N 2023 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Sycamore Federated Church Preschool!
Sycamore Federated Church Preschool nurtures confidence, self-esteem, and curiosity within a planned and spontaneous learning environment to help students develop life-skills and enhance personal growth.
August 2023 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Sycamore Federated Church Preschool!
Sycamore Federated Church Preschool nurtures confidence, self-esteem, and curiosity within a planned and spontaneous learning environment to help students develop life-skills and enhance personal growth.
May 2023 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Kishwaukee Special Recreation Foundation!
Kishwaukee Special Recreation Foundation is the charitable fundraising arm of the Kishwaukee Special Recreation Association whose member agencies include the DeKalb, Flagg-Rochelle, Genoa, Sandwich and Sycamore Park Districts. KSRA programs are planned according to the principles of Recreational Therapy (RT). RT uses strategies to address the social, emotional cognitive, physical, and leisure needs of those impacted by illness, injury, or disability.
February 2023 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Friends of DeKalb County Treatment Courts!
Friends of DeKalb County Treatment Courts is a volunteer organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and raising funds to assist in, the work of the DeKalb County Treatment Courts. The mission of the treatment courts is to enhance public safety by combining effective substance abuse treatment and intensive judicial supervision in a therapeutic court setting for nonviolent substance-abusing offenders, in order to assist the participant in choosing and developing a structured, disciplined, law-abiding drug-free way of life.
November 2022 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Building Leaders Advocating for Change, Inc.!
Building Leaders Advocating for Change is dedicated to the empowerment of at-risk youth in DeKalb and the surrounding areas; helping them to become their own advocates while overcoming adversity in an every changing world.
August 2022 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Habitat For Humanity of DeKalb County!
Habitat For Humanity of DeKalb County works with local families who struggle to obtain affordable housing. Homeowners are able to partner with Habitat to build a home that provides strength, stability and independence for their family.
May 2022 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Elder Care Services!
Elder Care Services has been dedicated to helping seniors as well as those who are concerned for or directly responsible for their care throughout DeKalb County since 1988. They are committed to providing education, support, resources, and hands-on involvement to the older adult or their caregivers.
February 2022 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Neighbors' House!
Neighbor's House is a not-for-profit, faith-based, community development organization partnering with DeKalb County students and families to help them fulfill their God-given potential for academic and relational success.
November 2021 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Adventure Works!
Adventure Works in DeKalb, Illinois assist youth in overcoming challenges and becoming healthy adults through outdoor adventure-based counseling. Their licensed clinical therapists take children outside into the natural environment and utilize problem solving and small group activities with immediate consequences and feedback that teens respond to.
August 2021 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Project Seth!
Project Seth was created to help reduce and ultimately eliminate suicide in young adults. They provide education, resources and support to those most at risk.
May 2021 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Barb Food Mart!
Barb Food Mart is a food pantry that serves families in DeKalb School District #428. Barb Food Mart opened in June of 2013 in DeKalb to address the growing needs of those who are food insecure. Currently, BFM serves 80-100 families each week. They provide family-friendly meals, meat, fresh produce and gallons of 1% milk and strive to provide an atmosphere of respect and dignity as moms shop. The pantry It is open year-round on Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. and is located at Huntley Middle School, 1515 S. Fourth Street, Door 28, in DeKalb, IL.
February 2021 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Safe Passages!
The Safe Passage mission is to reduce or prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in DeKalb County. Safe Passage provides the county's only 24/7 crisis line as well as a wide array of free services including crisis intervention, medical advocacy, safe shelter and transitional housing for victims, counseling, legal advocacy, children's services, prevention programming, and a partner abuse intervention program. This is the third award received by Safe Passage from 100+ Women Who Care since 2014 and it will be used to create a Care Fund which will support clients and families in their journey to safe and independent lives.
November 2020 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Voluntary Action Center!
Members of 100+ Women Who Care donated $13,200 to VAC's Meals on Wheels program that prepares and delivers daily nutritious meals to seniors and other home bound individuals in need in DeKalb County. Illinois' stay-at-home order and March 2020 emergency declaration led VAC to experience substantial growth in its home-delivered meal program. Many more seniors became home bound because of the risk of COVID 19. The Meals on Wheels service increased by 60%, providing more than 325 meals a day.
August 2020 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Barb City Manor Elevator Modernization Project!
Barb City Manor Inc. represents a special concept in affordable retirement living with security dignity and independence. It is a senior residence designed to accommodate singles or couples, 62 years of age or older, who are ambulatory and who desire to lead an active life without responsibilities of home ownership. The Greatest Impact Award will help to replace obsolete elevators whose parts are no longer available for repairs. Elderly residents depend on the elevators in the four story building to get from floor to floor.
February 2020 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Society of St Vincent de Paul DeKalb Conference!
The Society of St Vincent de Paul offers limited financial assistance for people who may be facing a temporary life crisis, like eviction or utility shut-off. Our ultimate goal is systemic change and social justice that will enable all individuals to reach their full potential and lead productive and fruitful lives. We do this by compassionately listening to the people who come to us and helping them to apply their own creativity and life skills to the situations they want to overcome or the problems they encounter. We help them identify the underlying causes that may be affecting their life situations and assist them in directing their efforts toward solutions and resources that will be effective and lasting.
November 2019 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Spartan Food Pantry!
The Spartan Food Pantry focuses on providing a biweekly food pantry which supports the Sycamore School District families. Opened year round, including over breaks and holiday on every other Wednesday from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at West Elementary School. Families maintain dignity by shopping in a fully 'choice' pantry (like a grocery store). The Greatest Impact Award will allow Spartan Food Pantry to surpass the 39,000lbs of food given out in their first year of operation. The pantry also provides items such as coats, boots, snow pants, feminine hygiene products, paper products, hygiene items, shoes and more.
Sycamore Federated Church Preschool nurtures confidence, self-esteem, and curiosity within a planned and spontaneous learning environment to help students develop life-skills and enhance personal growth.
August 2023 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Sycamore Federated Church Preschool!
Sycamore Federated Church Preschool nurtures confidence, self-esteem, and curiosity within a planned and spontaneous learning environment to help students develop life-skills and enhance personal growth.
May 2023 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Kishwaukee Special Recreation Foundation!
Kishwaukee Special Recreation Foundation is the charitable fundraising arm of the Kishwaukee Special Recreation Association whose member agencies include the DeKalb, Flagg-Rochelle, Genoa, Sandwich and Sycamore Park Districts. KSRA programs are planned according to the principles of Recreational Therapy (RT). RT uses strategies to address the social, emotional cognitive, physical, and leisure needs of those impacted by illness, injury, or disability.
February 2023 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Friends of DeKalb County Treatment Courts!
Friends of DeKalb County Treatment Courts is a volunteer organization dedicated to increasing public awareness of, and raising funds to assist in, the work of the DeKalb County Treatment Courts. The mission of the treatment courts is to enhance public safety by combining effective substance abuse treatment and intensive judicial supervision in a therapeutic court setting for nonviolent substance-abusing offenders, in order to assist the participant in choosing and developing a structured, disciplined, law-abiding drug-free way of life.
November 2022 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Building Leaders Advocating for Change, Inc.!
Building Leaders Advocating for Change is dedicated to the empowerment of at-risk youth in DeKalb and the surrounding areas; helping them to become their own advocates while overcoming adversity in an every changing world.
August 2022 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Habitat For Humanity of DeKalb County!
Habitat For Humanity of DeKalb County works with local families who struggle to obtain affordable housing. Homeowners are able to partner with Habitat to build a home that provides strength, stability and independence for their family.
May 2022 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Elder Care Services!
Elder Care Services has been dedicated to helping seniors as well as those who are concerned for or directly responsible for their care throughout DeKalb County since 1988. They are committed to providing education, support, resources, and hands-on involvement to the older adult or their caregivers.
February 2022 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Neighbors' House!
Neighbor's House is a not-for-profit, faith-based, community development organization partnering with DeKalb County students and families to help them fulfill their God-given potential for academic and relational success.
November 2021 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Adventure Works!
Adventure Works in DeKalb, Illinois assist youth in overcoming challenges and becoming healthy adults through outdoor adventure-based counseling. Their licensed clinical therapists take children outside into the natural environment and utilize problem solving and small group activities with immediate consequences and feedback that teens respond to.
August 2021 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Project Seth!
Project Seth was created to help reduce and ultimately eliminate suicide in young adults. They provide education, resources and support to those most at risk.
May 2021 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Barb Food Mart!
Barb Food Mart is a food pantry that serves families in DeKalb School District #428. Barb Food Mart opened in June of 2013 in DeKalb to address the growing needs of those who are food insecure. Currently, BFM serves 80-100 families each week. They provide family-friendly meals, meat, fresh produce and gallons of 1% milk and strive to provide an atmosphere of respect and dignity as moms shop. The pantry It is open year-round on Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. and is located at Huntley Middle School, 1515 S. Fourth Street, Door 28, in DeKalb, IL.
February 2021 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Safe Passages!
The Safe Passage mission is to reduce or prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in DeKalb County. Safe Passage provides the county's only 24/7 crisis line as well as a wide array of free services including crisis intervention, medical advocacy, safe shelter and transitional housing for victims, counseling, legal advocacy, children's services, prevention programming, and a partner abuse intervention program. This is the third award received by Safe Passage from 100+ Women Who Care since 2014 and it will be used to create a Care Fund which will support clients and families in their journey to safe and independent lives.
November 2020 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Voluntary Action Center!
Members of 100+ Women Who Care donated $13,200 to VAC's Meals on Wheels program that prepares and delivers daily nutritious meals to seniors and other home bound individuals in need in DeKalb County. Illinois' stay-at-home order and March 2020 emergency declaration led VAC to experience substantial growth in its home-delivered meal program. Many more seniors became home bound because of the risk of COVID 19. The Meals on Wheels service increased by 60%, providing more than 325 meals a day.
August 2020 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Barb City Manor Elevator Modernization Project!
Barb City Manor Inc. represents a special concept in affordable retirement living with security dignity and independence. It is a senior residence designed to accommodate singles or couples, 62 years of age or older, who are ambulatory and who desire to lead an active life without responsibilities of home ownership. The Greatest Impact Award will help to replace obsolete elevators whose parts are no longer available for repairs. Elderly residents depend on the elevators in the four story building to get from floor to floor.
February 2020 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Society of St Vincent de Paul DeKalb Conference!
The Society of St Vincent de Paul offers limited financial assistance for people who may be facing a temporary life crisis, like eviction or utility shut-off. Our ultimate goal is systemic change and social justice that will enable all individuals to reach their full potential and lead productive and fruitful lives. We do this by compassionately listening to the people who come to us and helping them to apply their own creativity and life skills to the situations they want to overcome or the problems they encounter. We help them identify the underlying causes that may be affecting their life situations and assist them in directing their efforts toward solutions and resources that will be effective and lasting.
November 2019 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Spartan Food Pantry!
The Spartan Food Pantry focuses on providing a biweekly food pantry which supports the Sycamore School District families. Opened year round, including over breaks and holiday on every other Wednesday from 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM at West Elementary School. Families maintain dignity by shopping in a fully 'choice' pantry (like a grocery store). The Greatest Impact Award will allow Spartan Food Pantry to surpass the 39,000lbs of food given out in their first year of operation. The pantry also provides items such as coats, boots, snow pants, feminine hygiene products, paper products, hygiene items, shoes and more.
August 2019 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Shabbona Pathway Project!
Shabbona Pathway is a 501(c)(3) community organization which will provide safety for bike riders and walkers, many of whom are children through the development of a 3.1 mile bike-run-walk trail. The pathway’s trailhead will be at Water Tower Park in Shabbona and connect the Village of Shabbona, Indian Creek Elementary, Indian Creek High School, Chief Shabbona Forest Preserve, Indian Oaks Country Club, Shabbona Lake State Park, and 2 subdivisions on each side of the state park. As Shabbona Lake State Park is becoming more popular, vehicle traffic on the roadway has increased with concerns for safety of bikers and walkers. The Greatest Impact Award will be used to cover the 20% contribution required to match the State 80% grant for land acquisition.
Pictured from left to right are BFM education director Nancy Partch, BFM on-site director Christine Holloway, Women Who Care board members Sally Stevens and Darla Massier, and BFM donations director Deborah Booth.
May 2019 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Barb Food Mart!
Barb Food Mart is a food pantry that serves families in DeKalb School District #428. Barb Food Mart opened in June of 2013 in DeKalb to address the growing needs of those who are food insecure. Currently, BFM serves 80-100 families each week. They provide family-friendly meals, meat, fresh produce and gallons of 1% milk and strive to provide an atmosphere of respect and dignity as moms shop. The pantry It is open year-round on Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. and is located at Huntley Middle School, 1515 S. Fourth Street, Door 28, in DeKalb, IL.
Barb Food Mart is a food pantry that serves families in DeKalb School District #428. Barb Food Mart opened in June of 2013 in DeKalb to address the growing needs of those who are food insecure. Currently, BFM serves 80-100 families each week. They provide family-friendly meals, meat, fresh produce and gallons of 1% milk and strive to provide an atmosphere of respect and dignity as moms shop. The pantry It is open year-round on Thursdays from 4:30-6 p.m. and is located at Huntley Middle School, 1515 S. Fourth Street, Door 28, in DeKalb, IL.
Pictured left to right: Linda Mason, Mary Beth Van Buer, Bob Shipman, Sally Stevens, Darla Massier and Karen Hamingson
February 2019 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Opportunity House!
Opportunity House is a non-profit community sponsored rehabilitation center serving adults with developmental disabilities in DeKalb County. For over 50 years, they have focused on providing quality of life for these individuals, offering programs and services to meet their employment, housing and social needs. They are licensed by the State of Illinois Department of Human Services and the Department of Public Health. They offer a wide variety of programs designed to help individuals live their lives as independently as possible. The 100 + Women Who Care donation will fund a Music Therapy program through their next fiscal year. The program will address the needs of people they serve who have severe/profound Autism and others who have communication issues and/or difficulty with self-management of behavior. They serve over 100 individuals who could benefit from the program. The funds will cover the costs of weekly group sessions through the year as well as one-on-one sessions with their most challenging individual. They will incorporate music and other therapeutic techniques into the daily routines of folks who go through the program so they retain skills and generalize them across environments. As individuals attain therapy goals, others would be rolled into the group, maximizing the number who benefit.
November 2018 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Friends of DeKalb Regional Office of Education!
Friends of DeKalb ROE was established in 2016 in order to support students, families, and innovative programming that would not be funded through the traditional grants of the Illinois State Board of Education. Broadly, the non-profit can provide goods and services to any at-risk youth or child in DeKalb County. The current fundraising request is to hire staff and provide intensive family engagement / parent education interventions to families with children grades K-3 experiencing chronic absenteeism from school. Program interventions include closely monitoring school attendance, making home visits, providing parent education/awareness sessions, referring to appropriate mental health services, establishing positive relationships with families in order to change the paths of their young children.
Friends of DeKalb ROE was established in 2016 in order to support students, families, and innovative programming that would not be funded through the traditional grants of the Illinois State Board of Education. Broadly, the non-profit can provide goods and services to any at-risk youth or child in DeKalb County. The current fundraising request is to hire staff and provide intensive family engagement / parent education interventions to families with children grades K-3 experiencing chronic absenteeism from school. Program interventions include closely monitoring school attendance, making home visits, providing parent education/awareness sessions, referring to appropriate mental health services, establishing positive relationships with families in order to change the paths of their young children.
August 2018 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Voluntary Action Center Meals on Wheels!
The Meals on Wheels Program in DeKalb County provides nutritious meals to older adults and others in need who are home-bound because of illness, physical or mental impairment, who are unable to prepare food independently or who are otherwise isolated. Meals are provided Monday through Friday with the help of volunteers who deliver the meals and make personal contact with each client to ensure their safety and well being. The Meals on Wheels nutrition program became a part of Voluntary Action Center in 1987.
The Meals on Wheels Program in DeKalb County provides nutritious meals to older adults and others in need who are home-bound because of illness, physical or mental impairment, who are unable to prepare food independently or who are otherwise isolated. Meals are provided Monday through Friday with the help of volunteers who deliver the meals and make personal contact with each client to ensure their safety and well being. The Meals on Wheels nutrition program became a part of Voluntary Action Center in 1987.
May 2018 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Family Service Agency!
Since 1956, Family Service Agency has been providing counseling and other essential services to DeKalb County and serves as an "umbrella agency" of four distinct community programs: Youth Mentoring, Children’s Advocacy Center, Center for Counseling, and Senior Services. They are among the oldest, private nonprofit organizations in the area. Their programs exist to strengthen people and communities through healing, mentoring and social engagement. The 100+WWC Greatest Impact Award will help to train additional forensic investigators who interview children in DeKalb County suspected of being physically or sexually abused.
Since 1956, Family Service Agency has been providing counseling and other essential services to DeKalb County and serves as an "umbrella agency" of four distinct community programs: Youth Mentoring, Children’s Advocacy Center, Center for Counseling, and Senior Services. They are among the oldest, private nonprofit organizations in the area. Their programs exist to strengthen people and communities through healing, mentoring and social engagement. The 100+WWC Greatest Impact Award will help to train additional forensic investigators who interview children in DeKalb County suspected of being physically or sexually abused.
February 2018 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to The DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau!
DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau (YSB) serves all of DeKalb County, with its physical location in downtown DeKalb. YSB was created in 1971 through the grass-roots effort of parents, educators, and police to help troubled youth find their path. YSB’s mission is to assist youth as they build healthy lives and relationships with their families, friends, and community. YSB provides individual, family, and group counseling, as well as specialty services which are designed to keep families intact, keep youth out of the juvenile court system, and empower youth to achieve. YSB has trauma certified, bilingual, school based and reduced-cost services, which means more people have access to the help they need. No one is turned away for an inability to pay. The 100+WWC donation will allow YSB to increase counseling and mentoring services to youth who are serving an out of school suspension, with the goal of addressing the underlying issues that led to the behavior while building character in order to avoid further school suspensions.
DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau (YSB) serves all of DeKalb County, with its physical location in downtown DeKalb. YSB was created in 1971 through the grass-roots effort of parents, educators, and police to help troubled youth find their path. YSB’s mission is to assist youth as they build healthy lives and relationships with their families, friends, and community. YSB provides individual, family, and group counseling, as well as specialty services which are designed to keep families intact, keep youth out of the juvenile court system, and empower youth to achieve. YSB has trauma certified, bilingual, school based and reduced-cost services, which means more people have access to the help they need. No one is turned away for an inability to pay. The 100+WWC donation will allow YSB to increase counseling and mentoring services to youth who are serving an out of school suspension, with the goal of addressing the underlying issues that led to the behavior while building character in order to avoid further school suspensions.
November 2017 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to The Gracie Center!
The Gracie Center, which is based in Kingston, provides vocational and life skills training to adults from DeKalb County with developmental disabilities. Participants (Crew Members) in the programs learn vocational skills by staffing and operating a mobile snack shop, the Pop Up Shop. They also assist the DeKalb County Community Gardens by planting, tending and harvesting flowers and produce at the Walnut Grove Vocational Farm. Participants also spend time in the community learning and practicing life skills. The Gracie Center receives no state or federal support. The donation will help this relatively new agency to improve training facilities and increase opportunities for the Gracie Center Crew Members.
August 2017 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to St Vincent de Paul Home Visit Program!__$13,200!
The St Vincent de Paul Society in DeKalb, IL is an all volunteer, charitable organization who oversees a food pantry, free clothing drives, holiday food and gift baskets, free school supplies and a Home Visit Program which offers financial assistance to those in need. During the previous 10 years, this local Home Visit Program has paid out on behalf of the clients they visited over $540,000 to landlords, city water departments, doctors, dentists and hotels for temporary housing to name a few. The Greatest Impact Award will allow an increase in the number of weekly visits the program can make to families in need during the fall and winter months.
Christ the Teacher and St. Mary Catholic churches provide free pantry, office and meeting spaces but there is no religious requirement or affiliation which those seeking help need to meet. Those in desperate need may call the St. Vincent de Paul hotline 815-761-0430 and inquire about assistance. For general information about all the services offered or to volunteer, interested persons may call 815-200-4730 or visit www.svdpdekalb.org.
The St Vincent de Paul Society in DeKalb, IL is an all volunteer, charitable organization who oversees a food pantry, free clothing drives, holiday food and gift baskets, free school supplies and a Home Visit Program which offers financial assistance to those in need. During the previous 10 years, this local Home Visit Program has paid out on behalf of the clients they visited over $540,000 to landlords, city water departments, doctors, dentists and hotels for temporary housing to name a few. The Greatest Impact Award will allow an increase in the number of weekly visits the program can make to families in need during the fall and winter months.
Christ the Teacher and St. Mary Catholic churches provide free pantry, office and meeting spaces but there is no religious requirement or affiliation which those seeking help need to meet. Those in desperate need may call the St. Vincent de Paul hotline 815-761-0430 and inquire about assistance. For general information about all the services offered or to volunteer, interested persons may call 815-200-4730 or visit www.svdpdekalb.org.
Pictured L-R with 100+ Women Who Care members Linda Mason, Sally Stevens, Mary Beth Van Buer, and Darla Massier are St. Vincent de Paul Vice President Bob Parks, President Simon Siebert, Treasurer, Ted Bachman and home visit team member Donna Brown.
May 2017 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Safe Passage!___$13,500!
The Safe Passage mission is to reduce or prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in DeKalb County. Safe Passage provides the county's only 24/7 crisis line as well as a wide array of free services including crisis intervention, medical advocacy, safe shelter and transitional housing for victims, counseling, legal advocacy, children's services, prevention programming, and a partner abuse intervention program. This $13,500 donation is the second award received by Safe Passage from 100+ Women Who Care since 2014 and it will be used to create a Care Fund which will support clients and families in their journey to safe and independent lives.
Pictured (from left) are member Mary Beth Van Buer, Safe Passage Executive Director Mary Ellen Schaid, Safe Passage Board President Lois Self and member Denise Rode
February 2017 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to DeKalb County Community Gardens!___$13,100
100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore presented the February Greatest Impact Award of $13,100 to DeKalb County Community Gardens Walnut Grove Vocational Farm. The Farm offers a place for individuals with special needs, and those without, to come together in an integrated and nourishing environment for agriculture and horticulture-based training and employment. These individuals are provided with an opportunity to work, learn and have fun on the farm while earning a living wage. The Walnut Grove Vocational Farm offers a number of activities and skills at a slower pace making it easier for employees to adapt to their surrounding. Moving forward, the farm will eventually offer an opportunity for these individuals to create a sustainable business by selling their produce, plants, trees, shrubs, livestock, eggs and other products to the local market.
November 2016 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Adventure Works: Community Coordinated Child Care!___$13,100
100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore recently presented the November Greatest Impact Award of $13,100 to Lynette Spencer, Executive Director of Adventure Works an outdoor therapeutic counseling service for teens.
According to Time Magazine “American teens are anxious, bullied, depressed and overwhelmed. As a result they are turning to isolation, drugs, juvenile delinquency and even suicide. Conventional therapy is not working and experts are struggling on how to help them.” Adventure Works in DeKalb, Illinois assist youth in overcoming challenges and becoming healthy adults through outdoor adventure-based counseling. Their licensed clinical therapists take children outside into the natural environment and utilize problem solving and small group activities with immediate consequences and feedback that teens respond too. Adventure Works encourages social interaction, self-confidence, coping skills, respect for others and leadership development. With ninety-five percent of their clients living in poverty and state funding cuts, Adventure Works will use the 100 Women Who Care Great Impact Award to fund scholarships for teens to attend the program.
100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore presented the February Greatest Impact Award of $13,100 to DeKalb County Community Gardens Walnut Grove Vocational Farm. The Farm offers a place for individuals with special needs, and those without, to come together in an integrated and nourishing environment for agriculture and horticulture-based training and employment. These individuals are provided with an opportunity to work, learn and have fun on the farm while earning a living wage. The Walnut Grove Vocational Farm offers a number of activities and skills at a slower pace making it easier for employees to adapt to their surrounding. Moving forward, the farm will eventually offer an opportunity for these individuals to create a sustainable business by selling their produce, plants, trees, shrubs, livestock, eggs and other products to the local market.
November 2016 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to Adventure Works: Community Coordinated Child Care!___$13,100
100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore recently presented the November Greatest Impact Award of $13,100 to Lynette Spencer, Executive Director of Adventure Works an outdoor therapeutic counseling service for teens.
According to Time Magazine “American teens are anxious, bullied, depressed and overwhelmed. As a result they are turning to isolation, drugs, juvenile delinquency and even suicide. Conventional therapy is not working and experts are struggling on how to help them.” Adventure Works in DeKalb, Illinois assist youth in overcoming challenges and becoming healthy adults through outdoor adventure-based counseling. Their licensed clinical therapists take children outside into the natural environment and utilize problem solving and small group activities with immediate consequences and feedback that teens respond too. Adventure Works encourages social interaction, self-confidence, coping skills, respect for others and leadership development. With ninety-five percent of their clients living in poverty and state funding cuts, Adventure Works will use the 100 Women Who Care Great Impact Award to fund scholarships for teens to attend the program.
August 2016 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to 4-C: Community Coordinated Child Care!___$12,200
The 4-C mission is to promote children's well-being by advocating for quality, affordable child care. 4-C supports parents and those providing child care by offering information, education, resources and services. The Greatest Impact Award will be used to establish an emergency assistance fund for low-income families who have children receiving child care at the Children's Learning Center and the Growing Place in DeKalb, Sycamore Child Care and the Once Upon a Time Child Care in Sycamore, and Kishwaukee College Early Childhood Center in Malta.
L-R Sally Stevens; Susan Petersen, executive director of 4-C; Mary Beth Van Buer and Karen Grush
May 2016 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to CASA DeKalb County!___$11,600
CASA DeKalb County, Inc. is a non-profit organization which has been advocating for abused and neglected children in DeKalb County since 1993. A CASA advocate is assigned to 100% of juvenile abuse and neglect cases in DeKalb County. Advocates act as the eyes and ears of the judge and the voice of the child in court. CASA’s vision is a world where every abused or neglected child is given the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home.
CASA DeKalb County, Inc. is a non-profit organization which has been advocating for abused and neglected children in DeKalb County since 1993. A CASA advocate is assigned to 100% of juvenile abuse and neglect cases in DeKalb County. Advocates act as the eyes and ears of the judge and the voice of the child in court. CASA’s vision is a world where every abused or neglected child is given the opportunity to thrive in a safe and loving home.
L-R: Darla Massier, Sally Stephens, Karen Hamingson, Mary Beth Van Buer, Joanne Dillman, Linda Mason (members of 100+ Women), Jill Olson (Executive Director of CASA)
February 2016 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Kishwaukee College Foundation Adult Education Program! $10,900
This program provides instructional and support services for adults who want to obtain their high school equivalency diploma, improve their reading/writing/math skills, or learn the English language. As a result of the absence of State funding this year, a very limited number of free classes are currently being offered. This absence of State funding has led to waiting lists for adults who wish to improve their basic skills to help them find or keep their jobs. The donation from 100+ Women Who Care will assist the Adult Education Program fund additional adult education classes in DeKalb County.
L-R; Joanne Kantner, Ed.D.
Dean of Adult Education & Transition Programs, Evelina Jose Cichy, Kishwaukee College Foundation Board member, Darla Massier, Mary Beth Van Buer, Sally Stevens, 100+Women Who Care presenters, and Marshal Hayes, Executive Director of the Kishwaukee College Foundation,
November 2015 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Safe Passage! $10,900
It was an amazing feeling to know that after only one year we really are 100+ Women Women Who Care and we're still growing!
Following our November meeting results, Our Greatest Impact Award, consisted of 109 member checks, which were presented to Safe Passage on November 23. The Safe Passage mission is to reduce or prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in DeKalb County. Safe Passage provides the county's only 24/7 crisis line as well as a wide array of free services including crisis intervention, medical advocacy, safe shelter and transitional housing for victims, counseling, legal advocacy, children's services, prevention programming, and a partner abuse intervention program. The $10,900 donation from 100+ Women Who Care will be used to create a Care Fund which will support clients and families in their journey to safe and independent lives.
It was an amazing feeling to know that after only one year we really are 100+ Women Women Who Care and we're still growing!
Following our November meeting results, Our Greatest Impact Award, consisted of 109 member checks, which were presented to Safe Passage on November 23. The Safe Passage mission is to reduce or prevent domestic violence and sexual assault in DeKalb County. Safe Passage provides the county's only 24/7 crisis line as well as a wide array of free services including crisis intervention, medical advocacy, safe shelter and transitional housing for victims, counseling, legal advocacy, children's services, prevention programming, and a partner abuse intervention program. The $10,900 donation from 100+ Women Who Care will be used to create a Care Fund which will support clients and families in their journey to safe and independent lives.
Seated L-R; Lois Self, Safe Passage Board Chair, and Mary Ellen Schaid, Executive Director. Standing L-R: Donna Brown, Mary Beth Van Buer and Sally Stevens, 100+ Women Who Care Greatest Impact Award presenters.
August 2015 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Greatest Impact Award presented to the Barb Food Mart! $9,500
Following our August 10, 2015 meeting results, 95 member checks were presented to the Barb Food Mart. Barb Food Mart, a 501(c)3 organization, is a school-based food pantry for families in DeKalb School District 428. BFM was established to meet the growing need of families who are food insecure, not knowing where their next meal will come from. Their mission is to reduce food insecurity and increase nutrition education. When they opened in 2013, 50% of the families received free or reduced lunch assistance. Assistance is now at 58% and they expect that number to be even higher after the 2015 school year's registration. BFM is located at Huntley Middle School (the old high school) and are open each Thursday from 4:30-6:00. On average they serving 70+ families each week. While families wait to shop, Janelle Stein, U of I Extension nutrition educator, offers tastings with recipes and kids cooking classes, Kishwaukee College shares information on ESL and GED classes, Walgreens has offered flu shots and KishHealth System has provided blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI screenings.
Following our August 10, 2015 meeting results, 95 member checks were presented to the Barb Food Mart. Barb Food Mart, a 501(c)3 organization, is a school-based food pantry for families in DeKalb School District 428. BFM was established to meet the growing need of families who are food insecure, not knowing where their next meal will come from. Their mission is to reduce food insecurity and increase nutrition education. When they opened in 2013, 50% of the families received free or reduced lunch assistance. Assistance is now at 58% and they expect that number to be even higher after the 2015 school year's registration. BFM is located at Huntley Middle School (the old high school) and are open each Thursday from 4:30-6:00. On average they serving 70+ families each week. While families wait to shop, Janelle Stein, U of I Extension nutrition educator, offers tastings with recipes and kids cooking classes, Kishwaukee College shares information on ESL and GED classes, Walgreens has offered flu shots and KishHealth System has provided blood pressure, cholesterol and BMI screenings.
Sally Stevens, Donna Brown, Mary Beth Van Buer, Sheryl Nakonechny, Nancy Norris, and Darla Massier. Photo by Monica Synett
Third Greatest Impact Award from 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore presented to the Opportunity House! $8,900
Following our May 11, 2015 meeting results, 89 member checks were presented to Bob Shipman, Opportunity House, Executive Director, on Tuesday June 2, 2015. Opportunity House is a community sponsored, not-for-profit 501(c)(3)organization providing a wide range of services to persons with disabilities. Services include: vocational skills training and paid work for packaging and assembly jobs, community employment services including placement and job coaching, day training services for severely and multiple impaired individuals, residential services including support and direction to individuals in their own homes and 24 hr supervised group homes, and recreational services and Special Olympics.
Following our May 11, 2015 meeting results, 89 member checks were presented to Bob Shipman, Opportunity House, Executive Director, on Tuesday June 2, 2015. Opportunity House is a community sponsored, not-for-profit 501(c)(3)organization providing a wide range of services to persons with disabilities. Services include: vocational skills training and paid work for packaging and assembly jobs, community employment services including placement and job coaching, day training services for severely and multiple impaired individuals, residential services including support and direction to individuals in their own homes and 24 hr supervised group homes, and recreational services and Special Olympics.
Seated, L-R, Mary Beth Van Buer, Bob Shipman, Linda Heinisch. Standing, Darla Massier, Nancy Norris, Donna Brown and Sally Stevens.
Second Greatest Impact Award from 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore presented to the Camp Power Kishwaukee YMCA Program! $7,200
Following our February 9, 2015 meeting results, our member checks were presented to the Camp Power Kishwaukee YMCA program on Monday, February 23 at the DeKalb City Police Department. Camp Power is a free, collaborative summer program offered on-site to children and families living in the University Village housing development. University Village, located in DeKalb adjacent to the NIU campus along Annie Glidden Road, is a low income housing development. This neighborhood has the highest concentration of poverty, highest police call volume and the highest rate of violent crime occurrences in the city. There are approximately 600 school aged children that reside in University Village.
Camp Power was developed in 2014 in response to the pressing issues facing these children and families. In its inaugural year, this culturally relevant, multidimensional wellness program offered an academic academy, daily nutritious lunch service, structured physical activities, nutrition education, layered mentoring, life skills training, family engagement activities, exposure to a range of community resources, and daily interaction with police officers. A total of 25 different community organizations were involved in the delivery of services, and approximately 500 people volunteered their time to this program. This program employed a combination of University Village parents and NIU students as camp counselors. There were many positive outcomes derived from this program, a few highlights: 3,371 lunches were served to children, 26% reduction in type 2 crimes, 96% of survey respondents indicated an improved perception of police. Our generous donation will allow Camp Power to offer this program in the summer of 2015 and continue to have a positive impact on the lives of many children in our community.
Following our February 9, 2015 meeting results, our member checks were presented to the Camp Power Kishwaukee YMCA program on Monday, February 23 at the DeKalb City Police Department. Camp Power is a free, collaborative summer program offered on-site to children and families living in the University Village housing development. University Village, located in DeKalb adjacent to the NIU campus along Annie Glidden Road, is a low income housing development. This neighborhood has the highest concentration of poverty, highest police call volume and the highest rate of violent crime occurrences in the city. There are approximately 600 school aged children that reside in University Village.
Camp Power was developed in 2014 in response to the pressing issues facing these children and families. In its inaugural year, this culturally relevant, multidimensional wellness program offered an academic academy, daily nutritious lunch service, structured physical activities, nutrition education, layered mentoring, life skills training, family engagement activities, exposure to a range of community resources, and daily interaction with police officers. A total of 25 different community organizations were involved in the delivery of services, and approximately 500 people volunteered their time to this program. This program employed a combination of University Village parents and NIU students as camp counselors. There were many positive outcomes derived from this program, a few highlights: 3,371 lunches were served to children, 26% reduction in type 2 crimes, 96% of survey respondents indicated an improved perception of police. Our generous donation will allow Camp Power to offer this program in the summer of 2015 and continue to have a positive impact on the lives of many children in our community.
First Greatest Impact Award from 100+ Women Who Care - DeKalb/Sycamore presented to the Children's Learning Center! $4,700
Our first donation was made on November 21, 2014, to the Children's Learning Center to help purchase a new school bus. The 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Area core group met with CLC's Executive Director, Nancy Teboda who was very grateful and thrilled to receive the group's donation. Each school day the Children's Learning Center makes 9 different bus runs to and from the Fourth Street campus to DeKalb area schools as well as to various planned field trips. After 28,000 such runs, their 11 year old school bus needed to be replaced.
Children's Learning Center provides high-quality, comprehensive early education and child care in a safe and nurturing environment for DeKalb area families. The experienced teachers provide age-appropriate curriculum through play-based learning while promoting the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of every child. Priority in enrollment is given to children from families referred by social service agencies or from families headed by single parents. A majority of the spaces in the infant/toddler and preschool programs are reserved for low-income or "special needs" children.
Our first donation was made on November 21, 2014, to the Children's Learning Center to help purchase a new school bus. The 100+Women Who Care DeKalb/Sycamore Area core group met with CLC's Executive Director, Nancy Teboda who was very grateful and thrilled to receive the group's donation. Each school day the Children's Learning Center makes 9 different bus runs to and from the Fourth Street campus to DeKalb area schools as well as to various planned field trips. After 28,000 such runs, their 11 year old school bus needed to be replaced.
Children's Learning Center provides high-quality, comprehensive early education and child care in a safe and nurturing environment for DeKalb area families. The experienced teachers provide age-appropriate curriculum through play-based learning while promoting the social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development of every child. Priority in enrollment is given to children from families referred by social service agencies or from families headed by single parents. A majority of the spaces in the infant/toddler and preschool programs are reserved for low-income or "special needs" children.
Members of 100+ Women who Care DeKalb/Sycamore present the November donations to the Children's Learning Center. Pictured are left to right - Sally Stevens, Nancy Teboda (CLC Executive Director), Darla Massier, Linda Mason, Nancy Norris, Mary Beth Van Buer and Donna Brown.