the application for the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley’s 2027-28 Scholarship Program will be posted online at cffrv.org in November 2026.
Eligibility is reserved for students graduating from public high schools located within the following Illinois School Districts: Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Oswego, Sycamore, DeKalb, Kaneland, Yorkville, or Plano. Students continuing their studies in trade schools are eligible for these scholarships.
—Jay Kelly PR