DONOR DESIGNATED
Income from these funds is provided to organizations named by the donor.

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ADMINISTRATIVE ENDOWMENT FUND
This endowment established in 2006 provides annual support to the community foundation's operations.


AIKINS THEATRE ARTS FUND
This fund benefits a woman enrolled in the Theatre Arts program at Northern Illinois University. This fund was started in 2007 by local residents Jerry and Annette Johns, in tandem with Janet Aikins Yount, the latter of whom is the daughter of Harold and Lucille Aikins, long-time DeKalb citizens and strong supporters of local theatre. Learn more about the faces behind this fund by clicking here.


ALTRUSA - DAILY CHRONICLE LITERACY FUND
The DeKalb County Community Spelling Bee is the major fundraising component of this fund, which will benefit literacy projects in our community. Altrusa Club of DeKalb-Sycamore has long been a champion of many causes, including literacy, which is also high on the corporate-giving agenda of the Daily Chronicle. Proceeds from the Spelling Bee serve to fund this endowment, as well as the Newspapers in Education program at the Daily Chronicle. This fund was started in 2000.


ADRA W. BAKER GALLAGHER FUND
The income from this fund, established in 1998, is used for the Waterman Area Heritage Society.


J. BARR DESIGNATED ENDOWMENT FUND
The income from this fund, started in 1998, is used by St. Mary Church in DeKalb to support its Adult Education Program.



  BEN GORDON CENTER FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT FUND
  This agency fund, started in 2002, provides annual income to the Ben Gordon Foundation

  as it assists various activities at Ben Gordon Mental Health Center.


BERTRAM ANIMAL SHELTER FUND
Started with a gift from the estate of Roger Bertram, in 2002. The DeKalb County Animal Shelter in Genoa benefits from yearly distributions from this fund.


BOYNTON LIBRARY BOOK ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund was started with the initial payout, from the Lillian S. Boynton Fund, in 2002, and is used by the Sycamore Public Library exclusively for new book purchases.


LILLIAN S. BOYNTON FUND
This fund, started in 2000, a bequest from the estate of Mrs. Boynton, a long-time Sycamore businesswoman who died in late 1998, benefits five area organizations. Annual fund income is distributed to Shriners Hospital, as a memorial to Mrs. Boynton’s late husband, Elmer; to Sycamore Public Library, for book purchases; to Sycamore High School, for two annual scholarships; to The Salvation Army, for utilization within DeKalb County, and to Kishwaukee Health Foundation, to be used for purchasing equipment at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.


JOSEPH AND EVELYN BUSSONE ENDOWMENT FUND
Sycamore's St. Mary's Church and School will benefit from this endowment, started in 2006 by the Bussones, long-time Sycamore residents and St. Mary parishioners.



  CASA (COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATE) FUND
  This fund was established in 1998 for the support of the CASA program, which trains

  volunteers to advocate forabused and/or neglected children in DeKalb County.

 

CHILDREN’S LEARNING CENTER FUND
This fund started in 2000 and is used to support the activities of the DeKalb child care facility.


  COMMUNITY COORDINATED CHILD CARE (4-C) FUND
  The 4-C’s Board of Directors determine the use of this fund’s annual revenue. This fund

  started in 2000.



THE COVENY AND WHALEN FAMILY DESIGNATED ENDOWMENT FUND
Established by Anna Marie Coveny, this fund, started in 2000, is a memorial tribute to deceased family members and will generate income to support the art gallery program of the DeKalb Area Women’s Center.

 

DCCF LEADERSHIP ADMINISTRATIVE FUND

This fund, started by the DCCF Executive Committee and supported by the DCCF staff and board, provides an opportunity for previous and future Foundation board and staff to support the mission of the Foundation.

 

DEKALB AREA AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE ASSOCIATION, INC ENDOWMENT FUND

This fund provides financial support to the DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association, Inc. (DAAHA) for their mission of collecting, preserving and sharing the storied history of agriculture and its innovators in northern Illinois.

 

DEKALB AREA WOMEN’S CENTER ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund was started in 2000 by several D.A.W.C. board members, as a fund geared to provide support for the facility located on DeKalb’s East State Street.


  DEKALB BARB BOOSTERS ENDOWMENT FUND

  This local booster organization will enjoy the growth potential of this endowment, while

  assuring a yearly payout to the DeKalb High School Athletic Department. The catalyst for

  spearheading this fund’s establishment, in 2003, was the Castle Challenge football event.

 

DEKALB BICENTENNIAL FUND

The primary purpose of the fund shall be to provide unrestricted supplemental financial support for the DeKalb Bicentennial Celebration, occurring during the year 2056 in DeKalb, IL.  The funds can be used at the discretion of the planning committee responsible for DeKalb’s Bicentennial Celebration.


   DEKALB COUNTY 4-H FOUNDATION FUND
  This new fund was started, in 2002, with a gift from the estate of JoAnn Aufdenkamp, a former

  Northern Illinois University librarian whose philanthropic interests were rooted in her

  agricultural upbringing. The fund will provide yearly distributions to the local 4-H youth

  organization.

 

DEKALB COUNTY EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD FUND - 2011 EIE Winners
Long-time Sycamore teacher Yvonne Johnson established this fund in 1999, to honor excellence in education among teachers, administrators and support staff. Ms. Johnson presents the awards to five DeKalb County educators at an Excellence in Education ceremony each year. The endowment provides five $1,000 awards annually.


DEKALB COUNTY FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT FUND
Established in 1996, this fund directs that the income generated be used for conservation and education within the Forest Preserve District.


  DEKALB EDUCATION FOUNDATION FUND
  The income generated from this fund, established in 1995, is used to benefit the DeKalb

  School District as determined by the DeKalb Education Foundation Board.


DEKALB FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

This local congregation has in 2008 established this permanent, non-endowed fund that will provide yearly support for its operational needs. 

 

DEKALB COUNTY NURSING HOME FOUNDATION ENDOWMENT FUND

The DeKalb County Nursing Home Foundation is dedication to meeting some of the evolving needs of seniors in DeKalb County.  This fund provides additional support for the charitable purposes of the Nursing Home Foundation, allowing them to assist in the quality programming of the DeKalb County Nursing Home.

 

DEKALB LEADERSHIP ACADEMY COMMUNITY FUND
A DeKalb Chamber of Commerce-sponsored program, its Leadership Academy provides young community leaders the opportunity to get involved in local charitable causes. This endowment, started in 2006, is expected to grow as each year's class contributes to its principal, providing future classes with increased grantmaking opportunities.


  DEKALB PARK DISTRICT ENDOWMENT FUND
   The DeKalb Park District established this endowment fund with private contributions in order

  to provide stable unrestricted support to the park's facilities and services and attract other gifts

  from people who enjoy the parks and want to sustain them.

 

DEKALB PUBLIC LIBRARY ENDOWMENT FUND
Established in 2005 this endowment will make a yearly distribution to be used for operations at the local library.


ELLWOOD HOUSE MUSEUM FUND

This fund, endorsed by resolution from the Ellwood House Association Board of Directors, was established in honor of Gerald Brauer, the Ellwood House Association’s first Executive Director serving from 1982 through 2010.  The purpose of the fund is to provide revenue to the Ellwood House Association for educational services, museum interpretation, and programming for children, adolescents, and adults.

 

FLOYD FLOWERS FAMILY SERVICE AGENCY ENDOWMENT FUND

Shortly before his death, Mr. Flowers started this fund in 2008 which will aid the organization he headed for so many years.  The endowment will be a fitting, and lasting, tribute to Floyd and the agency he loved.

 

MILO AND ELIZABETH GEORGE FUND
This fund was created in 1995 for the purpose of supporting the Waterman Area Heritage Society. Mr. George passed away during 2004.


JOSEPH F. GLIDDEN HOMESTEAD & HISTORICAL CENTER FUND
This was originally started with an anonymous gift in 2004, and will exist in perpetuity to provide support to the Homestead on DeKalb's West Lincoln Highway.


GURLER HERITAGE ASSOCIATION ENDOWMENT FUND IN HONOR OF HELEN MERRITT

Started in 2010, this fund provides unrestricted supplemental operating support to the Gurler Heritage Association.  It honors Helen Merritt, who was responsible for the founding of the Gurler Heritage Association and the saving of the Gurler House and grounds from destruction.  For the rest of her life, she was actively involved in the Gurler Heritage Association and a strong supporter of its mission and of the Gurler House.

 

JACOB HAISH MEMORIAL FUND
 Established in 1993, income from this fund supports the charitable objectives set forth in the will of Jacob Haish as determined by the Board of Directors of the Haish Memorial Hospital Corporation.


DAVID E. HALL ENDOWMENT FUND
 This fund was initiated in 1999 with a bequest from the estate of David Hall of Genoa, who passed away in 1998. Its intent is to use fund income for the DeKalb County Animal Welfare Shelter.


WALTER E. HAUSWALD SCIENCE EDUCATION ENDOWMENT FUND
 This fund, established late in 2002, recognizes the accomplishments of Walter Hauswald, a long-time science teacher at Sycamore High School. Yearly distributions will be made to allow S.H.S. science programs to purchase equipment and supplies.


HOPE HAVEN ENDOWMENT FUND
 The local homeless shelter will receive annual support from this new fund, started in 2007 with a lead gift from James and Helen Merritt of DeKalb.


HOWEY-GUILINGER MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT FUND
 Established in early 2003, this fund is geared to memorialize Robert Howey and James Guilinger, both former long-time ag teachers at Sycamore High. This fund provides yearly support to the Sycamore Education Foundation to support agriculture Department activities at S.H.S.


VERA JOHN ENDOWMENT FUND
 This fund started in 2007 will benefit the National Association for Down Syndrome, and was started by long-time Sycamore resident Vera John, as a memorial to her son William John.


JOINER HISTORY ROOM ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund was in the process of inception, just prior to the recent death of former DeKalb County Clerk Ralph Joiner in 2008.  It was Ralph and his wife Bertha desire to save historical artifacts during their long tenure in the Clerk's office that led to the creation of the Joiner History Room.  This facility, housed in the Sycamore Public Library, will benefit from the Joiners' forethought, and from this endowment partially funded by recent memorial gifts in Ralph's name.  It will honor the work of Phyllis Kelley, the first appointed DeKalb County historian who began administering the Joiner History Room in 1989.

 

ALEX KELM MEMORIAL FUND
The Kelm family started this endowment in 2006, as a memorial to their teenage son Alex, who died in an accident at their Genoa home. The fund will benefit the Alternative Education Program at Kishwaukee Education Consortium, where Alex was a student.


BERNICE KENDALL MEMORIAL FUND
The income from this fund established in 1998 is used by the Sycamore Education Foundation to support women’s athletics at Sycamore High School.


BERNICE AND KERMIT KIRKUS FUND
These long-time Waterman residents, for the benefit of the Waterman Area Heritage Society, established this fund in 1998. Mr. Kirkus passed away in March 2001.


  KISHWAUKEE FAMILY YMCA ENDOWMENT FUND
  Established in 2002 by the YMCA Board of Directors, the fund will be used by

  the local YMCA.


KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE HORTICULTURE FUND
This fund was started in 2007 by long-time Kishwaukee College chair John Roberts of DeKalb, and will make annual distributions to the Horticulture Department at the college.


KISHWAUKEE SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA FUND
Supporters of the community orchestra continue to grow this fund started in 2001 to help current needs of the KSO.


  KISHWAUKEE UNITED WAY ENDOWMENT FUND
  When the DeKalb United Way merged with Sycamore United Fund recently in 2005, their

  boards decided to also combine their separate endowments into one. Yearly distributions will help support operational needs of this new charitable organization.


ROBERT AND MARY KRUPP FUND
Established in 1998, the income from this fund is used to benefit arts and cultural activities at St. Mary School in DeKalb.


RAYMOND LARSEN FUND
This fund was established in 1997 by a resident of Sandwich, who passed away in 2001. The fund now benefits Voluntary Action Center, where Ray was a board member; the Sandwich Rotary Club, which administers scholarships in Ray's name; and the Fox Valley Older Adult Services.


VIRGINIA LARSEN FUND
Started in 2001 by this Sycamore resident, the fund provides financial assistance to the Kishwaukee Community Hospital Auxiliary, enabling it to fund annual nursing scholarships to DeKalb County residents.


ROWLAND & LUCILE MATTESON KISHWAUKEE COLLEGE FUND
Established in 2006 following Lucile's death, this fund's yearly payout will assist our community college in capital improvements. The College was especially meaningful to Mrs. Matteson, who worked closely with its foundation in establishing several scholarship programs during her lifetime.


MIDWEST MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY ENDOWMENT FUND
This fund, started in 2006, provides annual support to this new Sycamore museum.


STEVE AND JAN MILNER FUND
Created in 1998, the income is divided and used to support the DeKalb County Animal Shelter and Big Brother / Big Sister Program of the Family Service Agency.

 

NB&T COMMUNITY FUND

NB&T, an independent community bank with the freedom to reinvest in the community for 144 years, established this administrative endowment fund that supports the Community Foundation as it continues to build community philanthropy in DeKalb County.


EVELYN S. NELSON FUND
The income from this 1995 fund is used by the DeKalb Education Foundation to support scholarships at the DeKalb High School in accordance with the will of Ms. Nelson.


NIU-HILLEL FUND
Started in 2007 by DeKalb resident Abraham Bass, this new fund will make annual distributions to the Hillel Jewish Student Organization at Northern Illinois University.


NIU-LITERACY CLINIC ENDOWMENT FUND
A permanent endowment fund that helps children and families access high quality literacy services through the NIU Literacy Clinic.  The Fund started in 2009 provides an annual payout to the Literacy Clinic to help cover the cost of services for families with limited financial means.  The endowment was started by former Clinic Director Dr. Jerry Johns and current Clinic Director Dr. Laurie Elish-Piper out of a desire to connect children in the community with literacy enhancement.

 

   NORTH GROVE SCHOOL PRESERVATION FUND IN MEMORY OF KENNETH MARSH

Kenneth Marsh was a student of the one-room North Grove School from about 1921 to 1929.  This fund was established with an estate gift from Kenneth Marsh and his children, Clare Hay and Roger Marsh.  The purpose of the fund is to provide on-going maintenance and preservation of the historic North Grove School building and property.

 

NORTHERN REHABILITATION & SPORTS MEDICINE DCCF ADMINISTRATIVE FUND

This fund, an investment in DeKalb County’s quality of life, provides unrestricted financial operating support to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, allowing it to serve DeKalb County citizens through its mission and services.


OPEN DOOR FOUNDER’S FUND
The income from this fund is used by the Open Door Rehabilitation Center to perpetuate support of its programs. This fund was established in 1997 to honor the original founders and provide an opportunity for donors to continue their giving through endowment.


  RAMP ENDOWMENT FUND to benefit people with disabilities in DeKalb County

  This fund was established in 2011 to accept contributions and estate gifts from donors who

  have a special concern for persons with disabilities and the services that assist them.  RAMP's mission is to promote an accessible society that allows and expects full participation by people with disabilities. RAMP is a passionate partner for people with disabilities desiring to live a useful and rewarding life. They empower people with disabilities to realize there are no limits to what they can do.  Learn more about RAMP at www.rampcil.org.

 

ELIZABETH BRADT REED FUND

This fund was established in 1998 with the income used by Oak Crest-DeKalb Area Retirement Center for its health care center.

 

JOHN AND BETTY ROBERTS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ADMINISTRATIVE FUND
Following the death of community leader John Roberts in 2008, his family decided to start this new endowment, named after their parents.  The fund will assist the DeKalb County Community Foundation, an agency the Roberts had supported for many years after DCCF was started by John's brother Charlie and Charlie's wife Mary in 1993.

 

ROCHELLE AREA COMMUNITY ENDOWMENDT FUND
 A group of Rochelle-area leaders hope to ultimately create a new community foundation there, and started this new fund in late 2005 as a depository for local contributions. The DeKalb County Community Foundation is pleased to be consulting with our western neighbors as they grow the funds necessary to get their own community foundation up-and-running.


RYAN FAMILY EDUCATION FUND
Established as an endowment in 1998, the fund’s income has initially been used for annual scholarships at St. Mary School in DeKalb, and may be expanded in the future to include other educational objectives.


SANDWICH FAIR ASSOCIATION ENDOWMENT FUND
The primary purpose of this fund started in 2004 will be to provide the Fair Association to carry out charitable activities determined by its board.


JERRY SMITH COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FUND
This fund was started following the retirement in 2008 of DeKalb County Community Foundation's Executive Director.  The endowment was started by the Foundation's Board of Directors, and initial contributions from Smith's friends and associates will guarantee significant annual support to the organization Jerry so dearly loves.


 SOMONAUK EDUCATION FOUNDATION FUND

 The primary purpose of this fund started in 2005 will be to support activities of the Somonauk

 School District, as directed by its Foundation.

 

STAGE COACH PLAYERS FUND
 Kudos to this local theatre organization for working hard to grow adequate funds in 2008 to incept this endowment.  Now, and in perpetuity, annual proceeds will aid in the sustainability of Stage Coach!


  SYCAMORE EDUCATION FOUNDATION FUND
  Established in 1997, this fund provides an annual return to the Sycamore Education

  Foundation for the benefit of the Sycamore School District.

 

 

  SYCAMORE PARK DISTRICT ENDOWMENT FUND

  Established in 2010, this fund provides unrestricted operating support to the Sycamore Park   

  District to enhance its services by renovating, developing and improving the park district’s parks

  and facilities.  It also provides a vehicle for charitable donors to support the Sycamore Park District forever through contributions and estate gifts.

 

SYCAMORE PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMUNITY FUND
 This fund was established in 1997 by the IDEAL shareholder families to encourage people to provide support to the Sycamore Public Library by adding to the endowment and creating an annual means of support to the library for purposes other than operating.


SYCAMORE SPORTS BOOSTERS ENDOWMENT FUND
 The primary purpose of this fund established in 2004 shall be to support activities of this local boosters organization at Sycamore High School.


RAYMOND TOURVILLE ILLINOIS FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHER FUND
Named after the long-time Northern Illinois University professor, who died during 2008, this endowment will support activities of the Illinois Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.

 

MARY USCIAN HEALTH ACCESS ENDOWMENT FUND
Started in 2006 by friends of Mary Uscian, former director at Tri-County Health Center, this memorial endowment will support the medically-underserved in the DeKalb County Community.


  VOLUNTARY ACTION CENTER FUND
  Annual payout of this fund established in 2001 will assist this organization in its food

  and transportation programs for DeKalb County residents.

 

WIRTZ FAMILY FUND
Established in 1995, the income from this fund is used by the DeKalb Education Foundation to increase the quality of public education by encouraging innovative achievement.