As life-long nature advocates, Deanna Frautschi and Alan Bedell have reforested 5 acres of cornfield over a 45-year period, turning it into a nature preserve with 250 trees and a multitude of plants and wildlife. Their property is certified as wildlife friendly by the National Wildlife Federation and the Illinois Audubon Society.

Deanna, a Master Naturalist, photographs and writes for several publications about the nature around her.  She gives presentations to share her passion for nature using her wildlife photography. She is a Parklands board member, chaired the local McLean County Greenways program and is a volunteer field editor for Birds and Blooms Magazine.

Because of their longtime interest in the environment and nature, Frautschi and Bedell are funding the Go Green Frautschi/Bedell Grant to enhance and beautify our surroundings in McLean County.

Criteria for Grant Funding

This annual grant will be awarded to a nonprofit organization or a group of citizens seeking to enhance a community, public space with green plants or trees to beautify and naturalize the area. The location for enhancement must be a park or common public area shared or seen by many people. Up to $3,000 will be awarded annually, either for a single project or up to three projects each year.

Examples of possible projects:

• Garden on the premises of a nonprofit organization
• School butterfly garden
• Residential common park
• Butterfly or pollinator garden

To apply for the Go Green Frautschi/Bedell Grant, use IPCF's Environment & Nature Grant application adhering to criteria detailed above. Illinois Prairie Community Foundation's Environment & Nature Grants Committee will select recipients of the Go Green Frautschi/Bedell Grant using the same process as for the Environment & Nature Grants.

For more information on grant cycles, click here.