Empowering Young Families for a Brighter Future
For teenage parents and their children, the first few years of family life can set the stage for their future. At the same time, these years can be full of challenges and uncertainty, and finding the resources they need can be tough. The right support can make all the difference. That’s why DuPage Foundation and members of our giving community are proud supporters of Teen Parent Connection (TPC), helping young local families get the help they need, when and where they need it most.
40+ YEARS OF SUPPORTING TEEN PARENTS
Since 1985, TPC has built a network of local care across DuPage County, assisting young families from pregnancy through their child’s first five years. The organization provides everything from doula services and therapeutic counseling to home visits, parenting and childbirth classes, and other resources for young mothers and fathers, with the goal of building selfsufficiency. TPC’s services are free and available to all.
Today, TPC continues to grow its support for DuPage County families. At DuPage Foundation, we are proud to have been a part of its journey and to continue supporting the organization as it grows and evolves.
“As we celebrate more than 40 years of serving young families in our community, we’re reflecting on the partners who made this journey possible,” said Becky Beilfuss, executive director of Teen Parent Connection. “DuPage Foundation’s Community Impact grants have been a cornerstone of our growth. We are so proud of what 40 years looks like for this organization and are grateful that the Foundation and its donors have been part of building it.”
THE RIGHT SUPPORT AT THE RIGHT TIME
Over TPC’s years of growth, the Betty M. Bock Fund, one of our donoradvised funds, has provided crucial support.
Most recently, the Fund provided a $25,000 grant for TPC’s Adolescent Family Strengthening Program through our Community Impact grant cycle. This program provides a continuum of support, education, and resources to young families, aiming to strengthen parent-child relationships, build confidence, Pictured above, right, and below: Teen Parent Connection client families. improve health and development outcomes for young children, and ensure families have a stable foundation as they work toward self-sufficiency.
Betty and Herb Bock were lifelong friends of James Heinking’s family. They shared holidays and vacations together, developing a bond with James that felt like that of an aunt and uncle. Betty died too soon at age 57. When Herb passed, he directed much of his estate to the Foundation and named James as the advisor of the fund he named in Betty’s honor.
After James became the Fund’s advisor, we helped him focus his passions and connect with several causes that aligned with his goals, including Teen Parent Connection. For James, TPC’s work is personal. “I have lived experience as a teen parent. I support Teen Parent Connection because it is delivering critical services that are needed,” said James. “For young parents and their children, having the right support at the right time can change everything.”
MOVING FORWARD, TOGETHER
Stories like this show how fund partners and nonprofits move the community forward, together. By working with the Foundation, donors can support meaningful causes and organizations they might not otherwise discover on their own, and organizations like TPC gain the resources they need to help DuPage County families thrive.
