Tag: Community Foundation

DCCF Community Open House Sunday

Nov. 30 no comments

The DeKalb County Community Foundation recently moved into the beautifully restored, historic Sycamore Train Depot. Come take a look this Sunday, December 2nd, from 1-4pm at their Community Open House. Located at 475 DeKalb Avenue in Sycamore, the old Depot now serves as the Community Foundation’s permanent home and offers a community meeting room (called The Freight Room) for groups to rent out for meetings, trainings, and special events.

Join in celebrating the Community Foundation’s new home and tour this amazing building.  The building is on the corner of Sacramento St. and DeKalb Ave. near downtown Sycamore. For more information, please visit the DCCF’s website or call 815-748-5383.

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DCCF Business Open House Friday

Nov. 27 no comments

The DeKalb County Community Foundation recently moved into the beautifully restored, historic Sycamore Train Depot. Come take a look this Friday, November 30th, from 8am to 9:30am at their Business Open House. Located at 475 DeKalb Avenue in Sycamore, the old Depot now serves as the Community Foundation’s permanent home and offers a community meeting room (called The Freight Room) for groups to rent out for meetings, trainings, and special events.

Join in celebrating the Community Foundation’s new home and tour this amazing building. A continental breakfast will be served. The building is on the corner of Sacramento St. and DeKalb Ave. near downtown Sycamore. For more information, please visit the DCCF’s website or call 815-748-5383.

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DeKalb County Applies for Watershed Planning Grant

Aug. 30 1 comment

Union Ditch

Water is one of our very most important resources. Changes in the patterns of storm water management can have impacts beyond what many see. Strategies to address storm water management can also have a huge effect on property rights.

DeKalb County has recently applied for a Watershed Planning Grant for our area. In the interest of letting our readers know what is going on in local government, we are sharing the most recent DeKalb County Community Foundation’s email newsletter article about Community Initiatives:

The DeKalb County Community Foundation (DCCF) reached a major milestone earlier this month when the County of DeKalb submitted an application to the Illinois EPA for a Watershed Planning Grant on behalf of the DeKalb County Stormwater Management Committee and the DCCF CommunityWorks Land Use Committee.

Problems with flooding and stormwater have been identified as common and important concerns facing all communities within DeKalb County as well as property owners in unincorporated areas. The total grant for the planning project is $114,955, of which the DCCF is providing $30,000 in cash matching funds through its CommunityWorks Initiative.

DCCF is partnering with DeKalb County and the DeKalb County Stormwater Management Committee to provide additional in-kind support to secure the planning grant, news of which is expected in January 2013. If funded, the planning process will take place over 18 months and involve a watershed-based approach to stormwater assessment and planning. The area of focus is the Union Ditch /Virgil Ditch (links added) watersheds, which includes the City of Sycamore and areas extending east into Kane County and south to Maple Park and the north side of Cortland.

For more information, contact Anita Zurbrugg, Program Director, anita@dekalbccf.org.

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Fall Community Needs Grant applications accepted through September 4

Aug. 24 no comments

Do you have a grant application in mind, but aren’t sure if it will qualify as a Community Needs grant? Check out the DeKalb County Community Foundation’s Community Needs Grant Guidelines to see if your project is eligible! To Apply for a Community Needs grant please fill out and return the Community Needs Grant Application.

The DeKalb County Community Foundation (DCCF)  invests in the charitable efforts of nonprofit and community organizations throughout DeKalb County. Preference is given to organizations having 50l(c)(3) status as determined by the IRS. The Foundation manages several permanent endowment funds. The board approves grants from the unrestricted and field of interest funds in response to applications from community organizations.

Please contact Becky Zantout, Grants and Community Initiatives Manager, or Anita Zurbrugg, Program Director, with questions regarding your application.

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Youth Engaged in Philanthropy Informational Meet and Greet

Aug. 16 1 comment

The DeKalb County Community Foundation is excited to announce the 4th year of its Youth Engaged in Philanthropy program. Service minded youth interested in improving their community and learning about philanthropy are invited to attend an Informational Meet and Greet this Sunday, August 19th, from 3-5pm.

There will be food, games, friends and fun. In order to qualify to be a YEP member you must be a resident of DeKalb County who is 14 – 18 years old and enrolled in High School or equivalent education program. The Meet and Greet will be held at 2846 Wedgewood Drive in DeKalb.

YEP is a locally led youth philanthropy program that teaches young people leadership skills and the importance of community involvement and philanthropy. Their goal is to stimulate and develop the spirit of philanthropy in young people and to inspire a lifelong interest and a commitment to serving others. YEP assists the DeKalb County Community Foundation in addressing youth issues in our community and is a youth led committee of the DeKalb County Community Foundation. Read more →

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Palmer Family Music Education Scholarship Offered

Feb. 22 no comments

It’s time to be thinking about scholarships for this coming Fall semester. This spring, a $1500 scholarship will be awarded to a DeKalb County High School Graduate who is continuing his or her studies in music. This scholarship was set up in honor of Dee Palmer, who passed away November, 2011. Dee and his family before him contributed to the musical enjoyment of DeKalb County for over 160 years.

Application is available by clicking here.  Application due back to DCCF by March 16. For more information please contact Anita Zurbrugg, Program Director at 815-748-5383 or ANITA@DEKALBCCF.ORG

Read more →

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FFC Building to be Auctioned to Benefit DCCF

Sep. 06 no comments

The FFC, Farmers Factory building on 6 acres will be sold to the highest bidder without reserve, on-site at 100 East Lee Road, Lee, Illinois. The building is a 33,000 sq. ft. commercial building. The auction will be held this Saturday, September 10th, starting at 11:00am.

The sale of this building will directly benefit the DeKalb County Community Foundation. This is a charitable foundation that distributes grants and scholarships throughout DeKalb County. All of the money generated from the sale of this building is eligible to be matched dollar for dollar, thus doubling the contribution to the foundation. This is a great opportunity for the DeKalb County Community Foundation, but an even greater opportunity for the farmer, investor, manufacturer or anyone needing a turnkey building on 6 acres. Properties like this in a rural setting with heavy zoning do not come along often. Talk to your lender now and be ready to bid your price at auction. To inspect property, call auctioneers at 815-739-3703.

Formally known as FFC, Farmers Factory, this property was built 27 years ago for the manufacturing of farm & material loader buckets & skid steer attachments. The building was in daily operation until 2008 when the company moved to Michigan. It was rented for several months to FPL for a storage & staging yard for the DeKalb-Lee Wind Farms. The building sits on 6 acres at the corner of Lee & West County Line Roads in the village of Lee, Illinois. The building has village water, a high-volume, high pressure natural gas service & 3-ph electric, all underground. It is located on a Class II, all-weather, heavy road with direct access to US Rt. 30. For more information including pictures, please visit the Almburg Auctions website.

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Who Wants To Be A Grantmaker? Ken & Paul Do!

Jun. 15 no comments

Ken Evans presents a grant check to Kathy Stelford & friends

The Community Foundation once again held the “Who Wants to Be a Grantmaker?” contest at the DeKalb and Sycamore LINK UP Expo in May 2010.  Two winners were drawn and each was “given” $250 to grant to the charities of their choice.  Winner Paul McMenamin granted $250 to the American Red Cross, DeKalb County Chapter.  Paul and his wife are big fans of the work that the Red Cross does for the community.

Winner Ken Evans, owner of Franklin Frame Shoppe in Sycamore, decided to double his opportunity and donated $125 to Opportunity House and $125 to Oaken Acres Wildlife Center.  Kathy Stelford, President of Oaken Acres brought along two special friends to meet Ken, two 14 day old screech owls.  “This donation will help feed these hungry babies”, stated Ms. Stelford, “we will put these funds to good use!”

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