Foundation News
Foundation Receives Contribution from Juno Lighting Group
Posted: December 7, 2009
 The Des Plaines Community Foundation,
created to "raise funds to identify, link and mobilize community
assets that will benefit all people of Des Plaines," was recently
the recipient of a $5,000 check from Juno Lighting Group, 1300 S.
Wolf Road. Juno Lighting has been a consistent supporter of the Des
Plaines Community Foundation. The official check presentation was
made in Des Plaines Mayor Martin J. Moylan’s Office last week.
(pictured left to right) Sonia Rodriguez, Production Support
Supervisor, Juno Lighting Group, Dan Fink, Regional Vice President
of Sales, Juno Lighting Group, Des Plaines Mayor Martin J. Moylan,
Rosemary Argus, Des Plaines 8th Ward Alderman and Executive Director
of the Des Plaines Community Foundation, and Jim Johnsen, Vice
President of Operations, Juno Lighting Group, pose for a photograph
in the Office of the Des Plaines Mayor as the check presentation was
made. Mayor Moylan and Alderman Argus thanked the Juno Lighting
Group Representatives for their support.
$5000 Check Presented to Self Help Closet
Posted: October 8, 2009
At the June 9th, 2009 Board of Trustees meeting, the vote was
unanimous to accept the Executive Board’s recommendation and approve
giving the Self-Help Closet & Pantry of Des Plaines a donation of
$5,000. Recently the Self-Help Closet & Pantry has seen their
donations reduced while their requests for services have increased;
they are now serving over 400 families per month.
For the period July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009, the Foundation has
paid $19,000 for supplies to build six wheelchair ramps for needy
Des Plaines residents The wheelchair ramps are built by students
from Maine West’s Building Trades under the guidance of their
teacher. Permits are pulled from the City of Des Plaines and the
decks and ramps have to be approved before use. We have no paid
employees; everyone volunteers and the Foundation only pays for
supplies. We have also purchased Knox Boxes for needy, disabled
residents. The money for the wheelchair ramps and Knox Boxes comes
from a $25,000 DCEO grant secured through the efforts of State
Representative Rosemary Mulligan.
During that same period the Foundation also donated $1,000 to the
Self-Help Closet & Pantry and $1,000 to the Des Plaines Kiwanis to
help with their program to purchase boots for children of Des
Plaines families with limited resources. We also donated $2,136 to
purchase "Just in Case" bags for the Des Plaines Human Services
Department to hand out (in conjunction with Des Plaines Homeland
Security) to our most fragile, elderly and disabled residents in
case of evacuation. The bags contained a whistle. flashlight,
plastic containers for two weeks’ of medication, etc.
We spent $1,200 to print a thousand copies of "One Lap of Des
Plaines" bicycle trails for distribution at our Bicycle Rodeo in
conjunction with the Des Plaines Park District. We also purchased
100 bicycle helmets to give to children who did not own a helmet.
We donated over $3,000 to Maine West for After School Prom, to
purchase DVD’s on parenting for Maine West parents and the purchase
of seven car seats for unwed, pregnant students at Maine West.
We also donated a total of $800 to the Des Plaines Park District
and the Mount Prospect Park District Scholarship Funds to help pay
for programs for children whose families cannot pay.
All in all, through the DCEO grant, the Schneider Electric grant,
the Day at the Races fundraiser, the ITW/Fastex golf tournament
profits and miscellaneous donations from our trustees, the
Foundation has given $30,000 to Des Plaines residents with single
digit spent on administrative costs. Our volunteers are the best!!!!
Respectively submitted, Rosemary Argus
Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Posted: February 11, 2009
The Des Plaines Community Foundation and the Bridge Community
Church are now working together to help people who live and work in
Des Plaines!
If you or someone you know needs transportation to a medical
appointment, help with personal shopping, yard and/or home care,
purchase and installation of emergency response boxes (Knox Box),
wheelchair ramps, or other necessities, please call our new
NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS toll free number at 1-888-646-8898.
This is also the number to call if you would like to be a volunteer
for NEIGHBORS HELPING NEIGHBORS.
Foundation Providing Assistance to Self-Help Closet
Posted: September 29, 2008
The Des Plaines Community Foundation voted during their September
quarterly board meeting to provide assistance to the Des Plaines
Self Help Closet and Food Pantry in the amount of $1,000.00 and
several trustee organizations agreed to serve as community drop off
sites and host “Bring your Can to Work” food drives between now and
October 30.
Participating trustee organizations are offering an opportunity
for community members to drop off canned/dried food and paper
product donations during normal business hours include City of Des
Plaines – City Hall, Midwest Bank, Pesche’s Gardens and Harris Bank.
Also participating in the drive by hosting a “Bring your Can to
Work” drive is Juno Lighting of Des Plaines.
According to City of Des Plaines employees, Madeline May and
Kathy Puetz, the pantry is experiencing increased pantry needs for
local Des Plaines residents during these difficult economic times.
“The food pantry serves over 800 individuals and families monthly”
states Debbie Walusiak, Executive Director of the pantry. The
pantry serves individuals and families that are in difficult
situations, often dealing with underemployment, unemployment,
homelessness, mental illness, seniors and disabled on fixed incomes.
Please help us support our local panty by dropping off your
donations by visiting the Des Plaines Community Foundation trustee
sites; City Hall, Midwest Bank at (Pearson/Ellinwood), Pesche’s
Flowers on River Rd., and Harris Bank (Rand and Central) between now
and October 30th.
Foundation Received Grant Money
Posted: July 24, 2008
Through the efforts of State Representative Rosemary Mulligan,
the Des Plaines Community Foundation has received an Illinois
Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity ("Department") Grant
in the amount of $25,000. The majority of the Grant will be used to
build wheelchair ramps for needy, disabled Des Plaines residents.
The remainder of the Grant will be used to purchase and install
KNOX-BOXES for elderly neighbors who are injured or seriously ill.
KNOX-BOXES enable paramedics and firefighters to gain quick access
to the home or apartment without forcing entry. State Representative
Rosemary Mulligan has a solid and long history of demonstrating her
concern and care for Des Plaines’ most fragile residents – the
disabled and the elderly. We thank her again and appreciate all she
has accomplished.
This past week we have received a call at the Foundation office
to aid a disabled father of three whose condition has now worsened
to the extent that he needs to be in a wheelchair. He requires help
financially to have a ramp installed at his home. Maine West
Building Trades students under the supervision of their teacher,
Paul Bartholomae, have volunteered to build the ramp in August. A
grant from the Foundation will pay for the wood and other supplies.
The Foundation also received a request from a family that was
concerned with the safety of their grandmother who was leaving her
front door unlocked so paramedics could come to her aid quickly when
she called for help. The Foundation arranged for a KNOX-BOX to be
installed so that both family and grandmother could feel more
secure. The Foundation is humble d and
grateful to play a small part in helping to improve the quality of
life for our Des Plaines residents.
Day at the Races Was a Great Success!
Posted: June 25, 2008
Dear Friend and Supporter:
The Des Plaines Community Foundation would like to thank you for
your generous support of the 5th Annual Day at the Races held June
14, 2008.
We had a beautiful day and more people attended than ever
before!! Our successful results are as follows:
- Event tickets $2790
- Raffle tickets $1685
- Silent auction $3580
- Live auction $675
- Sports auction $230
- 3rd & 6th Races $220
- Cash donations $3155
The total profit for the Day at the Races is $12,335! The
Des Plaines Community Foundation has been in existence since
September 1997. The Foundation was created to support the
service programs of the partnership whose activities improve the
quality of life of those that live and work in Des Plaines.
For every $1 profit we can provide $12 in services because our
volunteers carry out many of the programs. The profits from
this year’s Day at the Races will add over $145,000 in value to our
community in supplies and services.
At this time, the specific services of the partnership are
incorporated into four program areas:
Neighbors Helping Neighbors (volunteer matching program served
over 300 resident needs in 2007-2008).
Healthy Community/Healthy Youth (Des Plaines Teen Center,
Youth Development opportunities).
Intergenerational (Senior/Teen Prom, Physical Health education,
Mental Health Crisis Response Team).
Seasons of Service (Civic engagement programs – Pantry drives).
Again, thank you for all your support. Yours for a Healthy
Community,
Rosemary S Argus
Executive Director
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