Foundation's JCS Fund Awards Nearly $375,000 in Grants to Four Arts Programs

The grants, which ranged from $3,500 to $200,000, were awarded to:

• Addison Center for the Arts─$3,500

• Chicago Sinfonietta at North Central College─$11,000

• College of DuPage New Philharmonic Orchestra─$160,000

• Community School of the Arts Music Education Program─$200,000

Addison Center for the Arts

A $3,500 grant was awarded to the Addison Center for the Arts to fund the second year of “Arts Alive: An After School Program” intended to foster development of music, theater and visual arts for students at Indian Trail Junior High School in Addison. Through this program, students are offered experience in art fields that are not part of

the regular school curriculum. In addition to providing hands-on arts experience to children, the program is intended as a productive way to avoid issues that may arise with “latch key” children in this age group.

The first year of “Arts Alive” also was funded by a grant from the Foundation.

Chicago Sinfonietta

An $11,000 grant was awarded from the JCS Fund to support DuPage County performances by Chicago Sinfonietta, a classical orchestra whose members are principally African-American. The Chicago Sinfonietta is currently presenting a five concert season at Wentz Hall at North Central College. The group, which is 25 years old, is comprised of members principally from Chicago but is in its third year of performing at Wentz Hall, the group's west suburban home. The Sinfonietta's mission is to offer minorities an opportunity to develop their talents and become role models for future artists, and to make symphonic music accessible to those who do not normally attend symphonic concerts. Last year, the group received an ASCAP Award for Innovative Programming.

A condition of the grant from the JCS Fund was that members of the Sinfonietta participate in mentoring events with DuPage minority students.

“The Chicago Sinfonietta is so grateful to receive this critical support from the JCS Fund through The DuPage Community Foundation. We are proud to be Naperville's professional orchestra in residence and to be able to serve the people of DuPage County. These funds will support our five-concert subscription season that is presented at Wentz Concert Hall and our community outreach activities that help ensure that all DuPage Country citizens have access to the

highest quality arts,” said Jim Hirsch, executive director for Chicago Sinfonietta.

College of DuPage's New Philharmonic Orchestra

The College of DuPage's New Philharmonic Orchestra received a $160,000 grant, which will be disbursed to it over three years. The grant is designed to assist the College of DuPage Foundation's fundraising efforts for the New Philharmonic Orchestra. The grant requires mentoring activities to be conducted with schools that have had no prior experience with the New Philharmonic Orchestra.

The New Philharmonic Orchestra in residence at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, is a fully-professional, 80-member orchestra that has inspired classical music enthusiasts in Chicago and the suburbs for more than three decades.

“We are grateful to The DuPage Community Foundation's JCS Fund for its generous grant to support the New Philharmonic Orchestra over the next three years. The matching grant component of $30,000 will assist the College of DuPage Foundation in building sustainable private sector support for the Orchestra for years to come,” said Catherine Brod, executive director for the College of DuPage Foundation and vice president of development for the College of DuPage.

The $30,000 matching grant is intended to be an incentive for developing sustainable fundraising and community support for the New Philharmonic Orchestra. These funds are payable upon confirmation of the actual collection of pledges and when the MAC Madness event exceeds $210,000.

“New Philharmonic is honored to receive this important grant," said Kirk Muspratt, New Philharmonic music director and conductor. “Since the first concert in November 1977, we have grown in Chicago's western suburbs. This generous funding provides essential support to ensure our future success and help us continue in our mission to make music accessible to new audiences

and youth through our educational efforts."

Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College

Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College, which has previously been supported by The DuPage Community Foundation, was chosen to receive a $200,000 grant for music education programs from the JCS Fund. The grant is designated as two $100,000 awards, one to be received in 2013 and the other in 2014.

The grant for the Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College will fund Community Outreach for Developing Artists (CODA) programs. The CODA program is currently focused in West Chicago District 33 schools, with a small component at World Relief DuPage Preschool in Wheaton. The District 33 program includes both a Suzuki program and a pre-kindergarten music program. The grant will be utilized to grow the program over the next two years with an administrator and additional teachers, and to purchase recorders for the students.

“We are deeply grateful for the generous grant from the JCS Fund of The DuPage Community Foundation. It will make possible the expansion of early childhood music classes in additional schools and make long-term violin/recorder lessons available to students who

demonstrate special interest and ability. This substantial funding will provide an introduction to the arts for hundreds of DuPage County children who would not otherwise have the opportunity,” said Jody Grandlienard, director of Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College.

About the JCS Fund:

The JCS Fund was established as an affiliate fund of The DuPage Community Foundation in February 2013. Its mission is to support art, music, cultural, health, and educational organizations serving the needs of residents of DuPage County, with a particular emphasis on programs that

provide long-term benefits. The JCS Fund also has discretion to support charitable organizations serving other communities if it determines that the goals of those organizations are consistent with the Fund's charitable interests.

About The DuPage Community Foundation:

The DuPage Community Foundation seeks to raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County by fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs and building community partnerships. Based on the American virtues of volunteerism and philanthropy, the Foundation fosters a legacy of support for the people of DuPage County by making grants to not-for-profit organizations working in the areas of arts and culture, education, environment, health, and human services. Since its inception, the Foundation has built its endowment to more than $50 million and awarded more than $17 million in grants to not-for-profit agencies serving the residents of DuPage County and beyond.

Established in 1986, The DuPage Community Foundation is a publicly-supported 501(c)(3) organization to which contributions are tax deductible. It was created to benefit the people of

DuPage County and receives contributions and bequests into a permanent endowment from

individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations wishing to make lasting contributions to the people of DuPage. The earnings on these funds are then used, in accordance with donor wishes, for the Foundation's grantmaking and community leadership activities.

For more information about the Foundation, or to arrange future media opportunities, please contact Joelyn Kott, marketing & communications officer, at (630) 665-5556, extension 19, or jkott@dcfdn.org.