Grant Program - General
The Grove Foundation has supported a select group of projects and organizations on a repeat or annual basis. For example, support has been recently awarded to the following:
Attainable Futures
Attainable Futures, a leadership academy established by The Downers Grove Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry. This program is developed by Chamber members who are committed to community workforce development. In cooperation with District 99, this program was created for students to explore career opportunities and enhance the skills necessary to enter the job market. The overall goal of the program is to introduce the business community to students and vice versa. Students will work on communications skills, interviewing, etiquette, and community involvement and explore career options.
Founders Day
Presented by the Downers Grove Historical Society and the Downers Grove Museum, Founders Day is held on the first Saturday in May. The family-oriented event includes walking and bike tours of historical sites, a family bike ride, and Country in the Park held at the museum, featuring historically accurate games and educational activities. www.dghistory.org
Navigate Adolescence (formerly HGNA)
Navigate Adolescence, a non-profit organization established in Downers Grove in 2015, is devoted to providing boys and girls and their parents with the tools needed to navigate adolescence with confidence, resilience, and kindness. www.navigateadolscence.org
Little Sprouts Program
The Downers Grove Grade School District 58's Little Sprouts Program, a unit of the first grade science curriculum titled, New Plants. The students attend the Little Sprouts program held at the Downers Grove Park District's Interpretive Center at Lyman Woods to participate in four stations, which provide the students with hands-on experiences. The students explore the inner working of a bean seed, role play and become a seed growing through an entire life cycle, identify the parts and functions of a plant and become familiar with edible plant parts and make soil by following a recipe in a cooking show format. "Little Sprouts" provides wonderful hands-on educational opportunities for the students supporting the New Plants curriculum. www.dg58.org
Noah's Hope
Noah's Hope is an organization dedicated to providing research funding for LINC-Batten disease. Fewer than 450 children in the United States have LINCL-Batten disease, so it receives very little research attention. Local resident, Noah VanHoutan lost his fight against LINCL-Batten disease on March 26, 2016, just a few weeks shy of his 12th birthday. Noah's younger sister, Laine, continues her fight against this rare genetic illness. At this time, LINCL-Batten disease is always terminal, usually between the ages of eight and 12. www.noahshope.com
South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation (SEASPAR)
SEASPAR, the South East Association for Special Parks and Recreation, provides dynamic programs and quality recreation services for people with disabilities residing in its twelve community service areas. SEASPAR's service areas include the park districts of Clarendon Hills, Darien, Downers Grove, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lemont, Lisle, Westmont, and Woodridge, and the villages of Brookfield, Indian Head Park, and Western Springs. SEASPAR's vision is to discover abilities, achieve potential, and realize dreams. SEASPAR was founded with and continues to operate with the following core values of fun, excellence, service, respect, and accountability. www.seaspar.org