Community Foundation announces award winners

By Shelby R. Farrell

Reporter

BELVIDERE – The Boone County Community Foundation hosted a hot breakfast, filling more than just the stomachs of Boone County community-driven groups.

The foundation was created as a philanthropic, not-for-profit organization that works together to fill the bank accounts of organizations that better the community.

At the breakfast on Tuesday, Nov. 10, the foundation awarded $14,700 to 11 different organizations with varying missions in the county. The largest donations were $4,000 checks to the Boone County Fair Association and to the Boone County Historical Society.

The rest of the grants ranged down to the three $500 donations to Boone County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Boone County Drug Prevention Coalition and the Belvidere Boone County Food Pantry. Some of the other grant award winners included Habitat for Humanity, the Flaming Monkeys 4-H Robotics Club, and the Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.

The foundation members also announced at the breakfast that $24,500 was donated in scholarships to graduates from Boone County in the spring. Sixteen scholarships were awarded to students who graduated from any of the three Boone County high schools – Belvidere High School, North Boone High School, and Belvidere North High School.

Paul Fischer was announced as Boone County Community Foundation’s new part-time executive director, and he spoke about the organization’s future at the event. He said the next big donation target for the foundation and its members should include tornado aftermath support.

To learn more about the foundation, call (815) 544-7213, or email Paul Fischer at [email protected].