Latest news with #CASAKaneCounty
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley celebrates first stand-alone office in its 77-year history
When the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley held a ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon, the event in Aurora was more than a celebration of the 77-year-old nonprofit's first stand-alone office. Yes, the 4,000-square-foot space at 1971 W. Downer Place gives this community foundation far more room than the approximately 1,200-square-foot spot the group occupied for nearly four decades on the third floor of Old Second Bank. The board can now hold its meetings on site in a large open room, as can the scholarship committee and the high school students who are part of its Youth Engagement Philanthropy program that had previously gathered at Prisco Community Center to learn all about fundraising, grant-making and how to make a difference in their communities. More space also means this can be a collaboration hub for donors, partners and stakeholders. It can provide more opportunities for training seminars, for internships and temporary staff and allows for the option of opening this expanded area up to the community for small events, said Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley President and CEO Julie Christman. It's also a more visitor-friendly environment in terms of parking and accessibility than the third-floor space they had outgrown, she pointed out. Which all make for great reasons to celebrate. But what the new address for the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley also represents is a significantly larger footprint the foundation is making in our communities. Just as need has grown, there are more generous people throughout the Fox Valley coming to this nonprofit with one main purpose in mind: Help others have a better life. Like Hans and Ruthie Lehmann, who lost their 15-year-old daughter Kayla in 2018, and have since raised over $300,000 for suicide prevention and awareness programs, all administered through the foundation. Or the family of Jean and Richard Cibulskis, who have a scholarship endowment fund because their parents valued love and education so highly. Every donor seems to have a remarkable story, which Christman and her staff are honored to hear and to share. 'We see so much good in the community,' she told me before the Thursday event. 'There will be people who come in here who received a scholarship 20 years ago and now want to give back. People care so much about others.' The foundation also works with other nonprofits making huge impacts in the lives of others. For example, CASA Kane County has partnered with the community foundation for nearly 30 years, but in 2012 that relationship hit another milestone when the group began managing CASA's endowment fund. Currently, there are over 700 funds – big and not as big – distributed through the foundation, which is up significantly from the 660 reported a couple years ago at its 75th anniversary. That's a far cry from the handful of $150 scholarships handed out after 1948, when Beacon-News Publisher Charles Hoefer gathered a group of local leaders together to start the organization. Since then, the foundation has awarded more than $100 million in grants and scholarships, Christman said, noting this past year alone more than $2.1 million in new grant programs were launched through the efforts of state Reps. Barbara Hernandez, D-Aurora, and Stephanie Kifowit, D-Oswego, with the state of Illinois, as well as a partnership with Microsoft; and over $3 million was awarded through the scholarship program, which 'has been at the heart of our mission from the beginning.' But those dollars 'represent more than just financial support,' Christman told the 70-some guests, which included Aurora Mayor John Laesch and several aldermen, Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser, state Sen. Karina Villa, D-West Chicago, and Hernandez. 'They stand for opportunity, impact and a deep lasting commitment to improving lives across our region,' Christman said. What is so special about this local foundation is that it allows those who are not Bill Gates or Warren Buffett to be philanthropists by combining their own efforts with other groups that can make a bigger impact. So it's no surprise Christman and her staff were more than ready to show off their new digs and this new chapter in their compelling history. 'We do want to continue to grow,' the CEO insisted. 'More donors mean more funds, more relationships and more opportunities to engage with the community. 'We are always stronger together.'
Chicago Tribune
17-04-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
CASA Kane County forms advisory council to help reduce number of children going into foster care
On Thursday, CASA Kane County announced the launch of a cross-county advisory council meant to reduce the number of children who enter foster care, according to a news release from the organization. CASA Kane County is a nonprofit that advocates for children in foster care through Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, volunteers, the group has said. The nonprofit trains and supervises volunteers who then represent children in foster care in juvenile courts, according to its website. The formation of the council is in response to a major increase in children entering the foster care system, the news release said. In 2024, CASA Kane County said it served nearly 700 children, roughly double the number it served in 2019, according to the release. CASA Kane County is still adding organizations to the council, so the full list is not yet finalized, Executive Director Jim Di Ciaula said on Thursday. Some of the organizations they've already brought on board include Rush Copley Pediatrics, Northwestern Medicine, the Kane County Health Department, Waubonsee Community College, Aurora University, Geneva counseling provider TriCity Family Services and Aurora and Elgin police. Di Ciaula announced the newly-formed advisory council at the organization's annual 'Hands Around the Courthouse' event in Geneva last week, saying they would soon be launching a pilot program focused on assisting children 14 years old and older. The initiative is meant to focus on prevention, education and early intervention, according to Thursday's press release. One of its early priorities is connecting existing programs and services to 'reduce the complexity and simplify ease of access,' Di Ciaula said in the release. 'This isn't a Band-Aid solution,' CASA Kane County board member and volunteer Laura Oswald said in the release. 'This is about truly changing the landscape for generations to come.' The initiative is in line with the Department of Children and Family Services' statewide goals of focusing on families and encouraging community-based support, the press release said. 'When all partners in the child welfare system work together, we become stronger and are able to do more to ensure young people can grow and thrive,' Illinois DCFS Director Heidi Miller said in the release. The council has outlined short- and long-term goals, the release said. It is currently seeking more community leaders, identifying what resources are available and finding gaps in service in the community.
Chicago Tribune
07-04-2025
- General
- Chicago Tribune
Event in Geneva designed to raise awareness of child abuse
CASA Kane County invites the community to join the annual Hands Around the Courthouse event set for noon on Thursday, April 10, at the Kane County Courthouse in Geneva. The event serves as a reminder of the need to protect abused and neglected children and raise awareness of the effects of child abuse, according to a press release from CASA Kane County. CASA Kane County is a nonprofit organization committed to serving the interests of children in foster care through the advocacy of Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers, group officials said. Held in observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, the Hands Around the Courthouse event brings together community members, legal professionals and child advocates to spotlight the challenges faced by children in the foster care system, the release stated. Each year, CASA Kane County's volunteers advocate for nearly 700 children, working to ensure their voices are heard and their futures safeguarded, officials with the group said. By gathering for the event, participants reinforce their commitment to breaking the cycle of abuse and neglect, according to the release. This year's event will feature Kane County Chief Judge Robert Villa, Kane County State's Attorney Jamie Mosser and CASA Kane County Executive Director Jim Di Ciaula, event organizers said. They will provide insights into the state of child welfare in the county and discuss how the community can help. 'We could not do this critical work without our dedicated volunteers, our loyal supporters and our community partners and friends,' Di Ciaula said of the efforts of CASA Kane County. 'We need all of you – and more – to join us in our important journey to protect children by providing a caring, trusted adult who is a constant in their lives and gives them encouragement, support and most importantly hope. 'We ask anyone interested in supporting children, to take the time to learn more about getting involved with CASA Kane County and joining us at this meaningful community event,' he said in the release. For more information about Hands Around the Courthouse and to learn how to get involved with CASA Kane County, go to or call 630-232-4484.
Chicago Tribune
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Concert by Dina Bach planned at St. Charles Public Library
Local singer, songwriter and pianist Dina Bach will perform at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2, in the Carnegie Community Room at St. Charles Public Library, 1 S. Sixth Ave. in St. Charles. The event, which is part of the library's Sunday Concert Series, is open to the public and free to attend. Bach released her first full-length album, 'Walk Away,' on Aug. 10. Her music has aired on WGN Radio, Radio One Chicago, NPR's WNIJ and WLBC, library officials said. Her musical influences range from Sara Bareilles and Norah Jones to Carole King and Frank Sinatra, and she has performed at many Chicago venues including House of Blues, Joe's Bar, Elbo Room, SPACE Evanston and sang the national anthem before a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field, event organizers said. For more information, go to or call 630-584-0076. CASA Kane County holding volunteer open house CASA Kane County will host a volunteer open house from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30, at Village Squire, 480 S. Randall Road in South Elgin. CASA Kane County is a non-profit, volunteer-driven organization, dedicated to advocating for children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are subsequently placed in foster care, officials with the organization said. It recruits, trains and supervises volunteers who serve as a child's voice throughout the duration of their case in juvenile court, according to CASA officials. At the Thursday event, participants can explore volunteer opportunities with CASA, discover ways to contribute through donations and more. For more information, email Sandie C. at sandiec@ DuPage Care Center selling balloons for Valentine's Day The DuPage Care Center is holding its annual Valentine's Day balloon fundraiser to help brighten the rooms and hallways of its residents. Balloons are being sold for $5 through Feb. 13 to be delivered on Valentine's Day, DuPage County officials said in a news release. In the past, the community has purchased nearly 1,000 heart-shaped helium balloons to help decorate the center for Valentine's Day, the release said. 'Every year, we hear incredible stories from the residents about how this event lifts their spirits,' Greg Schwarze, chairman of the county's Human Services Committee, said in a statement. 'It's a wonderful way to let our friends at the Care Center know how much we appreciate and cherish them.' Proceeds will benefit the resident recreation fund, which provides programs and activities to improve the residents' quality of life, the release said. Balloons can be purchased online at For more information, call Linda Gray at 630-784-4303 or email
