ROCHELLE — The Rochelle Area Community Foundation held its 2026 Granting Futures Community Open House Wednesday night, outlining a year of community support that included funding for schools, nonprofits, and local programs through donor advised, field of interest, and endowment funds, with grants supporting projects such as food assistance, education programs, housing, library services, youth activities, and health care, including major awards to the Rochelle Christian Food Pantry, Rochelle Rescue Mission, Northern Illinois Food Bank, and Shining Star, while foundation leaders also encouraged continued community involvement and donations to sustain future grantmaking efforts.
Emily Anaya, Executive Director of the Rochelle Area Community Foundation said it is a milestone event for the organization.
”Tonight we are celebrating our 21 years of philanthropy. We are going to kick off the evening with over $150,000 going back into the community, putting us at over $1.5 million in total in the last 21 years,” she said. “People just continue to give and support and tonight is definitely a representation of that.“
Rochelle Fire Department – 2026 RACF Granting Futures Event
Grant Recipients
Donor Advised Funds
Rochelle Elementary District #231 for their program, Giving Every Child a Voice, in the amount of $1,242, fully funded by the Steve Pfeiffer Memorial Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Township High School Alumni Association for Alumni Scholarships in the amount of $5,000, funded through the Tobler Family Fund along with support from an anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
Foundation for Focus House for their Alternative to Suspension Program, in the amount of $5,500. This grant is made possible through the Berg-Burkholder Family Fund, along with support from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Creston-Dement Public Library for their Plant a Seed and Read Summer Reading Program in the amount of $1,541, funded by the Berg-Burkholder Family Fund.
St. Paul Lutheran School for Bringing Design Thinking to Life Through 3D Printing in the amount of $1,750, funded by the Danny and Stephanie Williams Fund For The Arts.
Rochelle Elementary District #231 the Wiggle and Work Grant in the amount of $1,575, fully funded by the Ed and Ann Rice Giving Fund.
Village of Progress for their Connect & Empower program in the amount of $2,600, funded through the Empowering the Community Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Christian Food Pantry for Supplemental Proteins in the amount of $15,000, funded through the Jacobs Family Fund and an anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
Pegasus Special Riders, Inc. for an ADA-Compliant Accessibility Ramp in the amount of $6,251, funded through the Tom Hall Community Giving Fund, an Anonymous Donor Advised Fund, and the Disaster Preparedness and Relief Fund.
The Rochelle Rescue Mission for Compassion, Comfort, and Safety in the amount of $10,000, funded through an Anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois for Lincoln Manor Affordable Housing in the amount of $2,500, funded through the H.P. “Jim” Walker Memorial Endowment Fund.
Shining Star for Safe Spaces for Healing for their Facility Security Enhancement Project in the amount of $10,431, funded through the John Bearrows Family Endowment and the RACF Endowment Fund.
4C – Community Coordinated Child Care for Family Fun Fest and Laundromat Reading Kits in the amount of $900, funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund.
Stepping Stones, Rochelle Elementary District #231, for Preschool Age Board Games for Social and Emotional Development in the amount of $105, funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund.
Tilton School District 231 for their Dual Language Immersion Program at Tilton School in the amount of $451, funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund.
Tilton School District 231 Additional resources $335 funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund.
Hub City Senior Center for Celebrating Life, Promoting Wellness in the amount of $2,500, funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
Field Of Interest Funds
Rochelle Elementary District for the HUB Project: Play-Based Learning at Lincoln School in the amount of $3,375, funded through the Hintzsche-Hinkston Class Support Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
Hope of Ogle County for Emergency Food and Transportation in the amount of $8,000 which was funded by the Disaster Preparedness Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
Chana Education Center for Moving In the Classroom in the amount of $1,826 which was funded by the Inspire Learning Fund and the Kay and Jim Beardin Community Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Community Action Network (CAN) for CAN Annual Christmas Shopping Trip in the amount of $11,000 which was funded by the Jeffry W. Cole Memorial Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
Northern Illinois Food Bank for Mobile Market in Ogle County in the amount of $10,000 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund and the Rochelle Foods Hunger Challenge Fund.
Flagg-Rochelle Public Library for Growing Wiser Adults, One Library Program At A Time in the amount of $4,449 which was funded by the Plant the Seed Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery for Rochelle Recovery Support Services and Center in the amount of $5,000 which was funded by the Human Service Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
Kings Consolidated School District 144 for Kings School Physical Education Equipment in the amount of $2,161 which was funded by the Kay and Jim Beardin Community Endowment Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
Flagg Township Museum for Market the Museum, A Plan! in the amount of $2,077 which was funded by the Arts Enrichment Fund, the Community Advancement Fund, and the RACF Endowment Fund.
Camp Cedar Illinois for Camp Cedar in the amount of $2,500.00 which was funded by the Youth In Philanthropy Fund and the RACF Endowment Fund.
RACF Endowment Fund
Serenity Hospice and Home for Massage Therapy for Terminally Ill Patients in the amount of $3,000which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Stepping Stones Preschool- for Cubbies for Preschool in the amount of $5,500 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
St. Paul Lutheran School for Play-Based Learning Playground in the amount of $5,890 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund in support of the new basketball court.
Habitat for Humanity of Ogle County, Inc. for Habitat Housing Solutions in the amount of $5,000 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival for Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival in the amount of $3,051 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Designated and Agency Funds
Rochelle Police Department in the amount of $735 from the Ron “Stoney” Stonebreaker Police and Fire Memorial Fund.
Rochelle Fire Department in the amount of $735 from the Ron “Stoney” Stonebreaker Police and Fire Memorial Fund.
Todd Ackland Legacy Fund in the amount of $865.
Livingston Bible Church Scholarship Fund in the amount of 5,143.
Hub City Senior Center in the amount of $1,348.
Rochelle United Methodist Church Endowment Fund in the amount of $1,611.For more information, visit www.rochellefoundation.org. The Rochelle Area Community Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that connects donors with local causes to support community nonprofits and create a vibrant, sustainable Rochelle area.