The DeKalb County Community Foundation is pleased to announce the Don and Faith Cook Community Fund. This new Community Impact Fund adds resources to the Foundation’s Board-directed grant programs, allowing them to respond to needs and opportunities throughout DeKalb County.

“We wanted to give back to the community and help with local needs,” said Don and Faith Cook. “Through the creation of this Fund, we can do just that. The Board of the Community Foundation is aware of ongoing issues and needs. We trust them to be good stewards of our contribution.”

Meet Don and Faith Cook

Don and Faith Cook

Don and Faith have lived in the DeKalb community most of their lives. They both graduated from DeKalb High School and attended classes at Kishwaukee College and Northern Illinois University. Don extended his education while working with the General Electric Company (G.E.), completing a four-year journeyman toolmaker program. He followed up with a three-year management course, which consisted of training in all phases of manufacturing. This program led to various positions, including tool design, production control, process planning, shop supervisor, quality control, manufacturing engineering, and area manager, to complete his 42-year G.E. career.

Faith studied floral design at Kishwaukee College and has made many designs for family and friends over the years. She developed a passion for youth and education during her twenty-seven-year career with the DeKalb School District. But, overall, she cherished her time as a homemaker and mother to her children.

The Cooks raised their three children (Diane, Dean, and Kathy) here in DeKalb. Their oldest daughter Diane graduated from NIU, married, and currently owns the Chicagoland location of Brickkicker Home Inspection with her husband. Their youngest daughter Kathy graduated from Eastern Illinois University and is a radon professional for Brickkicker Home Inspection. Their son Dean passed away at the young age of 42. The family greatly misses him. The Cooks are blessed with three grandchildren, who are college graduates and starting careers.

Don and Faith are members of St. Mary’s Church, the Elks Club (P.E.R.), and the DeKalb County Farm Bureau. They are avid golfers and have won many trophies over the years. Their most outstanding golf achievement was entering the Farm Bureau State Golf Tournament in 1993 and winning the state championship for couples. The Cooks also love to travel, visiting all 50 states in the U.S. and at least a dozen other countries. To top it off, they are huge sports fans and enjoy rooting on the Chicago Bears, Cubs, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

The Don and Faith Cook Community Fund

“Creating a Community Impact Fund at the Foundation is an excellent way for donors like Don and Faith who care about a wide range of issues and quality of life in DeKalb County to give back,” said Dan Templin, Community Foundation executive director. “We are very thankful for their generosity and support of our work.”

Donations to any Fund at the Community Foundation, including the Don and Faith Cook Community Fund, can be made online or by mail to the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL 60178. For questions or to start your charitable Fund, please contact Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.