Two charitable donor groups pursue Geneva
Community Chest -- it's not just a bonus on the Monopoly board.
The Geneva Community Chest's annual campaign to funnel money from you to local aid agencies has begun, with a mail solicitation to all residents.
Organizers are set on raising $160,000 before next September.
"We're doing fairly well. Not as well as I would like, of course," Secretary Pat Wittenberg said.
The Geneva Community Chest is independent. It funds programs from agencies that have IRS nonprofit status. Agencies make their case to the Community Chest board in May and grants are usually awarded in June.
"All of our funds serve the people of Geneva," said Sheri Weitl, who heads publicity for the Community Chest.
For tax year 2005, the last year IRS tax returns were posted at www.guidestar.org, the Community Chest raised $160,828 from donations and a golf outing. It distributed $122,000 in grants. It had no paid employees.
One wrinkle in the campaign is a United Way affiliate has begun soliciting donations from Geneva residents.
Earlier this year, the United Way of Greater St. Charles and Elburn changed its name to United Way of Central Kane County. The national United Way of America office assigned the local office to solicit in Geneva as well as LaFox, Kaneville, Wasco and Campton Hills.
Is there room for both groups?
Janet English, president of the board of directors for the local United Way agency, said she believes so.
"We can't cut them (Geneva) out," she said. "We're responsible and required to help to fund those (programs that aid Genevans) and so we feel responsible to go in and ask for funds."
Weitl and Wittenberg said the Community Chest gives to several organizations and programs that might not qualify for United Way funding or choose not to be a United Way partner agency.
Board members also contended, in a letter to the Daily Herald earlier this year, that its application process is "less complicated" than the United Way's.
One program Community Chest supports is Central DuPage Hospital's spinal cord injury prevention program. Experts go to Geneva schools to teach first-graders about wearing bike helmets and swimming safety.
Another is Hoofbeats and Heartbeats, an equine therapy program based at Blazing Prairie Stars stable in Maple Park.
The Community Chest and the United Way each gave grants in tax year 2005 to 26 agencies. They had 20 in common, including such well-known Tri-Cities based agencies as Lazarus House, Tri-City Health Partnership and Tri-City Family Services.
The local United Way agency also gave money to Centro de Information, Community Crisis Center, Renz Center and Well Child Clinic, all based in Elgin; Family Counseling of Aurora; and Open Door Clinic, with facilities in Elgin and Aurora.
The Community Chest also gave to Aunt Martha's Youth Service Center Inc. (which has offices throughout the Chicago area), Breaking Free of Aurora and Naperville, Mutual Ground domestic violence shelter in Aurora and Shelter Assistance Committee of St. Charles.
All of these organizations serve residents of Geneva.
The local United Way agency, which pays an executive director, reported raising $428,438 and allocating $384,124 for tax year 2005.
It seeks $550,000 in its current campaign. It begins soliciting donations from workers at large companies in July and sends a letter to residents in the fall.