Boone County Community Foundation presents $88,850 in grant funding

By Kathryn Menue

EDITOR
Bright and early at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 3, Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce members braved the foggy drive to the Boone County Historical Museum for the annual Belvidere Area Chamber of Commerce Grant Breakfast. Despite the tired eyes from everyone staying up late to watch the Chicago Cubs win the World Series, spirits were high as 16 local nonprofit organizations received grants from the Boone County Community Foundation.

“In honor of the early morning and the Cubs winning the World Series late last night, let me welcome you to the annual Boone County Community Foundation Grant Breakfast,” Community Foundation Director/Chairman John Wolf said.

Wolf continued by thanking each nonprofit in the community for the hard work they provide to the community and for Executive Director Paul Fisher leading the foundation down a successful path.

“Paul has taken the foundation to the next level,” Wolf said. “Thank you very much for all you do.”

As a round of applause sounded throughout the room, Boone County Community Foundation Vice President Curt Tobin took to the podium to discuss the history of the Boone County Community Foundation.

The foundation started in 2007, because members of the community saw a need to establish a foundation of Boone County citizens giving back to others in Boone County.

“We’re going to continue to involve everyone to whom Boone County means a lot,” Tobin said.

The foundation has achieved $4.5 million in total assets as of September 2016 and has awarded $616,216 to local organizations, with $104,705 going to high school scholarships since 2011.

For the 2016 grant presentations, Fisher said the foundation was able to double the amount of money they’ve donated in past years.