A Message from Our President & CEO |
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Pictured left to right: Paula Deacon Garcia, DuPage County board member; Megan Shebik, DuPage Foundation trustee and DCTP chair; Mike Sitrick, DuPage Foundation president & CEO; and Deb Conroy, DuPage County board chair; accepting the National Association of Counties award for the DCTP on August 8. |
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As summer comes to a close, it’s energizing to reflect on all we’ve accomplished together these past months from an impact standpoint for our community, and to look ahead to our remaining work for the rest of 2023 and beyond.
As you’ll read below, our DuPage Community Transformation Partnership (DCTP) with DuPage County recently distributed nearly $1.3 million in grants to 18 area social service not-for-profits in its latest round of Intermediate Intervention grants. It also earned national recognition from the National Association of Counties (NACo) as an innovative, effective county government program that strengthens services for residents.
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We are extremely proud of the impact this partnership is having on our community and hope it inspires similar transformational partnerships for other communities throughout the nation.
Our Bright & Early DuPage (B&ED) initiative also recently awarded nearly $275,000 in support of eight local early childhood education collaboratives. I can’t stress enough how important investing in these systems is to the development, well-being, and long-term success of our area children. Our partners are doing phenomenal work in this space and the Foundation is proud to lead in supporting their efforts.
Our staff and volunteer leaders have also kept busy hosting, sponsoring, and presenting for a range of community events and educational programs; welcoming new volunteer leaders; and, as always, supporting our donors and not-for-profit partners in accomplishing their charitable goals.
I hope you enjoy the updates that follow and look forward to connecting with you in the days ahead. Please reach out to any member of our team if we can be of service to you.
Meanwhile, thank you for your continued partnership and support of DuPage Foundation. We appreciate your ongoing confidence and trust and look forward to continuing to work together to raise the quality of life throughout our community.
Sincerely,
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Mike Sitrick, JD, CFRE
President & CEO
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DuPage Community Transformation Partnership Awards Nearly $1.3 Million to
18 Not-for-Profits from its Second Round of Immediate Intervention Grants
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On Tuesday, July 18, the DuPage County Board and representatives from DuPage Foundation welcomed grant recipients who were awarded nearly $1.3 million in Immediate Intervention grants by the DuPage Community Transformation Partnership (DCTP). The grants will help fund the work of 18 social service not-for-profit organizations serving DuPage County residents in the areas of food insecurity, housing instability, mental health, and substance use disorder. Established in 2022, the DCTP has already allocated more than $6.2 million of its five-year, $10 million commitment through Intermediate Intervention and Transformational grants to address immediate and long-term needs throughout the community in response to the COVID-19 health emergency.
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Representatives from 18 social service not-for-profits joined DuPage Foundation and DuPage County Board representatives at the July 18 County Board meeting for a presentation of DCTP Immediate Intervention grant awards. |
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Read more about the impact of this groundbreaking partnership and its most recent grants. |
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Bright & Early DuPage Awards Nearly $275K to Eight Local Early Childhood Collaboratives |
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Addison Partners for Play, Learning & Education (APPLE) partners with family childcare providers to supply books and other resources during developmental screening events like the one pictured here. |
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DuPage Foundation’s Bright & Early DuPage (B&ED) initiative recently awarded grants totaling $273,600 to support eight early childhood collaborative efforts throughout DuPage County. Collaboratives consist of individuals sharing knowledge and resources to promote the growth and development of young children, with the ultimate goal of preparing them to be successful in school.
Local early childhood collaboratives were invited to apply for grants of up to $50,000 to support clearly outlined programs in the areas of System Capacity Building ($20,000) and Parent Engagement ($30,000).
Read more about B&ED and learn about this cycle’s grantees.
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August 29 Luncheon to Shine a Light on Food Insecurity Challenges in DuPage County |
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DuPage Foundation is proud to join presenting sponsor Itasca Bank & Trust Co., Duly Health and Care, and Edward-Elmhurst Health, together with 13 area chambers of commerce, in hosting a Multi-Chamber Hunger Action Luncheon at Abbington Distinctive Banquets in Glen Ellyn on Tuesday, August 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Heading into Hunger Action Month in September, the luncheon will raise awareness about the growing issue of food insecurity impacting DuPage County. The luncheon will feature a keynote from Steve Dolinsky, Chicago’s “The Food Guy” on NBC Channel 5, and a panel discussion of local experts, including Barb Szczepaniak, Foundation vice president for programs. Read more here.
In honor of its 75th anniversary, Itasca Bank & Trust Co. has created the Itasca Bank & Trust Co. Hunger Action Fund of DuPage Foundation, a permanently-endowed community fund to aid the Foundation in making annual grants to area not-for-profits working to address hunger and provide lasting solutions to food insecurity throughout our community.
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NGI Fall Event Save the Date |
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On Thursday, September 28, the Next Generation Initiative (NGI) hosts its annual fall social at Blackberry Market in Glen Ellyn (401 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn). Embrace the crisp autumn air and the spirit of giving as we come together to positively impact our community. Engage in meaningful conversations with fellow attendees, old friends, and new acquaintances while supporting a great cause.
Focusing on food insecurity, the featured charity is Humanitarian Service Project (HSP). HSP’s mission is to alleviate the pain and suffering that poverty brings to seniors and children without discrimination or exclusion for any reason.
The Mulholland Family Fund of DuPage Foundation will generously match contributions made to NGI for the Humanitarian Service Project grant, totaling up to $2,500.
Please contact Kait Balsewicz, assistant director of donor services at [email protected] for more information.
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Save the Date for DuPage Foundation’s
Annual Benefit: Under the Sea
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It’s time to dream in colors borrowed from the sea and experience beauty and adventure at DuPage Foundation’s 2023 Annual Benefit: Under the Sea. The event is scheduled for the evening of Saturday, November 4, at The Westin Chicago Lombard. Become spellbound with the majesty and abundance of the deep through live music, unique activities, and mouthwatering cuisine fit for kings and queens of the sea.
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Save the Date for the DuPage County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast on January 15 |
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Since February, an Advisory Committee of more than 180 community members has assembled to plan the return of the DuPage County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, to be held on Monday, January 15, 2024, at Drury Lane in Oakbrook Terrace.
In celebration of the return of the Breakfast, The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies, Inc. has established the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Fund of DuPage Foundation, a permanently-endowed community fund, which will generate annual income for grants to DuPage County not-for-profits that prioritize serving Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and deliver equitable services in the areas of health, human services, or education.
Save the date for this important community event and visit here to purchase a sponsorship or tickets. All net proceeds from the event will be contributed to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Fund of DuPage Foundation.
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast
Advisory Committee Meeting
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On Thursday, August 17, Barb Szczepaniak, DuPage Foundation’s vice president for programs, attended the DuPage County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Advisory Committee meeting at the Republic Bank in West Chicago. The Committee is hosting monthly meetings leading up to the January Breakfast at various cultural centers and houses of worship throughout the county to unite our community in the spirit of making a collaborative impact together. Special thanks to the Mexican Cultural Center for presenting this evening of education and celebrating diverse cultural experiences. |
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Barb Szczepaniak, Foundation vice president for programs (right), pictured with Regina Brent, founder and president of Unity Partnership, and co-chair of the DuPage County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast Advisory Committee. |
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Arts DuPage Visits Rotary Club of Wheaton A.M. |
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John Rutledge, DuPage Foundation Legacy Society member and program chair, with Debbie Venezia, Arts DuPage director. |
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Special thanks to John Rutledge and the Rotary Club of Wheaton A.M. for inviting Debbie Venezia, director of Arts DuPage, to speak at the Club’s meeting on Wednesday, August 16.
Debbie talked about DuPage County's vibrant arts sector and the critical role it plays in uplifting our community not only from a creative aspect, but from an economic and innovation standpoint. It was an honor to share the room with active Rotary members who provide much-needed services and build goodwill in the community.
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DuPage Foundation Professional Advisors’ Network and DuPage County Bar Association
Co-Host a Continuing Education
Program and Reception
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DuPage Foundation’s Professional Advisors’ Network partnered with the DuPage County Bar Association (DCBA) and its Estate Planning and Probate Section to host a joint continuing education program for area advisors, followed by the DCBA’s monthly Unwind networking event on Thursday, August 17, at Arrowhead Golf Club in Wheaton.
John Sleeting, executive partner at Clearwater Capital Partners, shared an insightful presentation on “Philanthropic Strategies: Where the Heart and Head Intersect,” discussing potential strategies for families as they seek to create their desired charitable legacies.
It’s our honor to partner with the DCBA in presenting opportunities for advisors to help their clients achieve their goals and make an impact on our community. Thank you to all who attended!
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John Sleeting, executive partner at Clearwater Capital Partners, speaking about philanthropic strategies to attendees at a recent DuPage County Bar Association event. |
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Left to right: DuPage Foundation Professional Advisor Committee members, Bill Hassett, Sandy Higgins (Vice Chair), and Kim Coogan. |
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Left to right: Robert Rupp, DCBA executive director, Mike Sitrick, DuPage Foundation president & CEO, and Richard Veenstra, DCBA president. |
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Szczepaniak Educates Naperville Residents on Area Needs and Opportunities for Impact |
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On Friday, August 18, Barb Szczepaniak, Foundation vice president for programs, presented on the charitable landscape in DuPage County to members of the Naperville Sunrise Rotary Club at the Naperville Country Club. |
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Barb Szczepaniak, center, with DuPage Foundation committee members, Bill Hassett, left and Alice Wood, right, at the Naperville Country Club presentation. |
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DuPage Foundation recently welcomed the following volunteers to its Arts DuPage Advisory Committee:
- Geoff Bevington, Glen Ellyn
- Lisa Fanelli, Elmhurst
- Linda Fischer, Elmhurst
- Lynne Kornecki, St. Charles
- Maureen Sullivan Taylor, Oak Brook
Thank you to these new members for sharing your time and expertise with the Foundation!
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Leaders & Legacies: Stories of Local Impact |
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Catch up on the latest “Leaders & Legacies: Stories of Local Impact,” an article series in the Daily Herald featuring stories of individuals, families, and businesses whose generosity and commitment to philanthropy have made a lasting difference in our community. View the entire archive here.
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Itasca Bank & Trust Co., and the brothers behind it – Jack and James Mensching – have had a strong connection to the community for 75 years, and family ties in community banking that date back to 1890.
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Interested in creating your own lasting legacy? Contact us at 630.598.5288 or email [email protected] to learn more about how to support your community and favorite causes through DuPage Foundation. |
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Our condolences to the family of Foundation friend and Glen Ellyn resident James E. Drasal, who recently passed away at age 85. Jim was the beloved husband to Marie (Granum), a father of three children, and a grandfather and great-grandfather to many more.
Jim attended Farragut High School and went on to graduate from Beloit College in 1959. He was in the U.S. Navy for 20 years, attaining the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Jim was a pilot for American Airlines for 30 years, where he attained the rank of Captain. He was involved in many local organizations, including the B.R. Ryall YMCA and Kiwanis Club of Glen Ellyn, and he provided personal and financial support to many local organizations. His hobbies included fishing and home improvement projects. Most of all, he loved spending time with his family.
Jim and Marie have generously designated DuPage Foundation as a beneficiary of their estate, and are proud members of our Legacy Society.
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Arts DuPage Receives
Illinois Arts Council Agency Grant
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Arts DuPage, a DuPage Foundation initiative, received a $9,600 grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency (IACA) through federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
“We are thrilled to be the recipient of this grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency,” said Debbie Venezia, director of Arts DuPage. “The funding will help us further our mission of supporting, promoting, and advocating for the arts in DuPage County. As our community’s arts champion, Arts DuPage is committed to raising awareness for the arts, heightening their visibility, and continuing to bolster the more than 400 arts organizations that make up our vibrant arts sector.”
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Maureen Brink celebrated her one-year anniversary as the Foundation’s administrative assistant on August 15.
Maureen supports the entire staff in various aspects of daily operations and is a joy to work with and have on our team. She helps keep everything on track, brings creative event planning experience, and has excellent organizational skills and attention to detail in her work. She is always willing to pitch in to do whatever needs to be done to help further the organization's mission. Congratulations, Maureen!
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David Weisz, vice president for finance, celebrated his 10th anniversary on August 14.
As a valued member of our leadership team, David guides us expertly through the processes, procedures, and latest developments in the worlds of accounting, finance, IT, and human resources, serving as an outstanding steward of our financial, technological, and human capital. Witty, dedicated, and always looking out for the best interests of our donors, grantees, and staff, we are deeply grateful to have him on our team. Congratulations, David!
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After a busy spring, members of our team took a day in late June to slow down and enjoy a guided canoeing trip along the Fox River led by Brook McDonald, president & CEO of The Conservation Foundation.
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New Funds at DuPage Foundation |
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DuPage Foundation thanks our friends and partners who have recently established funds in support of our community and their favorite causes and organizations, and the donors who contribute to these funds. The following new funds have been established since July 1, 2023:
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Fund (created by Inland Real Estate Group, LLC)
- Itasca Bank & Trust Co. Hunger Action Fund
- Little Friends Agency Fund
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Doing a world of good in our own backyard®
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