The City of LaSalle Foundation’s mission is to support community and economic development with an eye toward creative, sustainable growth that acknowledges LaSalle’s rich history and robust natural resources and prioritizes social and economic justice. The Foundation’s immediate projects are addressing the lack of affordable and reliable childcare for working parents and establishing a safe and empowering youth center for adolescents. Other initiatives under consideration are projects related to public safety, concerns about clean water and supporting the arts community. The Foundation anticipates completing a comprehensive community needs assessment in 2023 and the outcomes of this assessment will inform its priorities through the strategic planning process.
Founder and Executive Director Dani Piland said “This Foundation comes after many years of working with other passionate, dedicated people who pour their hearts and souls into this community. Our mission is clear – bring this town together to create the kind of beautiful, dynamic, vibrant hometown we all know LaSalle can be.” The Foundation’s initiatives are informed by community needs, productive working relationships with stakeholders and a collaborative approach that permits them to respond to persistent problems with thoughtful, innovative and evidence-based solutions. They are committed to improving the lives of our youth, LGBTQIA+ community, BIPOC folx and the working poor, who together represent a significant majority of our local population.
The first fundraiser for the City of LaSalle Foundation is Quiet Fest on June 2nd-3rd, 2023. Quiet Fest is an Arts and Music festival that features musicians, visual artists, comedians, filmmakers and others in venues across the city of LaSalle. The event supports local artists and businesses and provides opportunities for community members to engage directly with creative content and explore the arts. A well-known event of this type is the Alternating Currents festival in the Quad Cities (https://www.alternatingcurrentsqc.com/).
The Foundation can be found on Facebook at /cityoflasallefoundation. For questions, or to make a donation or get involved, please email Dani Piland at [email protected].
