The Freeport Community Foundation (FCF) and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) announced today that they, in partnership, are awarding $60,000 in Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund (ICRF) grants to nine non-profit organizations based in Stephenson County. The emergency-needs grants awarded include funding for emergency needs throughout Stephenson County related to COVID-19 losses.

“It is clear that all of the agencies that applied for COVID-19 grant funding are struggling to continue meeting even the most basic human needs during this challenging environment,” said Freeport Community Foundation Board President Brad Stewart. “Yet, despite their own respective operational challenges, the applying organizations presented programs outlining numerous ways to support their neighboring residents.”

The funds supporting these grants were awarded to CFNIL and FCF from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund (ICRF). The $60,000 in Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund emergency relief funding was dispersed to the following organizations:

• $10,000.00 to Amity Society of Freeport for Childcare During a Pandemic
• $10,000.00 to Family YMCA of Northwest Illinois for Summer Programming at YMCA
• $9,920.00 to United Way of Northwest Illinois for Support of Operations Interruption
• $7,400.00 to Northern Illinois Food Bank for Stephenson County Mobile Pantries & Take 50 Food Fund
• $5,800.00 to Northern Illinois Community Action Agency for NICAA Housing Stability Program
• $5,000.00 to VOICES of Stephenson County for VOICES Pandemic Support
• $5,000.00 to New Horizons Counseling Center for Reduced Fee Program
• $3,780.00 to Stephenson County Historical Society for COVID-19 Relief
• $3,100.00 to CONTACT of Northern Illinois for Crisis Helpline

“The Freeport Community Foundation has a long-standing relationship with our peers at CFNIL, and we are very happy to partner with them on this fourth round of Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund granting,” said Freeport Community Foundation Executive Director Michelle DeHaven. “We at the FCF look forward to strengthening our relationship with CFNIL, as well as other regional foundations and leadership organizations, to collectively serve the residents of Stephenson, Jo Daviess, and Carroll counties in the most effective way possible and to further the basis of the FCF’s mission … to help northwest Illinois communities thrive.” 

Since April, the Freeport Community Foundation has distributed $360,000 in COVID-19-related emergency funding benefiting an array of non-profit organizations throughout Stephenson, Jo Daviess, and Carroll counties. Of those funds, $100,000 came from the Foundation’s Community Needs/Marvin Unrestricted Fund, and the remaining $260,000 was awarded to the FCF via three separate grants from the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund. The FCF originally became aware of the Illinois COVID-19 Response Fund through the organization’s involvement in the Alliance of Illinois Community Foundations (AICF). All ICRF funds are designated to support the emerging needs of those at-risk populations most severely impacted by the COVID pandemic.

About the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

The mission of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is to serve as a catalyst for giving in order to attract, preserve, and grow an endowment for current and future needs of Northern Illinois. Since its founding in 1953 CFNIL has granted more than $73 million for charitable purposes. Learn more about CFNIL’s grantmaking and commitment to endowment at cfnil.org.

About the Freeport Community Foundation

Freeport Community Foundation has a 45-year history as a community-based charitable organization guided by community leaders who are dedicated to providing financial solutions for current and future community needs. During that time, the FCF has awarded over $3 million in grant funding to non-profit organizations and projects throughout northwest Illinois. More information at www.freeportcommunityfoundation.org