2010 Grant Recipients
Unless otherwise noted, all Grants are distributed through the
Foundation's Unrestricted Fund, which receives donations from all residents
and grant sources year-round.
City of Marengo Police Department $5,000
The Marengo Police Department believes there is a direct correlation between using police canines and their ability to reduce drug use in Marengo. After receiving a private donation of $12,000 to start the Marengo Police Canine Program, the McHenry County Community Foundation found this to be a beneficial program to support with a grant, a proactive response to the needs of the Marengo community and its residents.
Crystal Lake Babe Ruth Baseball League $1,250
The Crystal Lake Babe Ruth Baseball League provides many wonderful opportunities for the youth of McHenry County to play baseball under the lights. With over 50,000 individuals attending games, this grant in support of the purchase of a much-needed defibrillator will ensure the health, safety, and well being of all who gather to enjoy this beloved American sport.
Family Alliance, Inc. $5,000
The Dementia Specific Day Care Program at Family Alliance utilizes a Montessori approach that both responds to and assists the individual experiencing dementia, while also providing caregivers some much needed respite. Because most care for Dementia and Alzheimer's patients is not fully covered by insurance companies, individuals and families must pay for these beneficial support services. The programs offered at Family Alliance benefit patients and their caretakers significantly - improving everyone's quality of life. Family Alliance provides services to all individuals regardless of their physical, medical, or financial situation.
Family Services & Community Mental Health $6,500
Family Night Programming is an eight week program that consists of a family meal, children's group activities, a parenting workshop, and a multiple family event at the end of a 2-hour evening session. This program was created for at-risk families to include and support the entire family unit. Family Night allows families to engage immediately in services, rather than waiting for several months before being offered any assistance for individual group therapy, if needed. The family meal affords the families time to sit together, socialize with other families, and enjoy a nutritious meal. Family Night has reduced the child/adolescent waiting list at Family Services by 70% in its first year. This grant was made possible through the James and Karlen Cooney Family Fund of MCCF.
Free Guitars for Future Stars $4,000
Free Guitars for Future Stars began its mission in January 2009, with the vision of providing guitars and guitar lessons to children ages 7-17 from lower-income McHenry County families. As this group continues to thrive it has expanded with the start of a new after school group that meets at Woodstock North High School. The new location provided the group an opportunity to accommodate an additional 40-50 students. In the new program, students will receive guitars, cases, picks, straps, strings, music, and weekly group lessons. The lessons teach students proper care and maintenance of the guitar, basic notation reading, tablature reading, and cord playing. This grant funding provides Free Guitars for Future Stars the ability to have four classes of 12 students each, and presents an environment that stimulates learning while students strive to build lasting music skills for future advancement. Students successfully completing the program will be allowed to keep their guitar throughout the eight months of group lessons.
Girls on the Run of McHenry County $7,500
A capacity building project can now be part of the Girls on the Run 2011 spring season with the granting of these funds - allowing Girls on the Run to establish new, invaluable educational opportunities for those that participate. Girls on the Run empowers girls with the tools and skills needed to make educated decisions about how to combat problems in their personal lives; celebrate their bodies; honor their voices; recognize their gifts; and, activate their individual power. This capacity building project will provide for growth of the program by 10 new schools, leading to quality programs throughout all of McHenry County. This grant was made possible in part through the Carol & Minno Halma Family Fund and the Community Foundation.
Habitat for Humanity $2,160
This grant will support Habitat for Humanity in the purchase of specialized replacement construction tools needed for a safer working environment, allowing workers to offer much needed services across McHenry County. To date, Habitat for Humanity in McHenry County has provided 17 lower income families a home to call their own. This grant was made possible through the Donald Stage Legacy Fund of MCCF.
Home of the Sparrow $4,725
Home of the Sparrow provides housing services to homeless women who are single, pregnant, or accompanied by their children. They are currently the only agency in the County that can accept women with adolescent sons and house all family members together. Home of the Sparrow is dedicated to providing residents the opportunity to assess and enhance their life skills in order to transition from homeless to self-sufficiency. This grant will provide assistance to shelter residents occupying the individual living units - two bedroom apartments. This grant was made possible through contributions from both the Donald Stage Legacy Fund and the Judith Porter Fund of MCCF.
Hospice of Northeastern Illinois - Latino Outreach $10,000
This grant provides funding for palliative care visits for Latino individuals who reside within McHenry County who are unable to pay for services needed. Hospice of Northeastern Illinois has a medical director that speaks fluent Spanish, and is familiar with the cultural sensitivities of our Latino residents. Patients requiring palliative care are likely to need pain/symptom control, coordination of care among providers, and assistance transitioning between care settings. Hospice of Northeastern Illinois continues to provide care, comfort, and compassion to all individuals needing care within McHenry County. This grant was made possible through the Latino Fund of the McHenry County Community Foundation.
Hospice of Northeastern Illinois - Remember U $7,500
Hospice of Northeastern Illinois is currently providing a grief support group in McHenry County for children ages 6-18 and their parents/guardians. The goal of Remember U is to reinforce healthy coping skills; assist those dealing with pain associated with loss; help with the ability to express memories; and, a better understanding of loss while establishing a daily plan for the future. The unique benefit of this program is how it provides all participants the support of group interaction. This grant funding will maintain program assistance in McHenry County through May of 2011.
Illinois Storytelling, Inc. $5,000
For 25 years, Illinois Storytelling Inc. has been the producer of the Illinois Storytelling Festival, formerly held in Spring Grove. Over the course of history, some 50,000 people have attended the Festival and thousands more have heard stories in schools and other venues across McHenry County. Storytelling is a fundamental human activity that connects individuals, families, generations, and cultures. Stories are considered a primary means for preserving the history, traditions and culture of a community. This grant supports the Spoken Word, a monthly event to begin July 1st at Stage Left located on the Woodstock Square. Spoken Word will offer our community opportunities to connect generations, honor elders, enhance literacy, combat racism and motivate youth to improve reading, writing and oral communication skills.
Last Chance House $12,000
The Last Chance House, Inc. is a recognized nonprofit organization which assists alcoholic men in their recovery. In 2005, Last Chance House established a residential location in Crystal Lake to provide housing on a temporary basis for men who are recovering from alcoholism. The mission of the Last Chance House is to provide residents a bridge from their past alcoholic lifestyle into their future as productive member's 0f society and caring family members. Each resident is required to be gainfully employed or actively looking for employment. Residents pay a weekly rent through the term of their 90 day program residency. Last Chance House is responsible for providing a clean, safe environment for their residents to spend the night, and have morning and evening meals. This grant from MCCF will help provide building improvements for the restoration of the Crystal Lake facility. In total, 85 men have come through Last Chance House to learn to live sober, productive lives.
Leadership Greater McHenry County $4,000
Leadership Greater McHenry County (LGMC) believes that leadership and learning go hand-in-hand; once an individual accepts the responsibility to lead, they also accept the responsibility to learn and grow as a leader. LGMC offers its participants four curriculum days: Education, Government, Health Care, and Law & Justice. The second section of the program includes Challenge Days hosted by teams of participants. Each team chooses a topic significant to issues in McHenry County and then shares information with the rest of the class providing new discoveries about the community we call home. The mission of LGMC is to educate and engage leaders from all sectors of the county who are committed to making a difference in McHenry County.
Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program, Inc. $6,000
The Main Stay Therapeutic Riding Program has partnered with two McHenry County agencies to provide a program appropriate for a wider range of ages. The program, Building and Rebuilding Memories, allows members from Head Start and Family Alliance to benefit from the talents of Main Stay staff & volunteers - to experience therapeutic sessions in unique new ways. Children from Head Start have the opportunity to expand their capabilities, often resulting in changes of body, heart and spirit. The senior clients of Family Alliance have the chance to reconnect with old memories, perhaps from earlier in life farm experiences; and the program also creates an inner sense of peace for those suffering from Alzheimer's and Dementia. The sensory experiences provided by the Main Stay program promise to be beneficial therapeutically and emotionally - such a special bonus! This grant was made possible through contributions from both the James and Karlen Cooney Family Fund and the Carol & Minno Halma Family Fund of MCCF.
Public Action to Deliver Shelter - PADS $4,800
Over the past two years PADS has seen a dramatic increase in the number of homeless individuals and families seeking shelter and services. With this great change of need, PADS will be expanding their Day Center program to accommodate this rapidly growing population. The Day Center renovation will provide almost twice the client space with more meeting rooms, resulting in improved privacy and security for residents receiving counseling and other supportive services. The additional equipment and resources included in this new space includes lockers, room dividers, job search reference materials, furniture and rugs - all essentials for a comfortable rehabilitative environment. PADS continues in its mission, providing shelter and services to more than 550 individuals and families during this past year alone. This grant was made possible through a generous donation from the Community Foundation's very first fund - the Donald Stage Legacy Fund.
Northern Illinois Food Bank $5,000
The Emergency Food Box Program sponsored by the Northern Illinois Food Bank will provide a direct distribution of nutritious non-perishable food by public service officials responding to emergency needs. Each box will contain approximately 33 pounds of food, and will be distributed to participating police stations, sheriff's offices, fire stations, crisis centers and social services providers. With this program in place, Northern Illinois Food Bank can provide residents immediate access to food during urgent times. Typical emergency situations include fire, flood, eviction or domestic violence, as well as those newly unemployed individuals unfamiliar with local food resources available within the community. This grant funding will provide 250 emergency boxes benefiting up to 1,000 McHenry County residents in need of emergency resources.
Options and Advocacy for McHenry County $3,200
It is the mission of Options and Advocacy to enhance and protect the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Currently, they serve some 1,200 children alone - children experiencing the effects of developmental delays. Over the years, this organization has grown from a few dedicated individuals and volunteers to a professional staff of twenty-eight. The offices of Options and Advocacy are located in a building that is in great need of new window treatments, for both energy and security reasons. Energy saving blinds will help to reduce heating and cooling costs, allowing monies saved to be redirected to client services. Additionally resulting in a private, secure working environment for the dedicated staff who often work long hours.
Pioneer Center for Human Services $4,500
The New Directions Psycho-Social Rehabilitation program (PSR) at Pioneer Center for Human Services provides a range of treatments based on the philosophy that every person with a mental illness is able to recover and make major improvements in their functioning levels resulting in an enhanced life. The purpose of PRS is to reconnect a person with their ability to learn new working skills; to rediscover their community; and, to encourage the renewal of meaningful relationships. Successful PSR clients can find new employment and discover healthy new lifestyles. This grant funding will allow for the purchase of new computer equipment, software programs, exercise equipment, desks and chairs - all to support the continuing efforts of this important rehabilitative program. For over 50 years Pioneer Center has provided services and programs that continue to enhance the lives of those they serve throughout McHenry County.
Raue Center for the Arts $12,500
The Raue Center for the Arts is dedicated to enriching the lives through the arts. Mission Imagination is an enriching arts education outreach program that provides performance and hands-on activities for school children. Each season, Raue Center presents professional artists in music, dance and theatre who specialize in school and theatre assemblies, student workshops, teacher development, and family nights. Since the opening in 2001, Mission Imagination has served 210 schools, reaching 172,000 children in grades K-12. That calculates to approximately 19,000 students per year for nine years straight. Mission Imagination meets Illinois Academics Standards in English/Language Arts; Social Studies; Science; and, Diversity and the Arts. Programs promote performing arts through education, creative expression,
artistic nourishment, insight and inspiration. This grant was made possible through the Donald E. Lewis Family Fund and McHenry County Community Foundation.
The Salvation Army of McHenry County $5,000
The Salvation Army Back to School Project provides backpacks filled with school supplies to the children of lower income families attending school in McHenry County. Every child should have the opportunity to start the school year with school supplies to help to ensure a successful learning experience. Each year too many students have no choice but to go to school without basic supplies. The funding from this grant will assist in providing over 1,000 back-packs and calculators to middle school and high school students in McHenry County. At the start of the 2009 school year, over 1100 back-packs were distributed. This fall, the Salvation Army is anticipating an increase in that need of 30-40%. This grant was made possible through the James & Karlen Cooney Family Fund of MCCF.
Transitional Living Services $7,500
Transitional Living Services (TLS) was formed in 1996 by McHenry County veterans with a mission to provide support to disabled and disadvantaged veterans. TLS operates New Horizons, a transitional living center located in Hebron, Illinois. This center provides homeless veterans with shelter, food, and help to find jobs and permanent housing. The goal of TLS is to help each individual veteran achieve their highest level of independence. This grant funding will help to establish a full-service aftercare program that provides departing and former New Horizons residents with a continuum of care that will increase the likelihood they will not revert to old coping patterns, falling back to homelessness. Aftercare programs have proven to work well among individuals who have very low incomes, experience the persistence of such conditions as addiction, mental illness and chronic health challenges, and yet still confront homelessness head on - seeking to gain control of a healthy lifestyle.
Turning Point, Inc. $7,500
Turning Point is entering phase two of its Economic Empowerment program for victims of domestic violence by expanding to include a section available for walk-in clients of the agency. This program will follow the Illinois Coalition Action Plan curriculum, developed by Redevelopment Opportunities for Women. The program includes budgeting basics, credit card debt reduction, financial safety, and explanations of savings and loan programs. Economic empowerment is critical to getting victims of domestic violence rehabilitated for independent and violence-free futures. Since 1981, Turning Point has assisted approximately 1,300 clients a year regain control of their lives. This grant was made possible through contributions from both the Carol & Minno Halma Family Fund and the Judith Porter Fund of MCCF.
Woodstock Fire/Rescue District $7,500
The Woodstock Fire/Rescue District is responsible for the prevention of fire suppression, emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, and special rescue services. District boundaries include the City of Woodstock, its surrounding rural areas, and the villages of Greenwood, Bull Valley and unincorporated Hartland. The current Cadet/Apprenticeship Program (CAP), takes young men and women, some mere high school seniors, and trains them for a career in the fire and rescue service. The program is coordinated in Woodstock yet serves all Districts within McHenry County as graduates may serve in any fire district. In 6 short months, seven certified firefighter/EMTs have graduated from the program. Currently, there are eleven cadets participating in the in-house firefighter class and ten firefighter/EMTs are going through paramedic training. This grant funding will cover the necessary costs of tuition, firefighter gear and the cost for in-house course instructors.
YMCA of McHenry County $5,000
The YMCA of McHenry County designed the Community First Aid and CPR Training Initiative to provide the necessary training, materials and equipment to certify all staff and volunteers at the Y in American Red Cross First Aid and CPR. Currently, the YMCA of McHenry County serves over 20,000 individuals annually and employs over 150 people throughout the year. This program will provide certification for all 150 individuals employed by the YMCA of McHenry County. In addition, funding for this program will allow trained YMCA staff to offer Youth Service Bureau T.A.M.I. program participants and McHenry County workforce/community organization members First Aid and CPR training at no charge.
