Foundation aids worth charites

By Ricky Nesbitt

The DeKalb County Community Foundation is an organization built on helping others to help others.

Each year, the foundation awards funds to non-profit organizations and charities that have submitted applications for grants, provided they have met the foundation’s criteria.

The foundation is granting $150,000, but the need demonstrated by nearly 60 agencies is six times as much.

Richard Ubl, executive director of the foundation, said, “We were amazed at the need in DeKalb County, as well as the varying aspects of community life that could use our financial support.

“For 1993, we have approximately $150,000 to be granted to various DeKalb agencies. Given such a large plea for assistance, the grant-making process will be quite complicated and deliberating,” Ubl said.

The Grant Committee is required to screen potential awardees by reviewing their submitted applications and visiting their establishments. Grant requests then will be presented to the DeKalb County Community Foundation Board for approval.

Following approval, the recipients will be notified and funds will be disbursed.

The most common applicants range from human and health services to social agencies. One DeKalb day care center is seeking money to subsidize equipment while DeKalb school districts are requesting money for renovations. Area hospitals would like to expand on health awareness programs and a rescue squad needs certain life-saving devices to aid the people of the DeKalb community.

Philanthropic residents of DeKalb have picked up the torch in easing some of the burden on the foundation. Such capital endowments by residents and area business owners have allowed the monetary awards to grow over the years.

For more information involving contributions to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, contact Richard Ubl at 748-5383. If you wish to contact the foundation by mail, the address is 2225 Gateway Drive, Suite D, Sycamore, IL 60178.

“We were amazed at the need in DeKalb County, as well as the varying aspects of community life that could use our financial support.

Richard Ubl

executive director, DeKalb County Community Foundation