Skip to content

Dr. & Mrs. C.L. Gardner Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund

Established 1991

Dr. C.L. Gardner
Dr. C.L. Gardner
Phyllis H. Gardner
Phyllis H. Gardner

This memorial fund was created by the family and friends of Dr. C.L. Gardner (1908-1991) to honor the life of this remarkable Aurora physician.

Dr. Gardner practiced medicine for over fifty years before his retirement in 1983.  He served as president of Dreyer Medical Clinic and the Kane County Medical Society.

He also was senior staff physician at Copley Memorial Hospital and Mercy Center Hospital in Aurora.

In 1996, the fund was renamed to include his wife Phyllis H. Gardner who passed away in January of that year.

Mrs. Gardner (1911-1996) received a degree in English Composition and Literature from the University of Rochester.

A devoted student of literature, she became an accomplished writer.

Mrs. Gardner was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, P.E.O. Chapter DD and the Child Welfare Society.

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

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

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

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

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

Install Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

Install this application on your home screen for quick and easy access when you’re on the go.

Just tap then “Add to Home Screen”

Accessibility Toolbar