The Aurora Kiwanis Club/William J. Downs Scholarship Fund Grant

The Aurora Kiwanis Club/William J. Downs Scholarship Fund Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
Last Updated: January 14, 2026

Summary

Easily learn more about the Aurora Kiwanis Club/William J. The next deadline for this grant is Wed, 20 Jan 2027.

Overview

Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley The Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley is a public charitable foundation based in Aurora, Illinois, dedicated to improving quality of life across the Fox River Valley, including the Greater Aurora area and Kane and Kendall counties. The Foundation partners with donors to fulfill philanthropic goals by managing charitable funds and distributing grants and scholarships that address local needs in areas such as education, health and human services, arts and culture, and community development, while ensuring responsible stewardship of resources to create lasting community impact. The Aurora Kiwanis Club/William J. Downs Scholarship Fund The Kiwanis Club of Aurora, Illinois created a fund in 1992 to memorialize a former club member, William J. Downs. Mr. Downs was the great grandson of Samuel McCarty, founder of the City of Aurora. He attended East Aurora High School and later attended Worsham’s College of Mortuary Science, becoming the third generation of his family to operate the Downs Funeral Home on Fox Street (now east Downer Place) in Aurora. Mr. Downs, a Marine veteran of WWII, was recalled to active duty during the Korean War.  He died in combat on December 6, 1950. Scholarships from the fund are available to students attending a four-year college or university to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. These awards are reserved for graduates of a public or parochial high school whose parent or guardian reside within one of the following cities: Aurora, Big Rock, Montgomery, North Aurora, Oswego or Sugar Grove.