ROCHELLE — After 13 years, the Rochelle Area Community Foundation has a home of its own.

The foundation has moved into new office space generously donated by Central Bank Illinois. Earlier this year, the bank approached RACF with an offer to let the foundation occupy the office space attached to Central Bank’s drive-up facility, rent-free.  

“We were ecstatic when approached by Jeff Glen, President of Central Bank in Rochelle, about moving into their space. It was a dream come true,” Kim Montgomery, RACF executive director said. “Since I joined the foundation in 2009, a home of our own has always been my fondest wish.” 

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation was created by a core group of community members in 2006 in fulfillment of Leonard Carmichael’s long term vision. 

Carmichael was a lifelong farmer and owner of Maplehurst Farms in Rochelle whose generous contributions of vision,  time and money led to the creation of a fledgling community foundation. 

The Rochelle Area Community Foundation is a public, charitable organization designed to attract gifts that will be shared with Rochelle Area non-profit organizations for the benefit of the entire community. Over the years, RACF has been the conduit for well over $1 million reinvested in the local community and now holds endowment funds of nearly $3 million for future investments.

For many years, the foundation’s “office” was a laptop on a kitchen table. In 2009, while the foundation was managing funds from the April tornado, Noah Carmichael offered the use of an office at Fehr Graham in Rochelle.  

“I will be forever grateful to Noah and Fehr Graham as 2009 was a tumultuous time for Rochelle and for the foundation. Having office space made a huge difference,” Montgomery said.

“We are so pleased to be able to contribute to the future of the Rochelle Area Community Foundation in this way. The foundation is a true asset to the Rochelle area and we are proud to partner with them as we look to the future of the Rochelle area,” said Glen.

“With new office space, the Rochelle Area Community Foundation is poised for future growth. With increased visibility in the community and more resources dedicated to foundation operations, our goal is to increase the grants we can provide to Rochelle area non-profit organizations,” Montgomery said. “We are excited to facilitate additional services and contributions to the Rochelle area.  Please consider the Rochelle Area Community Foundation when deciding where to direct your philanthropic donations.”