DuPage County awards $1 million in grants to nonprofit groups
Fifty-eight nonprofit agencies will share $1 million in grant money from DuPage County to address the human service needs of low-income residents.
The money from the DuPage County Human Services Grant Fund will help pay for 60 projects by agencies that serve a broad geographical area of the county.
County board member Robert Larsen said the grants are the continuation of a commitment by DuPage to partner with nonprofit agencies that provide important services to the community.
"We are pleased to be able to improve the lives of DuPage County residents through grants that provide services for homeless people, senior citizens, veterans and other of our county's most vulnerable population," said Larsen, who serves as chairman of the county board's health and human services committee.
Officials said the grants are available "to organizations that help families achieve independence, ensure the protection of children and other vulnerable residents in addition to maximizing prevention opportunities to strengthen families' well-being and stability."
This year, the grant amounts range from $3,532 to $35,000.
DuPage PADS, 360 Youth Services, DuPage Senior Citizens Council, Midwest Shelter for Veterans, DuPage Federation on Human Services Reform, and Teen Parent Connection Inc. will each receive $35,000.
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet has been awarded two $35,000 grants. One will help fund the agency's Emergency Services Program, the other will be used for HOPE House Shelter.
Naperville-based Loaves & Fishes Community Services will get $32,000 for its Loaves & Fishes CARES Program.
Meanwhile, $25,000 grants have been awarded to Family Shelter Service, Humanitarian Service Project, Serenity House Counseling Services Inc., Exodus World Service, Ray Graham, West Suburban Community Pantry, Literacy Volunteers of America - DuPage Inc., Outreach Community Ministries, and Metropolitan Family Services DuPage.
The DuPage Homeownership Center has been awarded two $15,000 grants. The first is for its Financial Fitness Collaborative. The second is for the Counselor in the Court program, which provides legal assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure.
Other agencies that will receive grants are: Parents Alliance Employment Project, World Relief DuPage Aurora, DuPage Legal Assistance Foundation, ChildServ, Family Focus Inc., Healthcare Alternative Systems Inc., Little City, Love INC of Western Suburbs, People's Resource Center, Sharing Connections, Almost Home Kids, Donka Inc., Spectrios, Metropolitan Asian Family Services, Marklund Children's Home, Prairie State Legal Services Inc., Ecumenical Support Services for the Elderly, DuPage Habitat for Humanity, Senior Home Sharing Inc., Bartlett Learning Center, CASA of DuPage County, Exchange Club for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Naperville Elderly Homes Inc., Achieving Independence and Mobility Center for Independent Living, Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center Inc., The Community House, Community Adult Day Center, UCP Seguin, Wayne/Winfield Area Youth/Family Services, Bridge Communities Inc., Nami, Community Career Center, Evangelical Child and Family, Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region, Xilin Association, DayOne PACT, Youth Outlook, Northeast DuPage Family and Youth Services, and YWCA Metropolitan Chicago.