Warm Coats For Cool Kids gets $13,000 grant from DuPage Foundation

Warm Coats For Cool Kids received a $13,000 grant from DuPage Foundation to support its kids coat distribution.

As part of its Community Needs Grant Program, DuPage Foundation granted $678,380 to 37 not-for-profit organizations providing essential health and human services to residents across DuPage County.

This year, in response to Warm Coats For Cool Kids grant application, a donor-advisor recommended a $13,000 grant from the Freedman-Sindelar Family Fund, a donor-advised fund of DuPage Foundation, to support the purchase of new winter coats for children in need.

This generous donation will help Warm Coats For Cool Kids to expand their outreach to other communities.

The distribution model for Warm Coats is to have the children choose from a selection of warm, new and stylish coats that have been purchased at local retailers.

By giving the children an opportunity to "shop for a coat" we give them pride in ownership and the confidence to know they will be dressed like their classmates. Each child that receives a coat will be dressed properly for the weather. Parents can now take care of other needs knowing a winter coat is being provided.

Warm Coats has been in operation one year and with the help of volunteers they have distributed over 950 coats to date.

"Our not-for-profit partners have seen increased demand for their services for more than two years, and are still facing situations exacerbated by the pandemic," said Barb Szczepaniak, DuPage Foundation vice president for programs. "We are grateful to the donors and donor-advisors who make it possible for the Foundation to go the extra mile when it comes to Community Needs. Thanks to their generosity, we can award more grants and increase our reach throughout the community."

Applications for DuPage Foundation's Community Needs Grant Program are accepted twice per year. Visit dupagefoundation.org/CNGP for grant guidelines and more information.

DuPage Foundation, a 501(c)(3) community foundation, is the philanthropic leader in DuPage County, Illinois. DuPage Foundation manages more than $130 million in assets and has awarded more than $65 million in grants to nonprofit organizations serving the residents of DuPage County since its founding in 1986.

Individuals and organizations seeking to provide impactful support to address critical issues in DuPage County and beyond can create powerful customizable gift solutions and partnerships through DuPage Foundation. More at dupagefoundation.org.

For further information regarding Warm Coats For Cool Kids, please contact Debra Vaccaro at (630) 738-9102 or gvac@sbcglobal.net Their website is warmcoats-coolkids.org where you can send donations or volunteer for an event.