At LCF, our monthly donors build community

Spring is right around the corner. Can you feel it? At the Lyons Community Foundation (LCF), March is Monthly Donors Appreciation Month. We realize that without our monthly donors, we would not be able to depend on a reliable and stable income in order to fund the Community Support Grants or the Scholarship Fund. In 2021, LCF granted $37,000 in grants to a variety of projects which either connect the community, provide human services, invest in our youth or support local ecology. Another $7,500 was awarded to six graduating high school seniors so that they could further their education at a post-secondary institution. Monthly donors literally build their community, which is why we affectionately refer to them as community builders. 

The COVID-19 pandemic caught us all by surprise. LCF’s 2020 annual budget depended on the spring fundraiser, “A Color Run”, which was canceled. Thankfully, our generous donors pulled through when the Lyons Share Fund was created to help local businesses survive the two-month lockdown. In 2021, LCF partnered with LEAF to bring the first ever Hootenanny to Lyons. This family-friendly community event was appreciated by all, but in the end, proceeds were split between the two non-profit organizations. If it weren’t for our generous donors, LCF would not be able to fulfill their budgetary requirements. 

When the world seems to be in such chaos, it is easy to feel helpless. Isn’t it reassuring to know that we can still make a difference right here in our own backyard? For just $1/day or $30/month, you can help local projects get off the ground and send high school students to college. At LCF, we like to think that our monthly donors plant seeds that bloom all year long. Seeds like human services, community connectivity, youth investment and local ecology help grow our community into a bountiful garden of beautiful wildflowers. Now, who wouldn’t subscribe to that?
“I choose to give monthly to LCF because as an Advisory Board member for five years I know how essential it is to be able to build an annual budget based on reliable and stable income.  I love this community and believe in and admire all the wonderful folks who desire to improve the quality of life in the Lyons area through the thoughtful and meaningful work of their non profit organizations.”  I’m proud to be a community builder!”  Jeanne Moore, LCF Chairperson

In the next month, you will receive a postcard in the mail which looks exactly like the one pictured below. If you enjoy live concerts in the park, the Holiday Parade of Lights, local history, beautiful gardens, educational opportunities for your children, public art, human services, etc., then we ask that you consider becoming an LCF Community Builder. If you are interested and are able to give back to this amazing community, please visit our website to set up a monthly contribution at www.lyonscf.org. 
​
Community members are always encouraged to get involved with the Lyons Community Foundation. If you are new to town, this is a great way to meet new people. You can either volunteer on one of LCF’s committees OR you can become an Advisory Board member. To find out more, please visit our website at www.lyonscf.org. You can also drop us an email at info@lyonscf.org. We would love to hear from you!