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Erin G. Connell Memorial Fund

Established 2019

Erin Connell was a compassionate and caring person whose life tragically ended at the age of 22.  She was a 2014 graduate of Saint Charles East High School, and she attended Aurora University, Western Illinois University and the University of Central Florida.  

 Erin loved horses – everything about them.  She began riding at age six and competed and placed in many shows both as an amateur and a professional rider.  She spent two years as an instructor in Kane County, teaching kids to ride, jump and compete at local shows.  More than one person has referred to Erin as a “horse whisperer.”  She also was a talented artist, completing numerous works in a variety of media. 

 She also loved helping people, especially those who couldn’t always help themselves.  She embraced making sure young people got the breaks they deserved and were treated fairly and with respect.  She always put the concerns of those around her before those of her own, and she was the pride and joy of her family. 

 This fund is dedicated to Erin’s memory.  Funds raised on her behalf will be distributed to those organizations that support causes important to Erin, primarily to horse-related causes, including their care and use for therapeutic purposes.  

 Separately, in order to provide a legacy for Erin and raise awareness for this fund and her interests, the Connell family will channel some of its philanthropic endeavors through this fund.  No outside money will be deployed for purposes other than horse-related causes, but the family does anticipate donating money from this fund to causes including: 

  • Social causes, including caring for neighbors who may be homeless, hungry, or mentally ill 
  • Educational institutions 

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

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

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

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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