DeKalb gives back to the community

By Tamya Burch, Social Media Coordinator

November 9, 2023

DeKalb County Community Foundation supported fifteen local nonprofit and community organizations with grants totaling $191,500.

Community Need Grants are disbursed to organizations who are in need of funding in DeKalb County. The grants are given out in the fall and spring of each year.

Applicants selected align with the grant’s interest areas: Arts and Culture, Education, Community development, Environmental & Animal Welfare and Health & Human Services.

Fall 2023 Community Needs Grants

Bethany Preschool Center, Inc. – $1,310 to purchase iPads for educational instruction
City of DeKalb Police Department – $4,500 to obtain and train a comfort dog
Elder Care Services of DeKalb County – $24,000 to build a senior garden and new parking lot
Genoa-Kingston Volunteer Fire – $12,500 to purchase a (UTV) utility task vehicle
Girls on the Run of Northwest Illinois – $1,500 to support program activities building social, emotional, and physical skills
Glidden Homestead & Historical Center – $12,500 to aid restoration of Glidden Homestead
Hiawatha Elementary School – $12,500 to replace school playground
Hinckley Public Library District – $50,000 to renovate a new public library building
Kingston Police Department – $6,790 to purchase solar-powered speed radar signs
Lee Community Fire Protection District – $37,000 to replace SCBA compressor and filling station
Little Lambs Preschool – $6,500 to obtain gross motor development toys
Oaken Acres Wildlife Center – $3,300 to build a fawn protection shelter
Stage Coach Players, Inc. – $4,100 to update seating for accessibility
Village of Malta – $3,000 to renovate bathrooms at Malta Lions Park
Village of Waterman – $12,000 to build an off-leash community dog park

With the grant, organizations like Lee Community Fire Protection District can function better to serve the community.

“Our current compressed air system is a mid-80s system donated from the Kirkland Fire Department to Lee in 2000,” said Chief Jason Aters of the Lee Community Fire Protection District. “We have to travel to Amboy during and after every call to replenish our air canisters since that is the closest system compatible to ours. With this grant, we will meet current NFPA and OSHA standards and save valuable volunteer time preparing for calls and, most importantly, keeping our volunteers safe during fires.”

The Community Needs Grants are provided by the Community Foundation and receive funding through Community Impact Funds, Field of Interest Funds and Donor Advised Funds.

To donate to the Community Foundation, visit dekalbccf.org/donate or mail donations to the DeKalb County Community Foundation located at 475 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178. For questions or additional information, email [email protected].