November 28, 2007                                        Contact: Phil Pilcher
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE              (815) 987-6221

Abilities Center Receives $8,900 from Community Foundation of Northern Illinois

Abilities Center was awarded $8,900 by the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois to support a project to motivate economically disadvantaged youth through creative self-discovery.

Ellis Arts Academy is a partner in the project that enables Ellis students to produce video and audio content using computer-based tools.  Fifth-grade art students are currently working on projects in which they imagine how animals might change to adapt to a changing climate.  The audio and video that they produce will become part of a science project dealing with adaptation.

The funds will be used for hardware and software that will be used directly in the classroom.

“Children need to learn how technology can support their creative efforts,” said Jon Bates, Vice-President and General Manager of Abilities Center.  “They become content creators, not merely content consumers.  The gift from the Community Foundation is vital to the success of this project.”

United Way of Rock River Valley is also a sponsor of the project, which began in July of this year with meetings between Ellis Arts Academy faculty and Abilities Center staff.  These talks developed ideas for integrating technology into the arts curriculum at Ellis.  The project will involve over 100 students in the 2007-2008 school year.

About Abilities Center
Established in 1936, Abilities Center is a member of Goodwill Industries International, the world’s largest employer of individuals with disabilities and special needs.  Its mission is to strengthen individuals, families, and the community through education, employment, and enterprise development.

About the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois
The Community Foundation of Northern Illinois was established in 1953 to receive and distribute charitable funds for the benefit of the Northern Illinois region. With total assets of $65 million, the Foundation was entrusted in the last year with gifts of $7.8 million from individuals, families, estates, businesses and other organizations wishing to give something back to the community.

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