Starved Rock Country Community Foundation Celebrates 10 Years of Impact

The Starved Rock Country Community Foundation (SRCCF) has marked its tenth anniversary by highlighting its significant contributions to local projects in La Salle, Bureau, and Putnam counties. Since its inception in 2015, the foundation has disbursed over $3 million to enhance community facilities and initiatives.

Fran Brolley, President of SRCCF, expressed pride in the foundation’s achievements. “Reflecting on our first 10 years, it is impressive to see how many community-enhancing projects SRCCF has had a hand in,” she stated. The foundation has partnered with various individuals and nonprofit organizations to revitalize downtown areas, playgrounds, museums, public trails, and camps.

The SRCCF manages 130 charitable funds, collaborating with initiatives such as Reimagine Mendota, Grow Spring Valley, and Princeton Main Street Revitalization. One of its notable funds, the Robert M. Eschbach Legacy Fund, honors the former mayor of Ottawa and aims to promote aesthetic, cultural, and economic development in the area.

Local playgrounds have also benefited from SRCCF’s funding. Projects in Streator, Grand Ridge, and Seneca include Logan’s Oasis in Marilla Park and enhancements at Crotty Park, supported by the Lamb Family Fund. Recently, Naplate’s Vittone Park received $10,000 for new playground equipment through the foundation’s tornado relief fund.

Community Enhancement and Historical Preservation

In addition to recreational projects, the foundation has been instrumental in coordinating the 2024 Canal Connector Trail Feasibility Study. This study aims to explore options for linking the Illinois and Michigan Canal with the Hennepin Canal trails, effectively closing a 15-mile gap between them.

Preservation of local history is another area where SRCCF has made an impact. Funding has supported the Amboy Depot Museum, the Mendota Museum and Historical Society, and the Hegeler Carus Mansion in La Salle. In 2024, SRCCF plans to partner with Historic Camp Tuckabatchee, located north of Ottawa, along with the Voluntary Action Center/Meals on Wheels senior nutrition program.

Recently, the Illinois Valley Food Pantry established a fund to support its relocation to a new site in Peru. Other funded initiatives include the Streatorland Community Food Pantry, Little Free Libraries, the Mary Utoff Memorial Walkway in Princeton, and a preservation fund for Princeton’s Oakland Cemetery.

As part of its tenth anniversary celebrations, SRCCF has launched a campaign titled “A Decade of Giving.” Contributions to this initiative can be made by visiting https://srccf.org/anniversary-appeal. Those interested in creating a fund with the foundation can reach out to Fran Brolley at [email protected].

The foundation’s commitment to community enhancement and support for local initiatives underscores its vital role in fostering growth and resilience in the region over the past decade.