2021 Mission Grant Recipients

The Community Foundation for McHenry County (The Foundation) is pleased to announce the 2021 Mission Grant recipients. The generosity of donors enabled The Foundation to distribute $1,050,000, which is a 140% increase over last year, to 67 charitable organizations who serve our friends and neighbors in McHenry County.

“We are extremely grateful for the support of The Community Foundation for McHenry County. I've been lucky enough to work for several organizations in the county and see how great of an impact you're funding has across not only our organization, but many others as well. Thank for your hard work to help our community!”
                     - Bobby Gattone, Executive Director, New Directions Addiction Recovery Services

Below is a full list of Mission Grant recipients, the amount allocated and how the funding will be used.

2021 Transformational Grant Recipients Awarded for a total of $222,000

The Community Foundation for McHenry County is celebrating our second year of the Transformational Grant program which offers three local charitable organizations grant funding to launch groundbreaking programs, provide innovative services and be a source of positive change in McHenry County. We are so grateful for the generous support of our donors who have made the Transformational Grant program possible. The agencies being awarded these grants are deeply rooted in our community and committed to making a difference in McHenry County,” This year’s recipients are:

The City of Woodstock

The City of Woodstock received an award of $75,000 for their Community Dot-Connecting with Age-Friendly Woodstock program. This is the second year receiving a Transformational Grant. The survey conducted with funding from year one identified program areas that will directly benefit the rapidly increasing aging population. Year two priorities include partnering with Dorr Township to reinstate and expand their Senior Center, creating a centralized information hub designed for senior access and expanding housing options using senior/disabled Universal Design principles. 

“Woodstock is deeply grateful to The Foundation for their continued support of our Age-Friendly Community initiative. The Foundation’s support will help implement recommendations that came directly from Woodstock residents as reflected in our recently-completed Action Plan. This includes partnering with Dorr Township to develop a staffed drop-in center for our older adults’ benefit and enjoyment,” said Dr. Brian Sager, Mayor of Woodstock. 

Harvard Community Senior Center

Harvard Community Senior Center received an award of $72,000 for their project: Reducing Health Disparities through Cultivating Health Ministries. This is the second year of Transformational Grant funding for this project which will expand the number of new health ministries working to reduce health disparities for older adults and Latinx populations by providing access to screenings, education, support and community care through churches across the county.

“I believe the faith communities were touched by Cultivating Health Ministries caring and compassion as we remained connected during COVID-19. Lives are being transformed by these partnerships and programs, and we envision a healthier tomorrow for the Latinx and senior populations,” said Suzanne “Sam” Martinez, Advocate Good Shepherd Congregational Outreach Coordinator & Cultivating Health Ministries Collaboration Council Member.

Kids in Need (KIN) of McHenry County

Kids in Need (KIN) of McHenry County received a grant in the amount of $75,000 for their Family Visitation and Resource Home. This home is designed with family connections and reunification in mind for visitation between non-custodial parents and children. The goal is to create a supportive, home-like atmosphere where parents can receive the support and services they need while maintaining the bond with their children.

Michelle Prickett, Executive Director, Kids In Need, "The focus of the KIN Family Visitation and Resource Home is on family preservation and parent/child reunification.

Amber Rakoczy, Owner/Therapist, Roan Solutions LLC, "The KIN home provides much more than just a visit between children and their parents, we offer a private home environment with trained professionals who provide coaching and feedback."

2020 Mission Grant Recipients

The Community Foundation for McHenry County (The Foundation) is pleased to announce the 2020 Mission Grant recipients. The generosity of donors enabled The Foundation to distribute $426,000 to 30 charitable organizations who serve our friends and neighbors in McHenry County. 

“Resilience was the theme of the 2020 Mission Grant award”, said Deborah Thielen, Executive Director. “It implies a sense of strength, adaptability, and perseverance. We believe the incredible charitable organizations in our community have the resilience to help move McHenry County through these tough times and emerge even stronger in the future.”

When developing their applications, charitable organizations were asked to focus on showcasing the resilience of their organization and its work in the community. Please see below a complete list of Mission Grant recipients, the amount allocated and how the funding will be used.

2020 Transformational Grant Recipients

The Community Foundation for McHenry County is celebrating our inaugural year of offering three charitable organizations a Transformational Grant. Each grant provides funding of up to $75,000 -  some of our largest grants to date - creating a true force of positive change in McHenry County!

Our 2020 Transformational Grants will help:

• The Friends of McHenry County College Foundation break down barriers to unemployment through a six-week skill-building boot camp.
• Community Crosswalk work with the faith community to provide vital health screenings and education.
• The City of Woodstock achieve their goal of being an Age-Friendly Livable Community!  

The Friends of McHenry County College Foundation, Community Crosswalk, and The City of Woodstock each demonstrated that they have what it takes to be a force of innovation, problem-solving and progress in their community—and inspire real transformation from the ground up.

Making Waves with Transformational Grants

The three recipients’ proposals exemplified the mission and purpose of a Transformational Grant.  Successful applicants showcased how their plans demonstrated true breakthroughs in McHenry County with a focus on collaboration and positive, multi-level change.

“It is absolutely thrilling to see our vision of Transformational Grants come to fruition. This opportunity will continue to be a yearly resource for charitable organizations who are serious about being the change they want to see in their community,” said Deborah Thielen, Executive Director, The Community Foundation for McHenry County.  “True transformation is a lofty goal and even with the best plans and dedicated collaborators, it often requires substantial resources to help move it forward.”

“While we had many praiseworthy applicants, we believe these three proposals have a winning strategy and plenty of heart to create change, provide real world solutions, and live up to the expectations that come with being a Transformational Grant recipient,” said Thielen.

City of Woodstock: On the Path to an Age-Friendly Community

Grant: $74,951

Project: Serving Our Elderly Through the Age-Friendly Livable Community Initiative

Collaborators: City of Woodstock, McHenry County Department of Planning and Development, Independence Health and Therapy, Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies, Satori Pathway LLC.

“This funding provided by The Community Foundation for McHenry County will help create positive changes in housing, transportation, and healthcare options for our growing senior population, with resulting benefits for all community members, young and older,” said Dr. Brian Sager, Mayor, City of Woodstock.

The City of Woodstock is honored to be one of the chosen three, as the grant will fuel the city’s “Serving Our Elderly Through the Age-Friendly Livable Community” initiative. This ambitious endeavor enlists a number of local stakeholders to identify distinct needs and improve quality of life for residents ages 60+ through Woodstock’s Age-Friendly Livable Community participation. The funds will support a comprehensive assessment of housing, transportation, medical, social and employment opportunities.

 “We are grateful for the opportunity to develop Woodstock into a role model Age-Friendly Livable Community and to share our successes with community leaders throughout McHenry County,” said Sager.

Friends of McHenry County College Foundation: Breaking Down Barriers to Employment

Grant: $75,000

Project: Bridge to Success

Collaborators: Friends of McHenry County College Foundation, Home of the Sparrow, McHenry County Workforce Network, McHenry County Mental Health Board, New Directions Addiction Recovery Services, TLS Veterans.

Job security and employability not only impacts the individual seeking work, but it contributes to a thriving local workforce, community and economy. That is why the Friends of McHenry County College Foundation are committed to building a “Bridge to Success.”

This program seeks to assist adults facing obstacles to employment by providing specialized career training while addressing the county’s “skills gap”. A six-week boot camp in manufacturing, health care or information technology is the heart of the “Bridge to Success” initiative, which will help 24 participants gain entry-level technical and employability skills.

“Through a strong collaboration with our community partners, McHenry County College’s Bridge to Success project will address barriers that lead to chronic unemployment or underemployment, and provide a pathway to independence for job seekers, as well as a pipeline of skilled talent for employers. We are so appreciative of the opportunity to impact our community through this effort,” said Dr. Clint Gabbard, President of McHenry County College.

Community Crosswalk: A New Access Point in Healthcare Delivery

Grant: $60,000

Project: Reducing Health Disparities through Health Ministries

Collaborators: Community Crosswalk, McHenry County PEARLS, the Congregational Outreach Office for Mission Spiritual Care/Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, Nathan Kakish, M.D., Epilepsy Health Management, Harvard Community Senior Center, Illinois Migrant Council, Nutrition Educator Daniel Garcia, Project Director Elizabeth Rios, R.N.

As preventive care continues to be an underutilized but powerful tool in health and wellness, some McHenry County leaders are looking to the faith community to increase access and reach more residents.

Community Crosswalk is working to do just that with their “Reducing Health Disparities through Health Ministries” initiative. By providing countywide access to diabetes screenings, health education, resources and healthcare services in churches instead of clinics or medical offices, the program could potentially impact 650 lives in the first year through this non-traditional delivery model.

“The Cultivating Health Ministries Collaboration Council is excited to integrate social, spiritual and community health care in churches and houses of worship across the county,” said Kathy McNeil, MS, RN, Vice-President of Community Crosswalk.

“Working with The Community Foundation for McHenry County, this program partnership will transform the way health care can be delivered to reduce health disparities for McHenry County’s older adult and Latinx populations.”