First Midwest Bank establishes Charitable Impact Fund with $250,000 gift
June 24, 2016
$11,370 in YEP Grants Benefit Youth Programs and Organizations in DeKalb County
June 28, 2016
Out of a fruitful partnership with the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation, the DeKalb County Community Foundation is pleased to report that $125,100 in Wurlitzer Foundation grants were awarded this spring. A total of 28 nonprofits and community organizations across the Midwest region of the United States received support for their involvement in music and music education.
The partnership between the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation and the DeKalb County Community Foundation began in 2012, when the Wurlitzer Foundation Board of Directors established a donor advised fund within the Community Foundation. Since 2012, the Wurlitzer Foundation Fund has awarded $818,145 in music grants across the United States. Of this amount, $147,945 has stayed local and been awarded to organizations within DeKalb County.
Deborah Booth, Wurlitzer Foundation advisor and former director of the NIU Community School of the Arts commented, “It is a privilege to be part of this vital effort to support and strengthen arts organizations in the area. The Wurlitzer Foundation has a long history of providing funding to help many groups develop new programming or maintain the best of what they do. The result is a richer world for all of us.”
Fall 2016 Wurlitzer Foundation grant applications will be made available online starting July 1. Applications are due by midnight on March 1 and September 1 of each year. All applications are reviewed by the Wurlitzer Foundation Fund Board of Advisors and funding support is granted based on criteria met and amount requested. Preference is given to 501(c)3 organizations.
The following Wurlitzer Foundation Grants were awarded for the spring 2016 grant cycle:
| Organization Name | Grant Purpose | Grant Amount |
| Anima Young Singers of Chicago | to provide music education and performance opportunities for young people in the 21st Century Composer Initiative Project | $5,000 |
| Chicago Sinfonietta | for general operating support to rethink the presentation of symphonic music through innovative concert performances and expansive educational outreach programs | $5,000 |
| Children’s Community Theatre (CCT) | to offer two sessions of summer theatre camp for children in DeKalb County | $5,000 |
| Child’s Voice | to support the Music, Voices, and Rhythms Program | $5,000 |
| Columbia College, Center for Community Arts | to support the Louis Armstrong Legacy Program and Celebration | $5,000 |
| Community School of the Arts (Wheaton College) | to support the CODA Program | $3,000 |
| Cor Cantiamo NFP | to support the 2016-17 concert season | $7,500 |
| Elgin Symphony Orchestra | for general operating support | $5,000 |
| Elgin Youth Symphony | to support the advanced Youth Symphony | $5,000 |
| Ellwood House Association, Inc. | to enhance musical programming at Ellwood House Museum’s annual community events | $1,250 |
| Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance | to support the general operations of the Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance and its Access to Music program for underprivileged children | $3,000 |
| Holy Family Ministries | to support the school’s music programs | $5,000 |
| Holy Trinity High School | to support the school’s music programs | $5,000 |
| Hubbard Street Dance Chicago | for general operating support | $5,000 |
| Just Make It Happen | to expand the Artist in Residence Music Education programs for DeKalb County schools | $7,500 |
| Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra | to support the music, education, and performance outreach programs for youth | $6,000 |
| Lawrence Hall Youth Services | to support the Expressive Therapies Program | $5,000 |
| Luther North College Prep | to support a band director position and provide refurbished instruments to students | $4,000 |
| Merit School of Music | for general operating support | $5,000 |
| Music Institute of Chicago (North Shore) | for general operating support | $3,000 |
| Music of the Baroque | to support the Strong Voices arts learning program in the 2016-17 school year | $4,000 |
| Orion Ensemble | to fund a portion of the educational program, Janet’s Stage and continuing assistance for partnerships at various high schools and the Chicago Youth Symphony | $2,500 |
| People’s Music School | to support tuition-free music education programs for children in Chicago | $5,000 |
| Pianoforte Foundation | to help support educational music programs | $2,500 |
| Providence – St. Mel School | for general operating support | $5,000 |
| Sandwich Opera House | to assist in the replacement of a light board and audio equipment | $4,350 |
| Special Gifts Theater | to support the Musical Theatre Program (MTP) during the 2016-17 season | $2,500 |
| Sycamore Music Boosters | to fund large group after-school elementary band and orchestra rehearsals | $4,000 |
| Total Granted | $125,100 |
The Community Foundation is proud to partner with the Wurlitzer Foundation to fulfill their mission and focus for music education and performance. If would like to support the creative arts in your community, or to make a donation to the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund, please contact Dan Templin, Executive Director at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org. For good. For ever.
Pictured: Pre-School and Kindergarten students from DeKalb County schools participate in the Just Make it Happen “Artist in Residence Program.” Through grant support, this program provides students the opportunity to build a higher appreciation of music through music basics and hands-on learning.
