Lake County Community Foundation awards $254,000 in grants
Members of The Lake County Community Foundation's board of directors recently approved $254,000 in grants to nonprofit partners working to improve the quality of life for all Lake County residents.
In partnership with LCCF fund holders, a total of $393,000 in grants has been made in fiscal year 2018. In celebration of 15 years of giving and impact, LCCF awarded 15 anniversary grants to a mix of new and previous grantees.
"We're elated that nearly half of our 2018 grantee organizations are new to the foundation," said Maggie Morales, the foundation's director of Community Leadership and Investment. "This speaks to our efforts to increase visibility and awareness of the Community Foundation's work as both a grant-making organization and trusted steward of Lake County's collective philanthropy."
The 2018 Basic Human Needs Anniversary Grants address critical needs in Lake County including housing, violence prevention, promoting equity and inclusion, physical and behavioral health care, education and workforce development:
• Alexian Brothers Housing and Health Alliance: $10,000 (new grantee)
• College Bound Opportunities: $6,000 (new grantee)
• Curt's Café: $10,000 (new grantee)
• Erie Family Health Center: $8,000
• Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project: $6,000
• Highland Park-Highwood Legal Aid Clinic: $6,000 (new grantee)
• Kohl Children's Museum: $10,000 (new grantee)
• Mother's Trust Foundation: $6,000
• Nicasa: $10,000
• Partnership for a Safer Lake County (A Safe Place): $10,000
• Ragdale Foundation: $10,000 (new grantee)
• Twice As Nice Mother & Child: $10,000
• YouthBuild Lake County: $7,000
• YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago (Foglia YMCA Lake Zurich): $6,000 (new grantee)
• YWCA Lake County: $9,000
Grant recipients were identified through a competitive application process and their work has the potential for high impact and high visibility throughout Lake County. New grantee Curt's Café received seed funding to expand its successful program model to Highland Park. This will be the first Lake County location for the Evanston-based organization.
"We are very excited to get our feet on the ground in Highland Park so we can begin to hear the stories from our Lake County youth," Executive Director Susan Treischmann said.
2018 Collaborative Grants were awarded to two organizations for the second year of their collaborative effort to increase access to affordable, nutritious food and to coordinate Lake County's food access system.
• Liberty Prairie Foundation: $55,000
• Northern Illinois Food Bank: $55,000
"The Lake County Community Foundation's innovative approach to community investment has been a true game-changer for us and the work we are doing in partnership with Northern Illinois Food Bank," Emily Weber, Director of Community Food Systems for Liberty Prairie Foundation said. "We have been thrilled with the outcomes we've achieved in year-one and look forward to continuing our mission to increase access to fresh, affordable and nutritious food in conjunction with coordinating Lake County food initiatives this year and beyond."
2018 Animal Welfare Grants support organizations partnering to safely and effectively reduce Lake County's feral and stray cat population.
• Fat Cat Rescue: $7,000 (new grantee)
• Spay and Stay: $7,000 (new grantee)
2018 Early Childhood Development Grants focus on developing early literacy skills for children ages 0-5 by equipping nonprofits with the essential tools and resources to support children and families.
• Words on Wheels: $5,000
For information about the grantees or to learn how to join The Lake County Community Foundation and start something good in your community, call (847) 377-0520. Visit www.lakecountycf.org.
This year marks The Lake County Community Foundation's 15th anniversary. A celebration of philanthropy with live art, local music, food and drink, titled the "StART Something Lake County Inaugural Benefit" is planned for 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10. Additional details are to come.
For details, contact Miah Armour, at miah@lakecountycf.org or (847) 377-0520.
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