Morton Community Foundation

11/06/2026

Have you ever thought...

“I’ve always supported my alma mater in another state. I’m grateful for the excellent education, the many friends, and the great experiences I had there. I’d like to include a gift in my estate plan to support my school... but can I create a fund at MCF even though my college isn’t in Morton, or even in Illinois?”

Yes…You Can Endow That.

Absolutely! The Morton Community Foundation can establish endowed funds for local residents that support charitable causes anywhere in the United States. We see this often: an estate plan leaves one portion to MCF and sends another to set up a scholarship at the donor’s college. If we’d had the chance to talk with those donors, we’d have let them know they could do both through their community foundation.

An endowed designated fund can send an annual grant to your alma mater (even if it's out of state) to fund a scholarship or another program you care about there. Instead of sending your money away, your gift stays in town, grows through thoughtful investment and keeps supporting your school forever, while also strengthening your hometown community foundation. It’s a way to honor both the place that shaped you and the place you call home.

Have something like this in mind? We’re ready when you are.

11/05/2026

Morton High School students are getting a head start on their future careers thanks to a new Hydraulics Trainer made possible through a $30,000 grant partnership between Compeer Financial and the Morton Community Foundation! And the good news doesn’t stop there, as another $30,000 grant is planned for 2027 to bring even more advanced technology into MHS classrooms. Read how this $60,000 investment is opening doors for local students!

11/05/2026

Morton High School students are getting a head start on their future careers thanks to a new Hydraulics Trainer made possible through a $30,000 grant partnership between Compeer Financial and the Morton Community Foundation! And the good news doesn’t stop there, as another $30,000 grant is planned for 2027 to bring even more advanced technology into MHS classrooms. Read how this $60,000 investment is opening doors for local students!

Click the link below…

https://www.cfmorton.org/donor-newsletter/2026/11/3/

10/30/2026

“For many years, I’ve supported the youth short-term missions program at our church. When I pass, I’d like to keep supporting that program with a more substantial gift... so that more and more young people can experience cultures around the world that need to hear the Gospel of Christ.”

Yes…You Can Endow That.

An endowed designated fund, created now or through your estate plan, can send dependable annual grants to your church, earmarked for a specific use like the youth missions program. Your gift grows through thoughtful investment, so your support for young people and the Gospel continues for as long as the program exists, long after you’re gone.

Because the gift is so specific, it’s wise to meet with someone from your church first to make sure they’re willing and able to use the funds as you intend. MCF is glad to sit down with you and your church, or to help start that conversation, so everyone is on the same page from the start.

Have something like this in mind? We’re ready when you are.

10/29/2026

We wrap up our October series with the Smalltown Dental Scholarship Fund!

This scholarship was established in October 2024 by Dr. Peter Smidt, a 2005 Morton High School graduate, and Smalltown Dental. Dr. Smidt credits his education in the Morton schools as the foundation for his path into dentistry, and Smalltown Dental's very first practice opened right here in Morton under the tagline "Rooted in Community."

Each year, the fund awards a scholarship to an MHS graduating senior pursuing a degree in dental assisting, dental hygiene, or dentistry... supporting students who feel called to the dental field and who value giving back locally.

Rooted in Morton, and growing the next generation of caring professionals.

Thanks for celebrating all nine of our October Fundiversaries with us!

Learn more:

Smalltown Dental ScholarshipHonoring Morton’s roots in dentistry and investing in the next generation Donate Now The Smalltown Dental Scholarship was established in October, 2024 by Dr. Peter Smidt (Morton High School ’05 Graduate) and Smalltown Dental. Dr. Smidt credits his education in the Mor...

10/28/2026

This October marks the 2nd of the Kelly Squier Memorial Hooked on Fishing Endowment Fund, and today we honor Kelly's memory.

Established in October 2024 by Jaime Squier, with input from their sons, Kelly II and Schain, this fund honors Kelly Squier... a man with a heart as big as the outdoors and a sense of humor that never quit. Kelly loved fishing, often saying there was nothing better to clear your mind. His favorite spot was the Ozarks, where he enjoyed what he lovingly called "dock time."

Each year, the fund provides grants to Hooked on Fishing Park in East Peoria, which connects children, seniors, veterans, and individuals with special needs to the healing power of the outdoors.

Kelly passed away in 2012, but his love of fishing and his spirit of helping others live on every time someone at the park casts a line.

Here's to more dock time for everyone.

Learn more:

Kelly Squier Memorial Hooked on Fishing Endowment Fund This Designated Fund was established in October 2024 by Jaime Squier, widow of Kelly Squier, with input from their two sons, Kelly II and Schain. The fund’s purpose is to provide annual grants to Hooked on Fishing Park to support its charitabl...

10/27/2026

Happy to the Joyce Baldi Endowment for the Support of Blessed Sacrament School Faculty!

This Designated Fund was started in October 2024 by Jeff Baldi and Erich Struckmeyer to honor Joyce... Jeff's wife and Erich's mom.

When Joyce moved to Morton as a single mother of two, Blessed Sacrament Church and School wrapped their arms around her family and made sure her children could receive a quality education. Jeff, a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, wanted to honor Joyce's years of service supporting military families, and Erich wanted to thank his mom for her strength and determination during their years in Morton.

Their answer? An annual grant to Blessed Sacrament School, given as a bonus to its full-time and part-time classroom teachers, above and beyond the regular payroll budget.

A thank-you to teachers... from a family who knows exactly what they mean.
Learn more:

Joyce Baldi Endowment for the Support of Blessed Sacrament School Faculty     This Designated Fund was started in October of 2024 by Jeff Baldi (Joyce’s husband) and Erich Struckmeyer (Joyce’s son). The purpose of the Fund is to provide annual grants to Blessed Sacrament School to be distribut...

10/25/2026

This October marks the 5th of the Hero, James Vernon Scholarship Fund. Today would have been Jim's 87th birthday, and we can't think of a better day to honor him.

In October 2015, Jim Vernon was teaching a chess class for children at the Morton Public Library when a man armed with two knives entered the room. The U.S. Army veteran and Caterpillar retiree stepped between the attacker and the children. In 2018, he was honored with the Carnegie Medal for his heroism.

After Jim passed away in 2021, his wife, Hanna, started this fund in October of that year. Each year, it awards a scholarship in his memory to one or more Morton High School seniors pursuing a degree in Engineering at a four-year college or university... a fitting tribute to a man who spent 41 years at Caterpillar and loved volunteering in Morton's grade schools.

Courage, service, and a lifetime of giving back. That's a legacy worth honoring.
Learn more:

In October of 2021, Jim’s wife, Hanna Vernon, established this scholarship to honor the memory of her late husband. An award is to be made annually from the Fund in memory of James O. Vernon for the purpose of granting a senior or seniors at MHS a scholarship to allow said student(s) to attend an ...

10/23/2026

“I've served on the committee for a local nonprofit's annual fundraiser. I can picture a time when I and the others who've helped for years just get too tired for the long hours it takes. I wish I could help create something to replace the income that fundraiser brings in each year.”

Yes…You Can Endow That.

An endowed fund for the nonprofit can quietly do the work of a fundraiser, providing dependable annual grants without the long nights and heavy lifting. Many groups start by setting aside a portion of each year's event proceeds for the endowment while the fundraiser is still going strong, so the fund grows alongside it. Committee members, longtime supporters, and event guests can all add to it, now or through their estate plans. Over time, the fund can take on more and more of what the event once provided. And because it's permanently endowed, gifts may qualify for the 25% Illinois Gives Tax Credit.

Have something like this in mind? We're ready when you are.

10/22/2026

This October marks the 8th of the Hannah's Reading Garden Endowment Fund, and today we honor Hannah's memory.

Established in October 2018 by Lynne and Dan Walters in memory of their granddaughter, Hannah, this Designated Fund provides lasting support for Hannah's Reading Garden at the Morton Public Library.

Grants from the fund help keep the garden a beautiful and welcoming place for everyone... covering ongoing maintenance, landscaping, new plantings, amenities, and future improvements. Whether it's a child curling up with a new favorite book, a parent enjoying a quiet moment, or a neighbor stopping by on a sunny afternoon, the garden is a little green oasis in the heart of our community.

If you haven't visited lately, autumn is a lovely time to stop by.

A peaceful place to read and reflect, in Hannah's name, for generations to come.
Hannah is also remembered through Hannah's Red Rocket Fund: https://mortoncommunityfoundation.org/hannahs-red-rocket

Learn more: https://mortoncommunityfoundation.org/hannahs-reading-garden