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Riverside Township approves partnership grants for local youth programs and services
Summary
At its Nov. 18 meeting, the Riverside Township Board approved partnership grants to four local organizations — Prairie Trail Federation, Riverside Junior Theater Camp, North Riverside Parks & Recreation (vendor payment for Winterfest train; transcript amount unclear), and Beds Plus — totaling multiple awards and unanimous roll‑call approvals.
The Riverside Township Board of Trustees on Nov. 18 approved a series of community partnership grants aimed at supporting youth programming, a winter community festival, and homelessness prevention services.
Joe Dvorak of the Prairie Trail Federation told trustees the organization’s guides-and-princesses father–child programs saw a 27% increase in participation year‑over‑year and reported 65 father/son and 75 father/daughter attendees at the fall campout. "A barrier to our organization should never be cost," Dvorak said, explaining that dues and township support help families afford camps. The board voted to partner with the Prairie Trail Federation for $2,000; the motion passed by unanimous roll call.
Jeannie Sheehan, who runs the Riverside Junior Theater Camp, asked the board to continue supporting a seven‑week summer camp she has run for nearly 20 years. "I charged $300 for these kids to come for 7 weeks," Sheehan said, noting she offers scholarships and discounts to keep the program affordable. The board approved a $4,000 partnership grant for the program by roll‑call vote.
Jay Marie Hager O'Connor, director of North Riverside Parks and Recreation, requested township funds to pay a vendor (Clowning Around Entertainment) for a trackless train at Winterfest on Dec. 3, describing the vendor quote and inclusions as filed in the event application. Trustee Navarro moved to authorize payment to the vendor; Trustee Clark seconded and the motion carried on a unanimous roll call. The transcript records the moved amount as "$20.19 dollars," a formatting or transcription anomaly; the board approved the vendor payment but the precise dollar figure in meeting records should be verified in the original application and warrant paperwork.
Terry Rivera, director of philanthropy at Beds Plus, gave a detailed update on homelessness prevention programs and asked for continued township support. Rivera said Beds Plus served "almost 6,000 people" in FY25 and estimated one‑time rental assistance averages about $3,200 per household. The board voted to award Beds Plus a $5,000 partnership grant.
All four grant motions were made, seconded and approved by roll call. Trustees who moved or seconded the motions were identified in the meeting transcript and the board recorded unanimous yes votes on the motions.
The board’s actions will be reflected in township financial records and partnership agreements; staff indicated vendor invoices and grant paperwork will be completed as part of normal processing.
