Fall 2025 Community Impact Grant Recipients

Total 2025 Youth Education, Workforce Development, Environment and Animal Welfare Grants: $519,520

Youth Education: $184,000

  • Accelerate Climate Solutions: $5,000

    Funded by LAMP Fund
    To support Building Leadership Around Sustainable Transformation (BLAST) program for students aged 14-22 to learn leadership, teamwork, communication, and technical skills around environmental action.

  • Alive Center: $25,000

    Partially funded by Phil and Judy Barnett Family Fund
    To support Hanover Park’s Alive after-school and summer drop-in program that promotes mental health well-being, builds confidence, fosters belonging, and helps teens thrive.

  • Best Buddies: $10,000

    Partially funded by Phil and Judy Barnett Family Fund
    To support the School Friendship and Leadership Program in fostering inclusion and empowering youth with IDD through one-to-one friendships and leadership development.

  • Candor Health Education: $10,000

    To support youth and adult Spanish language speakers with school-based sex education and companion resources to promote healthy relationships and prevention.

  • CREO DuPage: $24,000

    To provide tutoring and mentoring to help Latinx students build critical skills to prepare for post-high school education.

  • DuPage County Farm Bureau Foundation: $5,000

    Funded by Jeffrey and Susan Williams Family Fund
    To provide hands-on educational programming on agriculture, gardening, and plant care to 4th-grade students across DuPage County.

  • Exodus World Service: $20,000

    Funded by JCS Arts, Health and Education Fund and Mary L. Voigt Fund
    To help refugee children and youth increase academic and social skills, gain English fluency, and grow in confidence—preparing them for expanded opportunities for the future.

  • GiGi’s Playhouse – Fox Valley: $5,000

    Partially funded by Phil and Judy Barnett Family Fund
    To support early learning programs for young children with Down syndrome and other developmental challenges that will enable them to hit their milestones and prepare for pre-K enrollment.

  • Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center: $25,000

    To support education, empowerment, and healthy development of more under-resourced K-12 DuPage students by increasing enrollment in GECRC programs and strengthening program quality and sustainability.

  • Green Halo Scholars: $25,000

    To support the core College Access & Success Program to help low-income and first-generation students in DuPage County and the western suburbs navigate the college admissions process.

  • Junior Achievement of Chicago: $5,000

    Funded by Edward & Minnie Ceragioli Fund
    To deliver economic education programming to students across DuPage County and expand outreach for the 2025-2026 school year.

  • Roots & Wings – Alas y Raices: $5,000

    Funded by JCS Arts, Health and Education Fund
    To support after-school and weekend programming for immigrant children, teens, and families.

  • Three Fires Council, Scouting America: $15,000

    Funded by Robinwood Legacy Fund
    To provide STEM and environmental learning activities to DuPage Scouts, students, and community members at Camp Big Timber.

  • United States Adaptive Golf Alliance: $5,000
    Funded by Andi Stelzner Pass-Through Fund
    To support clinics for children with special needs that teach them how to use adaptive golf equipment to support them physically, cognitively, and psychologically.

  

Workforce: $175,000

  • Career & Networking Center: $5,000
    Funded by Phil and Judy Barnett Family Fund and Mary L. Voigt Fund
    To support the Workforce Readiness for Career Success initiative that will provide coaching, workshops, and networking to equip DuPage residents with skills and soft skills to secure and keep jobs.
  • Compudopt: $25,000
    To pilot an internship program to equip DuPage youth with hands-on IT asset disposition skills and provide refurbished computers and digital literacy resources for up to 160 DuPage youth.
  • Donka, Inc.: $15,000
    Funded by Phil and Judy Barnett Family Fund and Paula K. Partipilo Fund
    To provide free assistive technology computer training, job placement, and outreach for people with physical, visual, and developmental disabilities.
  • KidsMatter: $25,000
    Partially funded by Andrew C. Langert Foundation
    To support the Springboard Series and Teen Philanthropy Initiative, two career exploration programs that provide high school students with hands-on experience in a variety of career fields.
  • Literacy DuPage: $25,000
    Funded by Phil and Judy Barnett Family Fund and Mary L. Voigt Fund
    To provide free, customized English tutoring to help learners reach their life goals so they can take control of their lives, support themselves and their families, and participate in their community.
  • Little Friends, Inc.: $25,000
    To support Employment Services to help adults with disabilities at risk of subminimum wage employment secure careers with equitable salaries and benefits to their non-disabled peers.
  • Poised For Success: $5,000
    Funded by Robinwood Legacy Fund and Phil and Judy Barnett Family Fund
    To support operations for an organization that provides women with professional clothing, one-on-one guidance, and tools to build confidence, self-worth, and articulate strengths to stand out and secure a well-paying job.
  • Resilient, NFP: $25,000
    Partially funded by Andrew C. Langert Foundation and Sue Wallace Fund
    To support Upstart, a workforce development program that equips young adults (ages 17–24) in DuPage County with the tools and training needed to enter skilled trades apprenticeship programs.
  • Turning Pointe Autism Foundation: $25,000
    Partially funded by Phil and Judy Barnett Family Fund
    To support the customized employment training program that will use proven interventions for helping individuals with autism achieve competitive integrated employment.

 

Environment: $76,520

  • Fermilab Natural Areas: $17,520
    Partially funded by Jeffrey and Susan Williams Family Fund
    To support the Sparrow Hedge Restoration Plan to create a suitable nesting habitat for declining shrubland bird species by creating and managing an area dominated by native shrubs.
  • SCARCE: $25,000
    To support environmental programs that engage people of all ages to participate in actions that protect and conserve natural resources.
  • The Conservation Foundation: $14,000
    Partially funded by Mains Family Donor-Advised Fund
    To empower Nature Rx coalition members to connect with DuPage residents through nature experiences, capacity-building workshops, and the engaging community-wide Take a Hike! Challenge.
  • The Morton Arboretum: $20,000
    Partially funded by Shebik Family Fund for Basic Human Needs
    To support the Youth Volunteer Program that provides hands-on environmental science education and STEM career exploration for 125 middle and high school students.

     

    Animal Welfare: $84,000

    • A.D.O.P.T. Pet Shelter: $15,000

      To purchase, detail, and/or renovate a van for animal pickups to enable greater, barrier-free participation in our clinic, training, and Blessed Bonds programs.

    • Hinsdale Humane Society: $5,000

      Funded by LAMP Fund
      To support the operations of the low-cost community vaccination clinics for dogs and cats.

    • Naperville Area Humane Society: $19,000

      Partially funded by Robinwood Legacy Fund
      To support the Diamonds in the Ruff program that provides personalized training, behavioral enrichment, and post-adoption support for long-stay shelter dogs.

    • Paws for a Cause Vet Care: $25,000

      Funded by Martha J. Johnson Fund
      To support the Rescue Relief Fund that helps animal shelters offset veterinary care costs, ensuring pets in their care receive the medical treatment they need.

    • West Suburban Humane Society: $20,000

      Funded by Robinwood Legacy Fund, Mary L. Voigt Fund, and Phil and Judy Barnett Family Fund
      To support on-site medical care for homeless cats and dogs to reduce off-site veterinary costs and prevent companion animal euthanasia.

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