ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Area Community Foundation announced the recipients for the 2019 Community Grant Awards Thursday night at an open house at Salt 251.
For the first time, total distributions to selected nonprofit organizations exceeded $62,500.
“These grant awards are only possible because of the charitable contributions of many members of our community through individual gifts, corporate gifts and employee giving programs,” RACF executive director Kim Montgomery said. “The practice of endowment, or long-term investment of these gifts create annual grants not only today, but forever.”
Grant winners
From the Steve Pfeiffer Memorial Endowment Fund, Bilingual Books for the Central School Library.

From the Rochelle Foods Hunger Challenge Fund, the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry to provide high protein items for the pantry shelves and The Kitchen Table for equipment upgrades and additions.
From the Inspire Learning Fund, First Presbyterian Church of Rochelle to provide English language instruction at no cost to those whose primary language is not English.
From the Health & Wellness Fund, to provide equipment for Sensory Integration Therapy for the Village of Progress.
From the Community Advancement Fund, the Arts Enrichment Fund and the Community Needs Fund, Creston Booster Club for accessibility improvements to the Creston Opera House including an exterior ramp, and lighting and sound equipment for productions.
From the Unrestricted Community Needs Fund, Chana Education Center for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) curriculum and materials. Farmworker and Landscaper Advocacy Project to assist with outreach and legal education for immigrants in the Rochelle area; Flagg Township Museum for equipment to make digital resources available to the public; Flagg-Rochelle Community Park District to assist with access to Spring Lake Pool for those who otherwise could not afford it; Flagg-Rochelle Public Library District to implement five community programs between May and October; Focus House for sustainable technology for Adolescent Treatment Specialists; Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois for an Adventure into Space program for area Girl Scouts; Habitat of Humanity of Ogle County to assist with 2019 projects in the Rochelle area to create affordable housing opportunities; HOPE of Ogle County to produce educational materials through videography and photography; Hub City Senior Center to replace tables; Kings School to purchase books for the school library; Northern Illinois Food Bank to provide three mobile pantry distributions in the Rochelle Area between April and September; Pegasus Special Riders to purchase equipment for hay baling and production; Rochelle Community Action Network to provide 175 backpacks full of school supplies for at risk elementary students; Rochelle Great Beginnings Preschool for graduation books; The HUB project to provide dual language books for Lincoln School library and for a student led project to implement Buddy Benches for K-kids; Rochelle Rescue Mission for a washer and dryer, baby changing station and 20 new mattresses; Serenity Hospice and Home for support books for grieving children and teens; Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center to support survivor’s summer camp experience.
Spring grant awards for 2019 total $62,545.63. These funds come from a portion of the earnings of all board directed grant funds and the Steve Pfeiffer Memorial Endowment Fund. The foundation may announce additional grant opportunities throughout the year from other endowed funds.
“These charitable gifts create a strong foundation for the future. On behalf of the community organizations that your giving supports, the Board of Directors of the Rochelle Area Community Foundation offer their heartfelt thanks,” Montgomery added.
The Rochelle Area Community Foundation is a publicly supported nonprofit organization that seeks to enhance the community through charitable giving through the power of endowment.
For more information contact Montgomery at 815-561-3600 or visit www.rochellefoundation.org.