PADS of Elgin takes top prize at Seigle Foundation’s Trivia Night

Posted November 12, 2026 9:01 am

Submitted by Seigle Foundation

PADS of Elgin took first place and a $2,000 prize at the Seigle Foundation’s 2026 Grantee Reception and Trivia Night on Thursday, Nov. 5, in the new Flex Space at the Hemmens Cultural Center in downtown Elgin.

The afternoon brought together nearly 60 staff and volunteers from more than 25 of the foundation’s grantee organizations. They came to celebrate their work, hear an update from the foundation and get to know their peers across the local nonprofit community.

Teams from each organization competed over three rounds of trivia covering Fox Valley history, books, film, music and facts about the grantees themselves.

The winning teams were: first place, PADS of Elgin, $2,000; second place, Chamber Music on the Fox, $1,000; and third place, Side Street Studio Arts, $500.

During the program, Mark Seigle marked the foundation’s fifth anniversary. Since its founding, Seigle Foundation has supported 42 grantees and awarded $4 million in grants. He also welcomed two new grantees this year, Ballet Folklórico Girasol and iambe theatre ensemble.

The foundation also paid tribute to Hamilton Wings, which served young people through the arts from 1996 to 2026, and announced a $250,000 Hamilton Wings Scholarship at Elgin Community College.

Seigle Foundation hosts its 2026 Grantee Reception and Trivia Night on Nov. 5 in the Hemmens’ new Flex Space. (Seigle Foundation)

“The people in this room do some of the hardest and most important work in our community, and they rarely get an afternoon just to enjoy each other’s company,” said Mark Seigle, board member of the Seigle Foundation. “Five years in, we’ve learned that our grantees are stronger when they know and lean on one another. Congratulations to PADS of Elgin, Chamber Music on the Fox and Side Street Studio Arts, and thank you to every team for the energy and good humor you brought.”

Seigle Foundation is focused on food scarcity, housing, education and the arts. Nonprofit organizations serving the Elgin and Dundee communities are eligible to apply. The foundation is led by board members Mark Seigle, Robin Seigle and Karina Nava. For information, visit SeigleFoundation.org.