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Batavia Artists Association Receives $4.9K Grant From Community Foundation

Kane County Chronicle

Batavia Artists Association at Water Street Studios, a nonprofit arts organization, recently received a grant from the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley for $4,923.

This grant will help fulfill Water Street Studio’s desire to have the ultimate community art center. With the purchase of two new welders, three motorized pottery wheels, tools and safety equipment, Water Street Studio’s 3-D classroom is now state of the art.

“This simply would not be possible without the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley,” said Water Street Development Director Jim Kirkhoff in a recent news release. “Not being a tax-funded institution, we have to be very frugal with our funds, yet remain responsive to the needs of the community in order to be sustainable and fulfill our mission.

“Since we opened, we have been asked about pottery and welding classes, but lacked the funds to make the major capital investment.”

The additions to the 3-D classroom will allow Water Street to offer more of its popular ceramics classes.
Water Street Class Coordinator Kari Kraus said in the release that “the two fall ceramics sessions are completely full, but with the new equipment, we are pleased to be able to offer more sessions.”

This grant also brings hope to many community members who have inquired about pottery and welding classes. With the proper equipment in place, Water Street Studios will be able to provide such classes to the community. Instruction will also be enhanced with the addition of a new projector purchased with grant funds.

The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a collection of individual funds and resources given by local citizens to enhance and support the quality of life in the Fox River Valley. Foundation funds are used to provide grants to nonprofit organizations and scholarships to area students.

In 2009, the foundation awarded more than $1.5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations and more than $774,000 in scholarships to worthy students.

For more information on Water Street Studios membership as well as gallery activities, studio rental and classes, visit www.waterstreetstudios.com or view event updates and details on Facebook.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

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