Give DeKalb Giving 2018 is a 24-hour fundraising effort to bolster philanthropy in the county.

COUNTY

Restaurant Week continues through April 28

DeKalb’s Restaurant Week is back for its third year. More than 25 restaurants are participating in the event designed to enable local and visiting foodies to celebrate dining out in the DeKalb area. A total of 29 restaurants are offering Restaurant Week specials.  A complete list of restaurants, their addresses and information about specials can be found at

dekalbcountycvb.com/special-offers/.

Charities join together for Give DeKalb County

One day devoted to fundraising for the myriad of organizations that work to make life better in DeKalb County. That is the focus and purpose of May 3, named Give DeKalb County 2018.

For the fifth year, a concerted 24-hour effort will be mounted to build community, encourage philanthropy, connect donors to nonprofit groups and promote collaboration within and raise awareness about the nonprofit sector. The previous four giving days raised a combined total of more than $1.2 million.

In order to receive funds, nonprofit organizations must be located in, serving, and/or conducting organizational activities in DeKalb County; recognized by the IRS as 501(c)3 organizations; registered with the Attorney General’s Office to solicit donations in Illinois 2018; and belong to the DeKalb County Nonprofit Partnership. Churches and K-12 schools are not eligible to participate.

The Give DeKalb County team is working with nonprofit groups to get their message out May 3, to current and potential donors and the business community through media of all kinds.

All these efforts are aimed to encourage the public to make donations online by credit card from midnight to midnight May 3, by visiting GiveDeKalbCounty.org. Walk-in donations by check or cash will be accepted from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the DeKalb County Community Foundation, 475 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore.

A study of artifacts offers different look at Grandma’s Attic

Artifacts tell stories. And a new exhibit at the DeKalb County History Center is loaded with stories. The center’s new exhibit, Beyond Grandma’s Attic, provides the public opportunities to focus on artifacts and think about the stories contained within. By taking a closer look at specific items, the DeKalb County History Center hopes to start a dialogue by simply asking questions about the items.

The exhibit is broken down into several sections: Firsts and Oldests, Curiosities, Daily Life, Formal Life and Children. Some highlights in the exhibit include a coconut mailed from the Pacific to Sycamore during World War II, along with the question “What do you think the mailman thought when he made that delivery?”

In the Formal Life section, a wedding dress from the 1940s is featured. Why is it blue and not the traditional white?

The Children section includes a fun selection of toys. Visitors are asked if they recognize any of the games, and then children are encouraged to play like they might at grandma’s house – playing restaurant, trying on old clothes and participating in games that don’t have batteries.

The exhibit can be viewed during the DeKalb County History Center’s visiting hours: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday. The center is at 1730 N. Main St. in Sycamore. Admission is $5 for adults and free for members and children younger than 14. For more information, call 815-895-5762 or visit dekalbcountyhistory.org.

New scholarship honors mother’s love of education

An annual award to a Sycamore High School graduate of Mexican ethnic origin is the latest scholarship to join the others offered by the DeKalb County Community Foundation.

Called the Ibarra Family Scholarship Fund and funded through the generosity of the family, this award honors the late Maria De Jesus Ibarra, who worked tirelessly to support her family and encourage ongoing education for her children.

Her commitment to education spurred her children to study as a way to a good future. Her son, Juan, studied and became a medical doctor in 1987. Today, Dr. Ibarra is a pain management specialist for CGH Medical Center in Sterling, IL.

The matriarch of the family died a few years ago from breast cancer. But she listened to her own message about the importance of education. After raising a family, she graduated from college at age 50 and became a substitute teacher.

The DeKalb County Community Foundation has more than 65 scholarship funds, all established with a desire to provide opportunity through the pursuit of education. To discuss setting up a fund or to contribute to an existing fund, contact Executive Director Dan Templin at 815-748-5383 or dan@dekalbccf.org.

SANDWICH  

Hospital will accept unwanted drugs

The public has an opportunity to dispose of unused medications April 28, during National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Unwanted drugs may be taken to Northwestern Medicine Valley West Hospital, 1302 N. Main St. in Sandwich. The hospital will operate a drive-through drop-off at its main entrance from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Northwestern is partnering with the Drug Enforcement Administration to host collection sites for unused medications as part of the national effort.

For more information about the disposal of prescription drugs or to find another Take Back Day event, visit DEATakeBack.com.

–DeKalb County News Briefs–