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Rick and Desiree Guzman Family Advisory Fund

Established 2022

The Rick and Desiree Guzman Family Advisory Fund was established in 2022 as a way to further support their philanthropic interests in the community—especially by investing in non-profit organizations that are in turn investing in often marginalized people as a part of an overall community development strategy.

The Guzmans started their own foundation and non-profit in Aurora, IL in 2002, which eventually merged with another Aurora non-profit to become The Neighbor Project, which is now led by Rick as the organization’s Executive Director. Prior to the merger, the organization founded by Rick & Desiree (under the name of “Emmanuel House” at the time) was recognized as one of the “100 most innovative non-profit or social enterprise programs in the world,” as a Classy Award finalist, which is sponsored by Guidestar & The Stanford Social Innovation Review. And since the merger, which took place in 2018, The Neighbor Project has grown exponentially and partnered with the City of Aurora to launch the State of Illinois’ first Financial Empowerment Center.

The Guzmans live in Aurora, IL and are members of New England Congregational Church where Desiree works as the Director of Education and where their daughters, Micah & Josie regularly perform as singers and/or the church’s bell choir. Both girls are also active in other theater/artistic ventures in and around the Fox Valley and have also enjoyed volunteering with organizations serving refugees, immigrants and unhoused families or individuals.

Rick & Desiree remain active in their community serving on several boards and commissions. In 2017, Desiree was recognized for her community service work by receiving the Aurora Kiwanis Club’s “God & Fellow Man” award. Desiree has a Masters of Fine Arts from Vermont College while Rick earned his law degree from NIU College of Law where he was awarded the Thurgood Marshall Award for Human Rights in 2009 and named “Young Alumnus of the Year” in 2019.

The Guzmans are proud of their Aurora and Fox Valley Community and grateful to the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley for hosting the Guzman Family Advisory Fund and so many others that are reinvesting in the community that has been a blessing to so many.

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

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 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

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 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

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

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