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Aurora Family YMCA Endowment Fund

Established 1991

Aurora Family YMCA
Aurora Family YMCA

The Aurora Family YMCA, established in 1869, was the second oldest YMCA in the State of Illinois.

The organization is now a part of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

The first meeting of the Aurora YMCA was held on South Broadway in downtown Aurora (later the Sencenbaugh building) at the office of David Iliff, Justice of the Peace.

Within a few months, plans were made to construct a facility on the island in downtown Aurora. The building opened in 1871 and was located on the north side of Fox Street on a lot donated by Joseph G. Stolp.

In 1908, a new YMCA was constructed at the southeast corner of Fox (now East Downer Place) and LaSalle Streets.

In 1958, the organization relocated to a new facility at the corner of Garfield Avenue and View Street.  This facility no longer serves the community as a YMCA.

Community-based YMCA programs in Aurora now focus on addressing pressing needs such as swim lessons, camp experiences, after-school programs and technological education.

The organization remains committed to its promise to serve all children and families without regard to financial ability.

Additional information on the YMCA may be obtained by contacting the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago.

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

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

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

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

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

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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