A few nights ago, under the threat of rain which never quite came, In Youth We Trust (IYWT), the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ youth philanthropy group, presented checks to eight local youth-led organizations.

CFNIL is honored to award a grant to Rockford Corridor Improvement and Zion West Enterprises for its Expanded Yard Maintenance Program, which employs residents of Ellis Heights to maintain vacant lots in the neighborhood. The grant will be used to purchase a new commercial mower, allowing for additional staff to maintain more properties in the neighborhood. Thanks to 12 WIFR for its coverage of the announcement.

In December 2015, Rockford University and the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) announced the University’s participation in the Rubin Education Challenge, a challenge grant offered by CFNIL to build scholarship endowments benefiting local students with financial need who attend college in the region. Together, Rockford University and CFNIL will build a $3 million endowment, with CFNIL matching every dollar contributed by the University and its donors. The program is named after Dr.

THE GOLF OUTING The 15th Annual Chief David G. Bailey Scholarship Golf Outing will be held on June 24, 2017 at the Prairie View Golf Course in Byron (993 N. River Road, Byron, IL 61010). The event’s proceeds will benefit the Chief David G. Bailey Fire Science Scholarship, which provides educational resources for firefighters in Northern Illinois to receive accredited, sanctioned, and/or certified fire science or emergency medical service training. CHIEF DAVID G. BAILEY

The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois (CFNIL) recently received accreditation with the nation’s highest standard for philanthropic excellence.

In this year’s In Youth We Trust grant cycle, Lucia Horton was awarded a grant to bring her plans for a “Picnic with a Purpose” to life. Lucia is pictured above with Taryn Marko, the Executive Director of Winnebago County CASA, the agency whose clients and volunteers will receive the benefit of Lucia’s plans. We decided that the best way to tell you about this project is simply to post Lucia’s comments that she shared at the grant award reception and which are printed in full below. Congratulations, Lucia, you’re an inspiration!

In 2016, Byron Bank donated an undeveloped plot of land located in the middle of a neighborhood in Belvidere to the City of Belvidere. At first, the City simply cleared the lot of brush and debris, leaving a large empty grass space. Then, the City began some efforts to use the space to engage people living in the neighborhood: the fire department would bring a truck and spray kids on hot afternoons, the police department would hand out ice cream bars donated by Deans Foods.