ROCHELLE – The Rochelle Area Community Foundation distributed more than $150,000 to nonprofits, schools, and community groups Wednesday night during its 2025 Granting Futures event at the Lincoln Arts Center, which also marked 20 years of community giving. Funds supported a wide range of programs, including scholarships, arts and education, housing, food assistance, youth development, and health services.
RACF Executive Director Emily Anaya said this is the culmination of a year full of fundraising
“This is the best night of the entire year. This is where we get to give back all that money,” she said. “100% of it remains local. We get to honor our donor advisors and the legacies that they want to leave. And then we get to support our nonprofits that are doing crucial work right here in our community.”
The event also recognized the foundation’s founder Leonard Carchmichaels, past executive directors, and the donors who have contributed over two decades of impact.
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.
A complete list of the recipients is below.
Rochelle Township High School Alumni Association for Alumni Scholarships in the amount of $5,000 of which $631 was from the Tobler Family Fund, and $4,369 was from an anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
City of Rochelle for the Community Mural in the amount of $5,000 of which $1,291 was from the Daniel & Stephanie Williams Fund for the Arts, $1,132 was from the Arts Enrichment Fund and $2,577 was from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Basketball Club for the Rochelle Basketball Club Program in the amount of $5,600 of which $2,000 was from the Ed and Ann Rice Giving Fund, $2,347 was from the Berg-Burkholder Family Fund, and $1,253 was from an anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
Village Of Progress for the Cycling Program in the amount of $4,088 of which $1,000 was from the Empowering the Community Fund, $1,139 from the Community Advancement Fund, and $1,949 from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Rescue Mission for Supporting Those Without Shelter Within Rochelle and the Surrounding Areas in the amount of $10,000 which was fully funded by an anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
Vince Carney Community Theatre for Full Lighting Part 1 in the amount of $2,500 which was fully funded by H.P. “Jim” Walker Memorial Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Christian Food Pantry for Acquiring Eggs in the amount of $15,000 of which $3,438 was from the Jacobs Family Fund and $11,562 was from an anonymous Donor Advised Fund.
Rochelle Elementary District #231 for Dual Language Immersion Program at Central School in the amount of $658 which was fully funded by the Steve Pfeiffer Memorial Endowment Fund.
Pegasus Special Riders, Inc for Pegasus Special Riders in the amount of $9,000 of which $379 was from the Tom Hall Community Giving Fund, $433 was from the Plant the Seed Fund, and $8,188 was from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Serenity Hospice and Home for Holiday Meals in the amount of $500 which was fully funded by the Rochelle Foods Hunger Challenge Fund.
4C-Community Coordinated Child Care for Outdoor Adventure Event in the amount of $700 which was fully funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund.
Tilton Elementary School for Dual Language Immersion Program at Tilton School in the amount of $1,068 which was fully funded by the Tyler “Smitty” Smith Memorial Endowment Fund.
Hub City Senior Center for Operation Heating & Cooling in the amount of $7,352 of which $1,220 was from the Hub Senior Center Agency Fund, $2,107 from the Disaster Preparedness and Relief Fund and $4,025 from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Lincoln School for Enhancing Early Childhood Learning Through Sensory Equipment in the amount of $775 of which $733 was from the Hintzsche-Hinkston Classroom Support Fund and $42 from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Shining Star Children’s Advocacy Center for Healthy Minds, Healthy Body Camp in the amount of $3,000 of which $243 was funded by the Health and Human Services Fund and $2,707 from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Rock River Blood Center for Empowering Donor Care; Supporting A1C Testing in Blood Donations in the amount of $1,031 of which $550 was from the Health and Human Services Fund and $481 from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Elementary District #231 -Hub Project for Rocking our Way to Learning in the amount of $2,500 of which $1,296 was from the Inspire Learning Fund and $1,204 was from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois for Girl Scout Leadership Experience in the amount of $2,700 of which $594 was from the Kay and Jim Beardin Community Endowment Fund and $2,106 was from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Flagg-Rochelle Public Library for Sensory Thingamajigs in the amount of $3,550 of which $858 was from the Jeffrey W. Cole Family Memorial Fund and $2,692 from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Serenity Hospice and Home for Hope and Healing Bereavement Retreat in the amount of $2,000 which was fully funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Northern Illinois Food Bank for Mobile Market in the amount of $8,000 of which $7,857 was funded by the Rochelle Foods Hunger Challenge Fund and $143 was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Blackhawk Area Council, Boy Scouts of America for Helping Youth Lead the Way-Scouting in Rochelle in the amount of $2,000 of which $1,372 was funded by Youth in Philanthropy and $628 was from the RACF Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Community Action Network-CAN for CAN-Annual Christmas Shopping Trip in the amount of $7,500 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Hope of Ogle County for Community Outreach/Marketing/Education in the amount of $5,000 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Creston-Dement Public Library for Autism Sensory Project for Children in the amount of $1,600 which was fully funded by RACF Endowment Fund.
Camp Cedar, Illinois for Camp Cedar in the amount of $2,500 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Sauk Valley Voices of Recovery for Rochelle Recovery Support Services Center in the amount of $2,000 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival for Lincoln Highway Heritage Festival in the amount of $2,000 which was funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Creston Booster Club for Making Our House Accessible to Everyone in the amount of $2,000 which was fully funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois for Affordable Housing for Older Adults in the amount of $2,500 which was fully funded by the RACF Endowment Fund
Stepping Stones Preschool for Let’s Get Ready for Kindergarten in the amount of $1,682 which was fully funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Township High School for Immerse Yourself in a Good Book in the amount of $2,000 which was fully funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Farmworkers and Landscaper Advocacy Project (FLAP) for FLAP Immigration Support and Outreach for Low-wage Workers in the Rochelle Area in the amount of $5,000 which was fully funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Community Consolidated School District #231 for Dual Language Immersion Program at Tilton School in the amount of $438 which was fully funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
District #231 for Project Hub-Futbolistas in the amount of $307 which was fully funded by the RACF Endowment Fund.
Rochelle Police Department in the amount of $534 from the Ron “Stoney” Stonebreaker Police and Fire Memorial Fund.
Rochelle Fire Department in the amount of $534 from the Ron “Stoney” Stonebreaker Police and Fire Memorial Fund.
Todd Ackland Legacy Fund in the amount of $450.
Livingston Bible Church Scholarship Fund in the amount of $4,809.
RTHSEF Endowment for Education in the amount of $1,445.
Rochelle United Methodist Church Endowment Fund in the amount of $2,372