Camelot Illinois Announces Second Year of Grant Funding

Organizations received more than $240,000 in past year

Camelot Illinois Announces Second Year of Grant Funding

Camelot Illinois is pleased to announce a second year of funding for non-profit organizations through the Camelot Illinois Grant Program. Over the past year, Camelot Illinois has supported the community with grants and donations totalling $241,800.

Funds provided by the Camelot Illinois Grant Program accounted for the majority of this total. Seven organizations received $196,800 in total grant funding to use for education and community programming.

“Camelot Illinois is committed to education equality, opportunity and inclusion,” said Camelot Illinois General Manager and General Counsel Keith Horton. “Over the past two years, we have looked beyond our walls to support education and development opportunities in ways that meet the needs of our community. The Camelot Illinois Grant Program is one way that we proudly show our support for worthy causes throughout the state.”

Non-profit organizations, including Chicago Latino Caucus Foundation, Lost Boyz Inc., Genesys Works, Step Up, The Black Star Project and Ladies of Virtue, received grants ranging from $10,000 to $25,000 to support educational development. Additionally, the Children First Fund, the Chicago Public Schools Foundation, received a grant of $96,500. This grant funded the expansion of the robotics program at Walter H. Dyett High School and the creation of the John A. Walsh Elementary School’s new computer science lab, Maker’s Space.

“Quality STEM programming has the ability to open a world of opportunities for our students and show them the endless power of learning,” said Chicago Public Schools (CPS) CEO Dr. Janice K. Jackson. “Central to our vision at CPS is ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality holistic education that gives them the tools they need to lead our city into the future and we are grateful to Camelot’s generous grant that will expand access to state-of-the-art STEM resources.”

In support of emerging community needs during the year, Camelot also donated a total of $45,000 to Cradles to Crayons, the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, My Block My Hood My City and the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

“During this trying year, our company has had to pivot and evolve, just like the rest of the world,” said Horton. “In response to the pandemic and civil unrest, we adapted our original grant model to contribute $45,000 in donations toward areas of our communities that were experiencing more urgent need, including COVID-19 relief and social justice for racial disparities. We look forward to working with more local non-profits to benefit communities across Illinois in the second year of our Grant Program.”

During the 2021 fiscal year, Camelot Illinois will continue to support non-profit organizations that do good work in Illinois. Grants are intended to fund programs that foster educational opportunities, support technology initiatives or promote community and neighborhood development.

To be eligible for the Camelot Illinois Grant Program, an entity must be a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization in the State of Illinois for at least five years, be in good standing with the State of Illinois and be in compliance with Illinois law. Organizations must complete a written grant application and be willing to sign a grant agreement with Camelot Illinois. Grant applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Grant reviews take place in January, April, July and October. Approximately four to five weeks after the end of each grant review period, Camelot Illinois will notify all grantees if they have received an award. Interested applicants can learn more at the Camelot Illinois website.

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