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Aurora University Endowment Fund

Established 2012

Aurora University created this permanent fund within the Community Foundation to support its Arts and Ideas series.

Each year, the series features presentations by respected leaders in the fields of education, business, religion and the arts.

In addition, the series provides musical entertainment, theatrical productions, art and museum exhibits and films.

In 2003, the Community Foundation awarded a $500,000 grant to Aurora University for the renovation of Perry Theatre.

In return, the University named the building that houses Perry Theatre, the Community Foundation Center for Cultural Enrichment.

The University also generously agreed to include the Community Foundation as a co-sponsor of annual symposiums of interest to the public.

These symposiums resulted in the evolution of the broader Arts and Idea series.

Past presenters of the joint symposiums include Dr. Peter Senge, Michael Beschloss, David Brooks, David Gergen, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Martin Marty and Jon Meacham.

The Community Foundation is proud to administer a charitable fund that will ensure the continuation of these cultural opportunities for the citizens of the Fox River Valley.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

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