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Aurora Central Catholic High School Scholarship Fund in Honor of Father Jerome Leake

Established 1995

Father Jerome Leake
Father Jerome Leake

These scholarships are reserved for graduates of Aurora Central Catholic High School who are entering the seminary or pursuing a career in the area of religious life, the field of education or the social services.

The fund was created in 1995 and continues to be funded by an anonymous donor.  The fund was named for Father Jerome Leake, who serves as an exemplary role model for youth.

Father Leake was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. He has served Our Lady of Good Counsel, Sacred Heart, St. Rita of Cascia and St. Joseph churches in Aurora.  He also was pastor of St. Joseph Church in Elgin.

In addition, he was assigned to Rosary High School and also to Aurora Central Catholic High School, where he was assistant principal and coach.

In 1975, Father Leake was appointed chaplain of the Aurora Police Department.  He currently is the pastor of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Aurora.

Father Leake’s interests include driving a race car – aptly named “Padre’s Faith” – and participating in the discipline of Hapkido where he has earned a 2nd Degree Black Belt.

In 1989, he received the Kiwanis Club of Aurora’s “Service to God and Man Award.”

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

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

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

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

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

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