YMCA Awarded Remote Learning Grant from Community Foundation

The Y is proud to announce it has received an $11,885 grant to support remote learning program in serving local families and students. The grant was awarded by the Bengt & Mary Kuller Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program.

As COVID-19 continues to surge throughout our community, parents question the safety of having their children back in school, but face the need to return to work. Supervised remote education offers remote learning sites, with small group sizes, and a focus on cleanliness, along with enrichment activities for fun and recreation and adult mentors who provide guidance for students -- a viable option for already stressed families.

“We are thrilled to receive this grant, which allows the Y to build its capacity for serving the community during this pandemic year,” said Trisha Tousant, Chief Operating Officer, YMCA of Rock River Valley. “We want to continue to be emergency-ready for any future situations that might arise keeping children out of school -- whether that is because their family is concerned for the child's safety or the schools are not operating because of health concerns or a natural or health disaster.”

The grant dollars will be used to enhance internet connectivity at YMCA sites, purchase new Chromebooks to support students and to install new automated external defibrillator (AED) machines at two proposed sites that could expand our program. AEDs are a requirement in serving youth in this capacity.

About the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois:
The mission of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois is to serve as a catalyst for giving in order to attract, preserve, and grow an endowment for current and future needs of Northern Illinois. Since its founding in 1953 CFNIL has granted more than $73 million for charitable purposes. Learn more about CFNIL’s grantmaking and commitment to endowment at cfnil.org.