Landmarks Illinois provides emergency funding to 13 nonprofits with pandemic relief grant program

The McHenry County Historical Society & Museum in Union was among 13 nonprofits receiving a combined $26,000 from Landmarks Illinois, a statewide historic preservation advocacy organization based in Chicago.

"Landmarks Illinois aims to be a collaborative partner delivering innovative and needed solutions to help people save places for people throughout our state," said Bonnie McDonald, Landmarks Illinois president and chief executive officer. "We are proud to provide financial relief to our partner nonprofits, which enables them to continue to care for our historic places and serve their communities."

Through the Landmarks Illinois COVID-19 Organization Relief Grant Program, each nonprofit will receive a one-time $2,000 grant to use toward essential, organizational expenditures including employee payroll and rent and/or improvements to the organization's digital platforms such as their websites that help to promote their mission and continue their programming.

Landmarks Illinois created its COVID-19 Organization Relief Grant Program this spring to help community development, preservation and other partner nonprofits throughout the state during the coronavirus health crisis.

All recipients of the Landmarks Illinois COVID-19 Organization Relief Grant Program are below. Read more about each organization and how they will use their relief grant at www.landmarks.org.

• Aurora Regional Fire Museum, Aurora

• Firehouse Community Arts Center of Chicago, North Lawndale, Chicago

• Segundo Ruiz Belvis Cultural Center, Hermosa, Chicago

• Uptown United, Chicago

• Preservation of Egyptian Theater, Inc., DeKalb

• Elgin Area Historical Society/Elgin History Museum, Elgin

• Save the Lorraine Foundation, Hoopeston

• Oak Park Art League, Oak Park

• Artists ReEnvisioning Tomorrow (ART Inc.), Peoria

• Quincy Preserves, Quincy

• Salem Community Activities Center, Salem

• Enos Park Neighborhood Improvement Association, Springfield

• McHenry County Historical Society & Museum, Union

"On behalf of the board of directors of the McHenry County Historical Society I would like to thank Landmarks Illinois for its ongoing efforts to support historic preservation and education, as well as the local organizations that strive to make that mission a reality," MCHS Administrator Kurt Begalka said. "This grant comes at a critical time in our organization's 56-year history, as we meet the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic."

Landmarks Illinois received an overwhelming response to the grant program, with 94 applications for the 13 available grants.

Landmarks Illinois staff evaluated each application based on most immediate need, the ability of the applicant to implement grant funds quickly and how closely the applicant's mission aligned with Landmarks Illinois' own work of promoting and preserving our state's cultural and architectural heritage.

Special thanks to Barbara C. and Thomas E. Donnelley II for providing additional funding for this special COVID-19 grant program.