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History

In 1943, Charles Hoefer, then publisher of the Aurora Beacon-News, convened a group of community leaders to study post-war plans for a better Aurora. Weekly luncheon meetings were held “at the round table” in the Elks Club in downtown Aurora.

The war years were inflationary. Manufacturing plants were operating at full capacity and were extremely profitable. Corporate income taxes were excessively high and business leaders were seeking ways to redirect their profits from onerous taxation to the service of local needs.

Conditions thus were favorable for the formation of a philanthropic vehicle — a community foundation — which would allow for the accumulation of tax-deductible contributions when convenient for the donors. Assets so accumulated would be retained for later distribution to charitable causes as suggested by the donors. These reservoirs of charitable gifts, known as Advisory Funds, could be named after the companies and individuals contributing the gifts.

In June 1948, formal structure was given to this concept through the establishment of The Aurora Foundation. The first annual meeting was held on November 23, 1948 at the Aurora Chamber of Commerce. Aurora industrialist William B. Greene was elected president, a position he held for thirteen years. Attorney Frank R. Reid, Jr. served as the Foundation’s first secretary and legal counsel.

Since 1948, the Foundation has grown from 1 charitable fund with assets of $5,000 to over 500 charitable funds with assets of more than $100 million. Although Advisory Funds remain an attractive vehicle for charitable donors, other types of funds have become important to the Foundation and its role within the community.

Scholarship funds have distributed over $19 million to local students. Funds also have been created to benefit social service agencies, educational and healthcare organizations, the arts and culture, religious institutions and the environment. Grants and scholarships awarded by the Foundation since its founding total more than $70 million.

In 2006, the Foundation adopted a new name to more accurately reflect the communities it has always served.  The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley continues the proud tradition of The Aurora Foundation by reaching out to citizens of the Greater Aurora Area, the TriCities and Kendall County.

Throughout its history, the Foundation has been governed by a Board of Directors comprised of civic-minded business and community leaders. Board chairmen include (in order of service) William B. Greene, Charles P. Wright, George H. Alexander, Malcolm L. Jones, Neal Ormond, Karl P. Grube, Vernon H. Haase, Frank Voris, F. James Garbe, John F. McKee, Frank K. Voris, John H. McEachern, Jr., Donald A. Schindlbeck, Ruby M. Frank, Albert D. McCoy, Darrell L. Jordan, Thomas S. Alexander, David B. Hipp, Hilary K. Brennan, Ralph D. Voris, Robert P. Hubbard, Neal Ormond III, Mark E. Truemper, John Diederich, Scott Voris and Austin Dempsey.

Six administrators, who have been responsible for the management of the Foundation, include Frank R. Reid, Jr. (1948-1962), Ralph C. Putnam, Jr. (1962-1982), R. Peter Grometer (1982-1985), Sharon Stredde (1985-2015), Jeffrey J. Hartman (2015-2019), and Julie Christman (2020-present).

The Foundation’s current board of directors invites the participation of all who wish to be a part of our continuing development as a charitable resource for area citizens.

YEP was a great experience to have in high school. I became a more confident person, someone with a lot more perspective. Coming from a small school, YEP allowed me to branch out into my community, meet students from other schools, and learn about their backgrounds. I made some great friends and still keep in touch with them today.

Abby Vagnoni

YEP Alumni

Give your gift of time and see what it means to the people you impact. Helping others is what life is all about.

Neal Ormond

Donor & Fund Advisor

I am incredibly grateful for the generosity of the Zari Foundation Scholarship and the Community Foundation in supporting my education. I am majoring in mechanical engineering with a concentration in aerospace engineering at the Rose-Hulman Institue of Technology. In my spare time, I volunteer on campus, in the community and I’m also the principal violist in the symphony orchestra. I hope to make an impact on the next chapter of space exploration by eventually working at a groundbreaking aerospace company such as SpaceX or NASA.

Taytum Newell

Albert M. Zari Scholarship Recipient

Education is important to us. We support causes that touch our lives and align with our values. We believe in paying it forward. We are here for a short time,, and it is the next generation that will take on what we leave behind.

Michelle Emanuel

Donor and Past Scholarship Recipient

Grant funds from the Community Foundation helped provide updated technology. These upgrades were transformative. By creating new time saving processes, it turned us into a more efficient organization.

Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry

Grantee

YEP has made me realize the importance of being involved in my community, and how to make a difference. There are a lot of problems in the world but if we can do everything that we can to help the world will become a better place. YEP has helped me realize this and encouraged me to help more people in the future.

Madi Porter

YEP Member

Being a part of the Community Foundation scholarship committee is the highlight of my year. For many, a scholarship from the CFFRV is the reason they are able to continue reaching for their dreams and changing the future of our world. I hope each recipients knows just how inspirational they are to those of us who are lucky enough to read their stories.

Jessica Breugelmans

Scholarship Committee Member and Board Member

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

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