Economic Development Planning Progresses One Community at a Time
July 17, 2017
Application Process Begins for Fall Community Foundation Grants
July 25, 2017
The name that ‘means music to the millions’ continues to live on through the DeKalb County Community Foundation. This spring, $136,350 in Wurlitzer Foundation Grants were awarded to 18 nonprofits and community organizations across the Midwest region of the United States. All grants support music and music education.
“As one of 18 organizations receiving support, the NIU Community School of the Arts is honored to accept this generous grant from the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund at the Community Foundation, said NIU Community School of the Arts Director Joshua Anderson. “The grant will fund scholarships for CSA students to participate in music lessons, classes, ensembles, and summer camps. These programs have a lasting impact on our students and the support we receive from wonderful organizations like the Community Foundation is critical to their continued success.”
Applications for Wurlitzer Foundation Grants are due by midnight on March 1 and September 1 of each year. Funding support is determined by criteria met and the amount requested. Preference is given to 501(c)3 organizations.
Spring 2017 Wurlitzer Foundation Grants awarded:
| Organization Name | Grant Purpose in Grant Agreement | Grant Amount |
| Cerqua Rivera Art Experience dba Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre | to underwrite musicians in the Inside/Out program | $2,500 |
| Chicago Sinfonietta | for general operating costs | $5,000 |
| Children’s Community Theatre | to offer two session of a musical theater camp | $5,000 |
| Community School of the Arts at Wheaton College | to support the CODA program | $5,000 |
| Cor Cantiamo | to support the 2017-18 performance season | $7,500 |
| Elgin Symphony Orchestra | to support education and community outreach programs | $5,000 |
| Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra Inc. | to support the advanced Youth Symphony | $5,000 |
| Ellwood House Association | to energize major events with live music | $1,850 |
| Fox Valley Academy of Music Performance | to sustain and expand the Access to Music Program | $6,000 |
| Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus d/b/a Anima | to provide music education and performance opportunities for young people in a four county radius | $6,000 |
| Holy Family Ministries | to assist with the music program at Holy Family School | $5,000 |
| Holy Trinity High School | to support the expanding music program | $2,000 |
| Intonation Music | for general operating support | $5,000 |
| Just Make It Happen – DeKalb, Inc. | to support the Artist in Resident performance program | $7,500 |
| Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra | to support the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra’s music education and performance outreach | $3,000 |
| Lawrence Hall Youth Services | to support the Expressive Music Therapies Program | $6,000 |
| Merit School of Music | to provide high quality music instructions to children in low income schools and community centers throughout Chicago | $7,500 |
| Music of the Baroque | to support Strong Voices Arts Learning program | $5,000 |
| NIU-Visual and Performing Arts School of Music | to fund need based scholarships for families in DeKalb and surrounding communities to attend music and art programs | $5,000 |
| Orion Ensemble | to underwrite expenses for the educational program | $3,000 |
| People’s Music School | for general operating support | $5,000 |
| Rockford Symphony Orchestra | to support the annual youth concert | $5,000 |
| Sandwich School District-Sandwich High School | to purchase an intercom system for musical and drama productions | $5,700 |
| Special Gifts Theatre | to support the Musical Theatre Program | $3,000 |
| St. John’s Lutheran School | to support group drumming for K-8 students | $3,200 |
| St. Mary Catholic School – DeKalb | to support the solo performance of the Lancer Band | $1,000 |
| Sycamore Music Boosters | to purchase Timpanis for the Sycamore Middle School band | $7,600 |
| Young Naperville Singers | to support the youth choral music education program | $3,000 |
| Genoa Kingston High School Music Department | to purchase portable sound system equipment for band and chorus classes | $5,000 |
| Total Amount Granted | $136,350 |
To support the creative arts in your community, or to make a donation to the Farny R. Wurlitzer Foundation Fund, please contact Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.
Pictured: Check presentation of a Wurlitzer Foundation Grant to the NIU Community School of Arts. From left: Anita Zurbrugg, Community Foundation Program Director; Charlie McCormick, Community Foundation Board Member; Kristin Sherman, NIU CSA Administrative Aide; Joshua Anderson, NIU CSA Director, Allison Kozinski, NIU CSA Student Worker; Lesly Schoo, NIU CSA Office Manager.
