Above / DuPage Foundation awards $20,000 grant from the Snodgrass Family Fund to Bridge Communities’ Children’s Program as Marilyn Gaston, left, DuPage Foundation Trustee; Margo Matthew, Director of Grant, Bridge Communities; John Hayner, CEO, Bridge Communities; Betsy Brosnan, DuPage Foundation Trustee; and Janet Hodge, DuPage Foundation Trustee Emerita recognize the DuPage Foundation for 30 years.
Grant from Snodgrass Family Fund will support Bridge Communities Children’s Program
Bridge Communities was one of 30 nonprofit organizations and five local collaboratives to receive a grant at the DuPage Foundation’s Spring Grant Awards Breakfast held on June 22 at Glen Oak County Club in Glen Ellyn.
The DuPage Foundation awarded more than $670,000 in grants to organizations working in the area of Health and Human Services and five local collaboratives focused on improving kindergarten-readiness in DuPage County. The $20,000 grant from DuPage Foundation’s Snodgrass Family Fund will help underwrite the Bridge Communities Children’s Program.
Bridge Communities Children’s Program
The newly redesigned Children’s Program provides assistance to families in Bridge Communities’ Transitional Housing Program. Upon entering the program, children are assessed to determine their cognitive, physical, social and academic needs, with the appropriate referrals made for each individual child. Parents will also be connected to a series of classes to improve their parenting and practices within the family unit. In addition, the Children’s Program will systematically help break the cycle of poverty by promoting self-sufficiency not just for the parents, but for their children as well, in the next generation to come.
“There are so many dedicated people working harder than ever these days in our area not-for-profit organizations to ensure that critical services are available for those who are in need in our community,” stated Barb Szczepaniak, DuPage Foundation vice president for programs. “Unfortunately, funding resources have dwindled at a time when they are most needed. The Foundation is pleased to provide overall grant funding at an increased level this year to these well-deserving organizations to help them better serve their clients who depend on their support and services.”
“Our redesigned Children’s Program enables Bridge to be more proactive and intentional when it comes to establishing a foundation of success and stability for Bridge children—today, tomorrow and into adulthood,” added John Hayner, CEO, Bridge Communities. “Community partners like the DuPage Foundation give Bridge children the equal opportunities of their peers. We thank the DuPage Foundation and the Snodgrass Family Fund for their generosity and support of children overcoming the trauma of homelessness.”
DuPage Foundation
Established in 1986, the DuPage Foundation is a publicly-supported 501(c)(3) organization to which contributions are tax-deductible. It was created to benefit the people of DuPage County and receives contributions and bequests into a permanent endowment from individuals, corporations, organizations and foundations wishing to make lasting contributions to the people of DuPage. The earnings on these funds are then used, in accordance with donor wishes, for the Foundation’s grantmaking and community leadership activities. For more information, please contact William Pearch, marketing manager, at 630-598-5290 orbill@dupagefoundation.org.
Bridge Communities
Bridge Communities, Inc. is a dynamic, grassroots, nonprofit organization whose mission is to transition homeless families to self-sufficiency by working with partners to provide mentoring, housing and supportive services. Bridge Communities’ vision is a community where all families are healthy, financially stable and living in affordable housing. For more information, please visit www.bridgecommunities.org or contact Lisa Doyle, communications manager, at 630-545-0610, ext. 30 or lisa.doyle@bridgecommunities.org.
News and photo submitted by Lisa Doyle, Communications Manager, for Bridge Communities.
