The Dunham Foundation is committed to providing positive, multi-generational support to all individuals and families in its service area. This support lays the groundwork for successful generations to come and builds an infrastructure for a community where all can thrive. The Dunham Foundation invests in the following three areas: education, economic growth and community.
To pay tribute to the community he flourished in, John C. Dunham’s mission when creating the foundation is to “make the world a more comfortable, safer place for mankind to live and prosper.”
These scholarships honor Dunham Foundation retired board members who carried out John’s vision conceived in 1996.
Dunham Foundation Scholarship Fund in honor of Janet B. Morcos
The Dunham Foundation created a scholarship fund in honor of Janet B. Morcos, past Board Member of the Dunham Foundation. This scholarship is available to graduating seniors of East Aurora High School or Marmion High School and students in their undergraduate program who have graduated from one of the above high schools.
Janet B. Morcos was an elementary educator at West Aurora School District for 31 years. She made sure her students had enriching experiences beyond the classroom and took them on field trips to Disney on Ice, Brookfield Zoo, train, and boat rides in Chicago, and shows at the Paramount Theatre. Part of the learning experience for students was to sell enough World’s Finest Chocolate Bars to cover expenses for the field trips. Janet wanted the students to know that with hard work, comes reward.
She and her husband, Jack, enjoyed a long friendship with John C. and Judy B. Dunham. Janet fulfilled his board position upon Jack’s passing until her retirement in 2013.
Dunham Foundation Scholarship Fund in honor of Jacob “Jack” N. Morcos
The Dunham Foundation created a scholarship fund in honor of Jacob “Jack” N. Morcos, past Board Member of the Dunham Foundation. This scholarship is available to graduating seniors of East Aurora High School or Marmion High School and students in their undergraduate program who have graduated from one of the above high schools.
Jack N. Morcos was a successful businessman who built a formidable commercial insurance agency who insured school districts, park districts, construction companies, and large social service agencies throughout Chicagoland.
John C. Dunham and Jack enjoyed spending time talking about the nuances of entrepreneurship and ownership. John admired Jack’s grit for moving to the United States at 17 years old, by himself, and with minimal understanding of the English language. Like John, Jack’s enthusiasm to learn, enabled him to master the English language coupled with his strong work ethic, provided the foundation for his success and willingness to support many in need during his lifetime.
Dunham Foundation Scholarship Fund in honor of Judy Behrens Dunham
The Dunham Foundation created a scholarship fund in honor of Judy Behrens Dunham, past board member of the Dunham Foundation. This scholarship is available to graduating seniors of SD 129, SD 131, SD 302. GED Recipients that attended high school in one of the above school districts or Non-Traditional students in undergraduate program that is going back to school and graduated from one of the above school district high schools are also eligible.
John C. Dunham, along with his wife, Judith “Judy” Behrens Dunham, envisioned a structure for supporting nonprofit organizations in the greater Aurora area. Both felt fortunate to live, work, and thrive in Aurora. They each, individually and together, supported many educational and service organizations.
Judy Dunham was born in Aurora, spent her childhood in Yorkville, and completed high school in Oswego. In 1958, she graduated from the Copley School of Nursing, where she worked for many years in intensive care, pharmacy, and in private duty. Judy felt pride in serving on the Dunham Foundation board and creating the Dunham Foundation with her husband, John, knowing the positive impact of financial support on the nonprofits who serve vulnerable neighbors in the Dunham Foundation Service Area.
Learn more about John C. and Judy B. Dunham’s legacy.
Dunham Foundation Scholarship Fund in honor of Wendy Prussian Hirsch
The Dunham Foundation created a scholarship fund in honor of Wendy Prussian Hirsch, past Board Member of the Dunham Foundation. This scholarship is available annually to one student pursuing a graduate degree in a mental health field. Recipients living in Aurora, North Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, Elburn, La Fox, Sugar Grove, Montgomery, and Oswego are eligible. Students must show financial need and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5.
In 1975 Wendy was asked to sit on the Welcome Committee in her subdivision which was Chaired by Judy Behrens Dunham. It was a wonderful opportunity to welcome new neighbors to the area, to let them know about the community, to provide them with maps of the entire area, and, in many cases, to give them the chance to meet some of their new neighbors.
This positive break also provided Judy and Wendy with a great chance to get to know each other. Their friendship spanned 27 years and cemented a wonderful relationship.
When Judy and John decided to start the Dunham Fund (later changed to the Dunham Foundation) they invited 5 people to sit on the first Board of Directors. Wendy was very flattered to have been one of those initial Board members and stayed on the committee until her retirement in January 2023.
Wendy had the amazing benefit of the Dunham’s wisdom during many hours of discussion about their ideals and how they wanted their gift to be distributed in the future to help those in need.
Wendy’s background in the working world as a property manager for 35 years and as a financial analyst for Dun and Bradstreet for 6 years helped her to understand what the Dunham’s goals for the future were and how to honor them with the gifts that the Foundation could provide to help their service area.
Wendy will always be happy for the chance meeting with Judy that brought so much laughter and happiness into her life!
