Alive Teen Center Receives $25,000 Community Impact Grant in Support of Hanover Park Teens

Alive Teen Center, NFP received a $25,000 grant through DuPage Foundation’s Community Impact grant program to help support the Alive Teen Center Hanover Park Drop-In program. DuPage Foundation awarded nearly $750,000 to 57 DuPage County nonprofit organizations. Thanks to additional donations from DuPage Foundation’s donors and donor-advisors, the Foundation was able to grant $250,000 above its regular Fall cycle grant budget.

Alive Teen Center’s mission is to create Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ centers focused on empowering the youth of today to become confident, impassioned, resilient leaders of tomorrow. In 2025, Alive served 1,000 teens, with 8,250 served since its founding in 2015. 

“We are deeply honored to receive this grant from the DuPage Foundation to support teens and families in Hanover Park. As our Hanover Park location continues to grow, the need for accessible, preventative support has never been greater, particularly for families working hard to create brighter futures for their children,” said Kandice Henning, Alive CEO and Founder. “This funding will allow us to sustain and expand our after-school Drop-In programming, providing teens with safe, supportive, and teen-led spaces during the critical hours of 3–7 p.m., when young people are most vulnerable to isolation, risk-taking, and unmet needs. Through this investment, we can continue meeting teens where they are, building connection, resilience, and a sense of belonging when it matters most.”

“It was such a joy to award these grants to so many amazing local nonprofits this season,” said Betsy Goltermann, DuPage Foundation Trustee and Grant Committee Chair. She added, “These funds help them keep doing incredible work in our communities. Hearing about their plans and celebrating all the good happening in DuPage County is truly inspiring.”

During DuPage Foundation’s fall grant cycle each year, local nonprofits like us, serving DuPage County in the areas of youth education, workforce development, environment, or animal welfare, are awarded funding that supports programs and projects that improve and enrich the quality of life for DuPage County residents. Applications for the spring grant cycle in the area of health and human services will open in January 2026. See dupagefoundation.org/community-impact/ for more information.

For further information regarding [Name of your organization], please contact [executive director or president] at [contact’s phone number and/or email address].

About DuPage Foundation 

DuPage Foundation is DuPage County’s champion for philanthropy. We bring together people, knowledge, and resources to address our community’s greatest challenges and opportunities through collective impact. Our mission is simple, yet profound: to foster philanthropy, connect donors to area needs, and build community partnerships as we help people give efficiently and effectively to the causes they love and create lasting charitable endowments. Learn more at dupagefoundation.org. Doing a world of good in our own backyard.®

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Alive Teen Center Announces 2026 Mardi Gras Fundraiser Leadership: Jen Mendoza Named Chair and Felipe Rocha Named Co-Chair for Mardi Gras – Teens Take the Lead

Naperville/Aurora/Hanover Park, IL — January 1, 2026 — Alive Teen Center, an evidence-based, award-winning nonprofit dedicated to strengthening teen mental health through connection, leadership, and belonging, is proud to announce Jen Mendoza as Chair of its signature fundraiser, Mardi Gras Marching Forward – Teens Take the Lead, with Felipe Rocha serving as Co-Chair.

Alive’s Mardi Gras fundraiser celebrates the organization’s trademarked Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ model, an approach that empowers teens to shape programs, lead with confidence, and build purpose in a safe, supportive community. Proceeds from the event directly support Alive Teen Center’s free programs and drop-in services for teens ages 11–18 across its teen centers in Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park.

“Jen and Felipe bring the kind of leadership and community spirit that perfectly matches the heart of this event,” said Amanda McMillen, Alive Teen Center Executive Director. “Their partnership will help expand awareness and support for the teens who rely on Alive as a place to belong, grow, and thrive.”

As Chair, Jen Mendoza will lead event strategy, sponsorship engagement, and community outreach, working closely with the planning committee to ensure the fundraiser reflects Alive’s mission and the energy of teen leadership. As Co-Chair, Felipe Rocha will support sponsor and community partner engagement, helping to broaden event reach and deepen impact across the region.

“Serving as Mardi Gras Chair alongside Felipe Rocha as Co-Chair is both an honor and a full-circle moment for me. I have supported Alive Teen Center since the opening of its Aurora location and have witnessed the powerful role it plays in creating safe, inclusive spaces for teens. As a mother of three whose children receive support and resources through Alive, I feel privileged to now sit on the Executive Board and contribute to advancing a mission that strengthens youth and families throughout our community,” said Jen Mendoza. 

Alive Teen Center provides preventative mental health support through free, teen-led programming, creating space for connection before challenges escalate into crisis. Through drop-in hours, leadership development, tutoring, mentorship, and enrichment opportunities, Alive helps teens feel seen, supported, and valued.

Mardi Gras Marching Forward – Teens Take the Lead will be held on April 24, 2026 at Naperville Marriot from 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM. Sponsorship opportunities are available and tickets will go on sale February 16. Community members and businesses interested in supporting Mardi Gras  Marching Forward- Teens Take the Lead can contact Alive Teen Center at maggie@alivecenter.org or visit alivecenter.org

About Alive Teen Center

Alive Teen Center is an evidence-based, award-winning nonprofit dedicated to strengthening teen mental health through connection, leadership, and belonging. Rooted in its trademarked Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ model, Alive provides free drop-in and enrichment programming for teens ages 11–18 at teen centers in Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park, helping young people build confidence, resilience, and purpose.

Media Contact:
Maggie Weiterman
Director of Marketing & Development, Alive Teen Center
630.778.6093 maggie@alivecenter.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Alive Center Launches Giving Tuesday Campaign to Raise $100,000,  Because Every Teen Deserves Alive

Naperville, IL November 11, 2025 – The Alive Center for Teens is proud to kick off its Every Teen Deserves Alive annual appeal with a bold Giving Tuesday goal: raise $100,000 in one day to expand free, prevention-focused mental health and leadership programs for teens across Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park.

Giving Tuesday, Tuesday, December 2, 2025 comes at a pivotal moment as today’s youth continue to face unprecedented mental health challenges, pressure to perform, and increasing social isolation because of social media and overuse of electronics. Alive is meeting that need by providing teens with something every young person deserves: a safe place to belong, be heard, build confidence, and become who they are meant to be.

“Think back to your teenage years,” said Kandice Henning, Alive Founder & CEO. “Who helped you find your voice? Where did you go when you needed to feel safe, seen, and understood? Today’s teens deserve that same support,  and Alive is here to provide it.”

Alive’s Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ model empowers youth to lead programs, mentor peers, and develop emotional resilience,  all at no cost to families. In 2024, Alive served more than 1,000 teens across its three centers, with measurable impact:

• 84% reported increased self-confidence.

• 71% improved their ability to cope with stress.

• 72% felt a greater sense of belonging.

• 73% experienced increased purpose, excitement, and personal growth

• 97% of Teen Advisory Board members gained leadership skills

“Every Teen Deserves Alive isn’t just a campaign, it’s our reality,” said Maggie Weiterman, Director of Development & Marketing. “We see teens come in unsure if they fit anywhere, and then watch friendships form, confidence bloom, and walls come down. We hear laughter where there used to be silence, and watch leaders emerge from those who once stood in the back of the room. That’s the power of belonging. Prevention matters. Connection saves lives,  and every gift helps one more teen know they matter. Right now, all bequest gifts are being matched up to $100,000, doubling your impact for teens in our community.”

How Donations Help Teens Thrive

Giving Tuesday gifts directly support:

• Free after-school Drop-In hours

• Peer mentoring & leadership opportunities

• Homework help & tutoring

• STEM and creative arts programs

• Mental wellness and life-skills workshops

• Social work intern supervision and youth support volunteers

Alive’s commitment is simple: if a teen needs a safe place to go, they will have one,  free of charge.

Ways to Support

• Make a match donation that doubles Giving Tuesday donations

• Give: AliveCenter.org/donate

• Make a bequest gift. All legacy and DAF gifts are being matched up to $100,000 , doubling your impact for teens in our community.

• Start a peer fundraising team

• Share on social media using hashtags #EveryTeenDeservesAlive #BeTheSomeoneTheyNeed

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About Alive

Alive Center is a nonprofit Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ organization dedicated to empowering youth ages 11–18 through free after-school and summer programming. With locations in Naperville, Aurora, and Hanover Park, Alive helps teens discover who they are, build resilience, develop leadership skills, and thrive.

Media Contact:

Maggie Weiterman
Director of Development & Marketing
Alive Center for Teens
Maggie@alivecenter.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

[Naperville IL] – October 24, 2024 – The Alive Center for Teens is proud to announce the launch of its new Alive Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ (TLTD TM ) Certification Program, aimed to vastly increase the impact of Alive’s TLTD™ model to empower more teens. The B.R. Ryall YMCA in Glen Ellyn has become the first organization to be officially certified in this innovative program, growing their commitment to youth empowerment and engagement.

The Alive Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ Certification Program is based on the Alive Center’s trademarked model, which places teens in the driver’s seat, encouraging them to take ownership of programs, activities, and initiatives that directly impact their peers. This certification equips partner organizations with the tools and guidance to adopt a teen-driven approach, fostering leadership, responsibility, and creativity in a safe, supportive environment. The model contains Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ training and hands-on consulting as well as processes, procedures, and templates for building out the model.

“We’re thrilled to bring this program to life to empower the next generation and welcome the B.R. Ryall YMCA as our first certified partner,” said Kandice Henning, CEO and Founder of the Alive Center for Teens. “Our Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ model is about empowering young people to lead, inspire, and make a tangible impact on their communities. We’re excited to see the outcomes of how the YMCA uses our TLTD TM model in their beautiful
new teen center.”

Funded by a generous grant from DuPage Community Transformation Partnership, a collaboration between DuPage County and DuPage Foundation, the Alive Center and the B.R. Ryall YMCA have partnered together for the past two years to bring the YMCA’s new teen center to fruition. An important component of the YMCA’s teen center is their jointly created 22-member Teen Advisory Board which has been creating and leading teen-led programs for the past year. The teen board is excited to create in the new space.

“We are grateful and excited for our continued partnership with the ALIVE Center. Thanks to the shared knowledge and training, our staff is now equipped to implement and facilitate successful Alive Teen-Led, Teen-Driven TM Certified programming for our new Teen Center—complementing and enhancing the existing program offerings at the B.R. Ryall YMCA,” stated Rob Wilkinson, Chief Executive Officer.

Since opening its doors in 2015, the Alive Center for Teens has created and mentored 14 Teen Advisory Boards, which all empowered teen leaders who created and led over 320 Alive Teen-Initiated programs, clubs, and camps for thousands of their younger peers. The Alive Center teen leads learn early in life that they can make a difference along with learning valuable business, leadership, and life skills. The younger teens they are serving
are also lifted up through our model and grow to be the future leaders of Alive.

The Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ (TLTD™) Certification Program is available to other YMCAs and youth-focused organizations. Alongside this new initiative, the Alive Center is also now offering a franchising model, which allows other communities to create an Alive Center more quickly and easily, bringing a strong Mental Health Prevention program to their youth. For those interested in bringing an Alive Center to their community, contact Alive at info@alivecenter.org.

About ALIVE Center NFP
Alive Teen Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, resources, and opportunities for the youth through its centers in Naperville, Hanover Park, and Aurora. Through a variety of programs and services, ALIVE aims to empower teenagers to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, enabling them to become successful and contributing members of their community. To learn more, visit www.alivecenter.org.

About the B.R. Ryall YMCA
The Y is one of the nation’s leading nonprofits strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Founded in 1919, the B.R. Ryall YMCA of Northwestern DuPage County has been an integral part of the community for more than a century—serving Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Glendale Heights, Winfield, Warrenville, West Chicago, and Carol Stream. Every day, we work side-by-side with our neighbors to
make sure that everyone—regardless of age, income, or background—has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive. To learn more, visit www.brryallymca.org.

PRESS CONTACT:
Kandice Henning
Alive Center CEO
630.802.2547
Kandice@alivecenter.org
www.alivecenter.org

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“What I like about the Alive Center is how welcoming people are. Here you feel like you belong somewhere.”- said Isabela R., Aurora 8th grader. In 2023, ALIVE Aurora increased CONFIDENCE in 90% of the teens that attended our programs and increased BELONGING in 80% of them. ALIVE’s free after-school and over the summer programs are key for building strong, mentally healthy kids.

Extended Free Teen Drop-in hours will be offered at the new location, with school-year doors open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 3 – 7 pm and summer 1-5 pm. These hours will ensure that teenagers in the Aurora area and surrounding communities continue to have a safe and supportive space to engage in constructive activities and receive essential support. ALIVE Aurora is hoping to move to 5 days a week in 2025.

“The ALIVE Aurora Teen Center has had an incredible journey at the Community Christian Church, and we are immensely grateful for the support and partnership we’ve received,” said Ady Sepulveda, ALIVE Aurora Manager. “We are looking forward to moving to a bigger space that will be able to support even more youth in our community.”

The move to the New England Congregational Church offers numerous advantages, including more space and availability of extended center hours that will enhance the delivery of ALIVE Aurora’s Teen-Led, Teen-Driven™ Programs. The new location is conveniently situated just west of downtown to continue serving the needs of Aurora’s youth effectively.

“We are so excited to be partnering with ALIVE Aurora to resource the youth of our amazing community!” added Rev. Dr. Brandon Perrine, Senior Minister of New England Congregational Church.

ALIVE Aurora is proud to declare that this relocation does not change its fundamental mission or its commitment to the city’s youth. The organization remains unaffiliated with any religious institution, ensuring that its services are accessible and inclusive to all community members.

To learn more about the benefits of ALIVE Teen Center, visit alivecenter.org.

Tours of the new space will be available in May. For tours and media inquires reach out to Ady Sepulveda:

Ady Sepulveda
ALIVE Aurora Manager
ady@alivecenter.org
630.332.3187

About ALIVE Teen Center:
ALIVE Teen Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, resources, and opportunities for the youth through its centers in Naperville, Hanover Park and Aurora. Through a variety of programs and services, ALIVE Aurora aims to empower teenagers to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, enabling them to become successful and contributing members of their community. To learn more, visit alivecenter.org.

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ALIVE Aurora is excited to celebrate this significant milestone with the community. The relocation to the new, larger space will allow the teen center to enhance its offerings and hours and continue its mission of empowering the youth of today to become confident, impassioned, resilient leaders of tomorrow. 

“We are incredibly excited about the new space and the opportunity to bring new experiences to the youth over the summer,” said Ady Sepulveda, ALIVE Aurora Manager. “We love the fact that we have a great outdoor space to enjoy as well, which is first for the center.”

Rev. Dr. Brandon Perrine, Senior Minister of New England Congregational Church, expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are so excited to be partnering with ALIVE Aurora to resource the youth of our amazing community!”

The grand ribbon cutting ceremony will include a tour of the new facility, showcasing the expanded and improved space designed to better serve the teenagers of Aurora. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the wide range of programs and services offered by ALIVE Aurora, which include academic support, creative arts workshops, STEM programs and leadership development opportunities all of which are free for youth in grades 5th – 12th.

Summer hours will start on Monday, June 3rd, and will be from 1 – 5 pm every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for all incoming 5th – 12th graders, ensuring that the teen center continues to provide a safe and supportive environment for the youth.  June activities at the new location will include outdoor volleyball, Perler bead art, Chick-Fil-A Day, DIY clay coasters, Reverse Charades, and more, providing a variety of engaging and fun experiences for the teens.

ALIVE Aurora Teen Center has been a vital resource for Aurora’s youth, consistently demonstrating its dedication to their mental well-being and success. The new location will enable the organization to expand its impact and reach even more youth in the community.

For tours, community partnerships, center donations and media inquiries contact Ady Sepulveda:

Ady Sepulveda
ALIVE Aurora Manager
ady@alivecenter.org

About ALIVE Teen Center:
ALIVE Teen Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support, resources, and opportunities for the youth through its centers in Naperville, Hanover Park and Aurora. Through a variety of programs and services, ALIVE Aurora aims to empower teenagers to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally, enabling them to become successful and contributing members of their community. To learn more, visit alivecenter.org.

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Read more: https://www.nctv17.org/news/alive-center-expands-offerings-to-glen-ellyn-ymca/amp/

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Hilary Decent, of the Naperville Sun, writes, “I feel l have spent years writing about the efforts to encourage girls to take STEM subjects at school. So, when I learned that there’s still a huge disparity, I was surprised. Surely by now the playing field would be more even? Apparently not.

For any of you without school-age children in the family, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, which years ago were considered “boys subjects.” When I heard the Alive Center, which has locations in Naperville, Aurora and Hanover Park, is working hard to attract more girls to their science programs even while schools are out for the summer, I wanted to find out more…”

To read the entire article, click here: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/naperville-sun/opinion/ct-nvs-decent-column-st-0703-20220701-4y543c7emfhp5cziwj7jd4jsca-story.html

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“After seven successful years in Naperville and a second location added in Aurora, the Alive Center for Teens is expanding once again; this time to Hanover Park. There it will operate after school programs on Tuesdays and Thursdays for students in grades 6 through 12. The Center provides an unstructured environment with various available activities as a counterweight to the structured environment of school. The new location is at 1211 Catalina Drive in a space owned by the Greenwood Tanglewood Homeowners Association, who partnered with the village of Hanover Park and DuPage Habitat for Humanity to make the expansion possible. A ceremonial ribbon cutting was held today.”

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