ROCHELLE — On Thursday, April 3, the owners of Liquor N Wine in Rochelle presented a $2,500 donation to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation (RACF). The donation is part of a 10-year pledge Liquor N Wine made three years ago to donate a total of $25,000 to RACF’s endowment fund, which is unrestricted funding that supports various causes.

The donation was accepted on April 3 by RACF Executive Director Emily Anaya and members of the foundation’s board. 

“After 10 years, they will have donated $25,000,” Anaya said. “Taking that money and putting it back into the community through our largest endowment provides the biggest impact. It builds our portfolio and it helps us grant that money right back into the community. Liquor N Wine also does a rounding up program. Any time someone makes a purchase, they'll be asked to round up their change to the next dollar to support RACF. It's just another creative way that they were able to give to RACF.”

RACF offers an opportunity for individuals, families and businesses to leave a legacy for future generations and is a public, charitable organization designed to attract gifts that will be shared with Rochelle-area nonprofit organizations for the benefit of the community. It supports the areas of Chana, Creston, Esmond, Kings, Lindenwood, Rochelle and Steward. 

RACF is in its 20th year of existence. It will hold its annual Community Needs grant award event on Wednesday, April 30 at the Lincoln Arts Center at 108 S. Main St. from 4-7 p.m. The free event will be catered by Flight Deck Bar & Grill.

“After this year's granting program, we'll have given well over $1.3 million back into the community over 20 years,” Anaya said. “All of that money has stayed local.”

Anaya said RACF has supported over 29 different nonprofits in recent years. It’s also seen growth in new organizations applying for grants. Donating to the RACF endowment fund results in a community-wide impact, but any donor can give to any of RACF’s dedicated funds, which can be found and donated to at RACF’s website at rochellefoundation.org. Each of RACF’s dedicated funds grant out each year. 

Amid uncertain economic times, the community’s commitment to RACF has remained “very strong,” Anaya said. 

“Many times in economic uncertainty, people turn to philanthropy to help and that's what our donors are doing,” Anaya said. “They're helping and helping us remain stable as a community. They're helping our nonprofits. When it's a more scary time economically, they turn to the community foundation to know that money is going to go back out to the community and go into the places of greatest need first. That's what we do through our grants.”

If businesses or individuals are interested in giving back like Liquor N Wine has, they can reach out to RACF, which offers numerous ways to contribute including yearly commitments or a one-time commitment, and employee payroll deduction. 

“There are lots of different ways that we can get creative,” Anaya said. “Those interested in giving can reach out to the foundation and we talk about their philanthropic goals and what kind of impact they want to have and we can set up whatever works best. We're truly grateful to organizations and businesses like Liquor N Wine. This is a big donation for us. To have 10 years of that shows their commitment to this community and their trust in RACF.”