2017 Grant Awards Reception

Pictured (from left to right): Tricia L. Simpson, Board Chair of The Community Foundation of Will County (CFWC); Executive Director, Michael Trench of CFWC; Kathy Cawley, CFWC’s Chair of the Grant Making Committee; and grant-recipient, Barry Kolanowski, Executive Director of Senior Services Center of Will County.

The Community Foundation of Will County gathered community leaders to award 11 grants in the priority areas of health, education, human services, and the arts at the fall reception.

sponsored by Sentinus, LLC,

Through the many donors who participated $93,324 in grants were awarded. The non-profit organizations who received these funds will provide transportation for seniors, therapeutic alternatives for hospice patients, prevention programs for youth, and adult education for underserved populations, among other services for residents of Will County.

The following is a list of the 2017 Grant Recipients that were rewarded:

Braidwood Area Healthy Community Coalition

$8,000 for development, maintenance, and sustainability of a Local Youth Advisory Committee. Funding will provide incentives encouraging teens to join a sub-group of the Braidwood Area Healthy Community Coalition and participate in strength-based prevention programs.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet

$7,834 for a Renovation at Daybreak Center. Catholic Charities will renovate a 480 square-foot room at the Daybreak Center, turning it into an adult educational classroom where critical courses will help secure employment and improve the lives of clients. (This grant is partially funded by an inaugural gift from The Women’s Leadership Fund; The Spesia & Ayers Charitable Fund; and The Center for Economic Development Education Grant Fund.)

Easter Seals-Joliet Region

$5,000 for Care Giver Awareness. The 12-month project includes identification of caregivers, publicly feature caregivers with unique stories, convene a caregiver awareness event, identify, and refer services for unmet needs to Will County underserved populations.

Family Bridges

$5,000 for an Original Theatre Production. Family Bridges’ original theatre production is written and produced by Latinos and features original music and choreography. The play is designed to have a positive impact on families and communities by raising awareness of healthy relationships. (This grant is fully funded by The Wadsworth Family Cultural Arts Endowment Fund.)

Joliet Area Community Hospice Corporation

$10,000 for Complementing Integrative Therapies. A new program using massage therapy, aromatherapy, multi-sensory/multi-media therapy, and relaxation therapy to improve the quality of life of their hospice and bereavement clients. (This grant is partially funded by The Michael F. Rittof Fund, and The Sentinus Charitable Grant Fund.)

Joliet Area Historical Museum

$5,000 for the Interpretive Audio Tour Project. The project uses mobile-technology to enhance the guest experience providing rich, vibrant, educational multimedia tours using any mobile device or basic cell phone available in any language to accommodate international guests. (This grant is fully funded by The Jay and Lori Bergman Charitable Fund.)

Northern Illinois Food Bank

$15,000 for a Forklift Purchase which will be used to increase access to food for network members at the new South Suburban Center in Joliet. (This grant is partially funded by The DuPage Medical Group Charitable Fund and The Jay and Lori Bergman Charitable Fund.)

One Hope United

$7,490 for Conscious Discipline Training. Childcare center staff will receive Conscious Discipline Training, an integrating classroom management and social-emotional learning model. Also, two staff members will receive intensive training to educate new staff to the school culture. (This grant is fully funded by The Voyager Group Fund.)

Senior Services Center of Will County, Inc.

$10,000 for Senior Express, an innovative transportation initiative that assists low income seniors in their travels for food, medical care and events that will lessen isolation by education, collaboration and connecting to resources within the community. (This grant is partially funded by The Sharing Blessings Fund, The Bill and Diane Habiger Charitable Fund, and The Joliet Women’s Club Grant.)

Trinity Services, Inc.

$15,000 for Development of an Assistive Technology Lab. Trinity staff will develop low-tech solutions, both stand-alone and complementary equipment. The lab will feature an assistive technology loan pool, so those served may try products before investing in them. (Partially funded by The Rink Family Grant Fund.)

Will-Joliet Bicentennial Park, Inc.

$5,000 for Summer Drama Camp, which teaches teamwork, confidence, life skills and diversity. Campers are encouraged to be original, confident and success-oriented in a safe nurturing environment. (This grant is fully funded by The Christian & Meredith Spesia Family Fund).