e -   Memorandum
November 2015 - In This Issue:
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Our Mission 

"To provide effective and rewarding ways for donors to fulfill their philanthropic objectives."

Our Vision

"To be recognized as a trusted philanthropic leader in the communities we serve through the delivery of the highest quality donor services, customized and unique grant and scholarship programs, and bold initiatives to address community needs."

A Salute To Our Veterans

Jeff Hartman

This week we salute our veterans.  Whether it's a family member, neighbor, friend, or acquaintance, we all have veterans in our lives and I encourage you to take a moment this week to thank them for their service and sacrifice to our country. 
 
Locally, the  Aurora Veterans Advisory Council  (AVAC) is an agency whose mission is to  "...be advocates for all Veterans of all generations and all conflicts. We shall ensure our citizens, our city and our nation remember the sacrifices of those gone and those who remain. We shall work on their behalf to enlighten the city of Veteran situations and likewise inform the citizens about the city's efforts for Veterans."   It is our pleasure to partner with the AVAC to administer two funds in their name, one being a scholarship for children of local veterans.  For more information on the AVAC, please 
 
Additionally, I would like to recognize our Board Chair, Mark Truemper, who received an award at East Aurora High School's Salute to Veterans ceremony last week on behalf of his uncle,  Lt. Walter E. Truemper.  Lt. Truemper is the only East Aurora High School graduate to have received the WWII Medal of Honor.  Lt. Truemper was killed in WWII when his B-17 was shot down in Europe.  La st year,  in anticipation of Memorial Day,  U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) recognized Lt. Truemper on the House floor during his opening remarks.  Please  click here  to watch the video.  For more information on Lt. Walter E. Truemper, please  click here.
 
So whether you have a family member or just know someone who is a veteran, please take a minute to thank them for their service.  They truly are individuals who have sacrificed much to make our communities better places to live and work. 

 



Jeff Hartman
Executive Vice President
Upcoming Events
Thursday, November 12
Fox West Philanthropy Day

Saturday, November 14
Anderson Animal Shelter Dinner and Auction

Saturday, November 14
Water Street Studios Blind Date 
Masquerade Gala

Monday, November 23
Community Foundation Scholarship Program for 2016 Now Available
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Holiday Hours

Our offices will be closed 
Wednesday, November 11 
in observance of Veterans Day.


In celebration of Thanksgiving, 
our offices will be closed
Thursday, November 26 and 
Friday, November 27. 
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Grant News
Thank you to the agencies who submitted grant proposals for the Foundation's fall 2015 grant cycle. We received over thirty letters of intent and nineteen proposals. The distribution committee looks forward to reviewing the proposals, and the Foundation will award the grants during the week of Thanksgiving. 

The next grant cycle will take place in the spring.  Agencies may begin submitting letters of intent on February 1, 2016. Please stay tuned to our website as more information becomes available. 
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Ralph Voris Retires
Ralph Voris
At the end of this month, Foundation grants administrator Ralph Voris will be retiring. Ralph has been involved with the Community Foundation for nearly twenty years.  He began as a volunteer for the scholarship program, conducting interviews of scholarship applicants. He then served on the Foundation board of directors for eleven years. In 2009, Ralph joined the Foundation staff. He has been an  integral  part of the grant and scholarship programs as well as the leader of various special projects. 

At the completion of this fall's grant cycle, Ralph will officially retire from the Foundation staff. He will continue to serve the Foundation by assisting with the scholarship program.

We at the Community Foundation extend our greatest thanks to Ralph Voris for the role he has played in the organization. Best of luck to Ralph in all his future endeavors!
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Honoring Grantees
We have initiated a new project to honor our non-profit grantees by displaying photographs of their activities in our Aurora and Geneva offices. The purpose of this project is to showcase organizations that have utilized our grants to enrich the lives of local citizens. Thank you to the agencies who have already contributed photographs. All of our non-profit partners who wish to participate are encouraged to send photographs to  Sarah Herring at   SHerring@CommunityFoundationFRV .
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AU Arts and Ideas
The 2015-2016 season of Aurora University's "Celebrating Arts and Ideas" series is in full swing. 

On October 3, award winning author David McCullough spoke at the university about his newest book, "The Wright Brothers." His other critically acclaimed books include "1776," "John Adams," and "Truman." McCullough is also known as the narrator of Ken Burns' series, "The Civil War" on PBS.

Wendell Minor
Aurora native and award winning illustrator Wendell Minor is the artist of thousands of book covers, including David McCullough's books. Minor's work is currently on display in the Community Foundation's gallery at Aurora University's welcome center. This exhibit, called "Wendell Minor's America," covers his 45 year career. Minor has traveled the country, documenting America's history and landscapes through his art. The exhibit runs through December 11.

Visit AU's Arts and Ideas website for more information and a full schedule of events. 

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Memorandum
The Community Foundation's Fall/Winter 2015 Memorandum will be mailed out November 9. These paper Memorandums are now printed annually, as our e-Memorandums keep our community informed through monthly e-mails. An electronic copy (PDF) of the full Memorandum is available here.  
Scholarship Guide Now Available
Apply Soon for the 2015-2016 School Year
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It is almost time to apply for Foundation scholarships! The Scholarship Program Guide for the 2016-2017 academic year is now available to view on our website. The scholarship application process begins November 23, 2015.

There are nearly 200 scholarship funds within the Community Foundation. For the 2015-2016 academic year, the Foundation awarded over $1 million in scholarships  to help more than 300 students over the next four years of their schooling. 

The Community Foundation offers scholarships to students who are planning on attending an accredited institution of higher education on a full-time basis, and who live in the Foundation's service area (the Greater Aurora Area, the Tri-Cities, and Kendall County, Illinois).

For further information, please visit our website. To learn more about the scholarship funds and their donors, please view the various scholarship fund profiles.
Jill Hanses Scholarship Fund
New Fund Supports Veterinarian Students
Jill Hanses
The Jill Hanses Scholarship Endowment Fund was established 
in October 2015 to support young adults who have an interest in animal welfare causes. This fund provides scholarships to local students pursuing a career in veterinarian science or a related field.

Jill Hanses of St. Charles, Illinois was born on Valentine's Day 1962 in Elgin, Illinois. An incredible business woman and generous philanthropist, Jill supported a number of local charitable causes. She was a longtime board member, treasurer, president and volunteer for Anderson Animal Shelter in South Elgin. She was active in Kiwanis Club of St. Charles and a supporter of Elderday Senior Services in Batavia and CASA of Kane County.

Jill passed away in January of 2015, but her life and legacy in the Fox Valley area will continue thanks to her husband Andy and the creation of this scholarship fund. "Jill was an inspiration to those of us who worked alongside her," said Anderson Animal Shelter board member Cindy Green. "She had unending energy for the cause, compassion for the animals and a generosity with her time and resources that will be hard to match. During her tenure as President, Jill led the organization through many changes and was a strong influence on the Board."

Jill and her husband Andy shared a deep interest in helping better the communities where they lived and worked. Through this memorial scholarship, Andy hopes to meld two of Jill's charitable passions: animal welfare and children's causes. "We can always give to a cause our own time and resources," said Andy, "but if we can inspire the young and assist them, if they choose to follow our similar passions, then we can continue this legacy from generation to generation. This is what Jill would have wanted and I am grateful to be able to honor her passions."

To make a donation to the Jill Hanses Scholarship Endowment Fund, please visit our website

To learn more about Anderson Animal Shelter, please visit their website.
Aurora Veterans Advisory Council
Scholarship Supports Families of Veterans
The Aurora Veterans Advisory Council Fund was created in 1998 to address the most pressing issues impacting local military personnel who have served our country in a branch of the United States military (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard). The Council aids in the planning, development and implementation of veterans-related special activities and programs in the City of Aurora.

In October of this year, the Council established the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council Scholarship Fund within the Community Foundation. Each year, this fund will provide five $1,000 scholarships to family members of Aurora veterans.

To donate to the Aurora Veterans Advisory Council Advisory Fund, please visit our website
Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board
Board Awards Scholarships to Hispanic Youth
The Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board created a fund within the Community Foundation in 2015 to assist college bound students of Hispanic American descent who reside in Aurora. The organization works to educate the public about the history of Hispanics who helped to shape the City of Aurora. Their goal is to instill pride in Aurora's Hispanic youth regarding their heritage by honoring the many Hispanics who have made a difference in the community. Students have applied for scholarships from the Advisory Board, and winners will be notified by the organization on December 18 this year. A celebratory breakfast and awards presentation will be held on January 29 to honor to those students receiving scholarships.

To make a donation to The Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board Fund, visit our website

For more information about the Aurora Hispanic Heritage Advisory Board and their scholarship program, visit their
Old Second Hosts Reception
Sharon Stredde Honored at Reception
Old Second Wealth Management held a retirement reception for our president Sharon Stredde on October 8, 2015.  The Community Foundation has had a longstanding relationship with the bank.  Since our inception in 1948, Old Second has been a strong advocate for our mission.  In addition, our offices have been housed in the bank's building since 1985.
 
The reception was attended by employees of Old Second Wealth Management, Old Second National Bank and the Community Foundation.  Toasts were made by the chairman of Old Second Bancorp William Skoglund, Foundation executive vice president Jeffrey Hartman and Old Second Wealth Management senior vice president Richard Gartelmann, Jr.
 
Sharon Stredde
Stredde expressed her deep appreciation for the partnership that has existed between the two organizations for more than sixty years. She also commented on the support that Old Second has given to the Foundation during her thirty-year tenure.  "I have no doubt that the Old Second has been a major factor in our development and will continue to be a valued partner in the years to come," she commented.
 
Sharon is retiring on December 1, 2015.  She will continue to serve the foundation as president emeritus.

                   
  111 W. Downer Place, Suite 312,   Aurora, IL 60506
  127 South First Street, Suite 215, Geneva, IL 60134
  Ph: 630-896-7800      Fx: 630-896-7811