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BOARD MEMBERS for 2021-2022
Chris Zion, Club President
 Tom Graceffa, Immediate Past Pres. 
TBD, Vice President 
Brian Thor, President Elect
 Bill Redig, Treasurer Larry Lazzerini, Secretary
Joshua Sherman, Sergeant at Arms Francesco Collura, Charities Board Pres.. Dayton Smith, Accountant
Tom Gustafson, At Large Board Member
 Tom Grimes, At Large Board Member Greg Lundquist, At Large Board Member
MESSAGE FROM OUR CLUB PRESIDENT - CHRIS ZION 2021-2022
I wanted to reach out to our members, as well as those who serve on our board, and say Thank You for the opportunity as well as the faith you have in me to be nominated as President. I joined the Rockford Cosmopolitan Club in 2010 after having attended several events over the years. I was inspired by the people involved and the overall attitude of giving back to the community in their fundraising efforts. I still feel that same pride and I am still inspired, in fact even more so today, by a select number of individuals who continually contribute countless hours over the year to make us successful. To them I say Thank You as well. There is simply no doubt in my mind that we have become a recognizable charity club in the Rockford region.  In fact, I will say the best charity organization in Rockford, especially when you consider the $600,000 we have granted to Crusader Health over the last 20 years, the endowment that we have with the Northern Illinois Community Foundation, and the fundraising that on average raises $100,000 plus for our community and local non profits. We are truly a force to be reckoned with and I am honored to be your President for the next year. I am sure we all agree that our local entities truly need financial support after 2020.

To be a President of the club, most individuals spend a number of years working their way through the chairs and running/ assisting fundraising events. You get to see the club from the inside and what makes us successful. This leads me to my ask of our members, we need your help. To continue to grow and support our wonderful causes, I am asking you to get involved. Make time to attend lunches, support our charitable causes, attend a social event or two or, and here is the most important ask, think of joining the board or running a charitable event. We need your help and don’t be surprised if I walk up to you and ask you to be more involved. Maybe you’ll surprise me with a request to do so. I would love to have that happen. We have some open board positions that I’m hopeful others will ask to fill and I have intentionally done so with that expectation. Maybe you are that next person who has been thinking of it and we didn’t know you were the one. You, to be the future President of the best group of charitable minded individuals in the Rockford area. Thank you for being a member and I look forward to representing the club this year; not only at the International Convention, but throughout the year at all of our events.

Here is to our 2021-2022 year and all of its successes!

Chris Zion
President 2021-2022
2021 Grant Recipients
 
Rockford Cosmopolitan Club
2021 Grant Recipients - $47,807!
 
2021 Cosmo Charities Board
Funded
Rockford Barbell
900
YMCA of Rock River Valley
2500
Rockford Rescue Mission
2000
Rock House Kids
1500
The Pregnancy Care Center of Rockford
1680
Northern Illinois Food Bank
2000
Stepping Stones of Rockford
1500
Barbara Olson Center of Hope
2500
Boy Scouts-Blackhawk Area Council
1165
Crusader Community Health
10000
GiGi's Playhouse Rockford
1705
Youth Services Network
1000
Rosie's Birthday Club
1500
Carpenter's Place
2050
 
 
Total Grants Awarded 2021
32000
 
 
Crusader Health- Cosmopolitan Intl.
$8,500
Community Foundation Endowment
$7,307
Total All Grants 2021
$47,807


Team Cosmo Participates in the Polar Plunge for 2nd Year in a Row
For the second year in a row, our Team Cosmo participated in the Polar Plunge, which is a fundraiser specifically for Special Olympics.  Our team led the local fundraiser for donations raised.  We are super proud of our Cosmo Team!  Thank you to Chris Zion for helping organize this event for interested Cosmos.  See the video below:
Major General Borling
We had the pleasure of hosting our lunch on 2/8/18 with Major General John Borling as your headlining speaker.  We had an awesome turnout and it was indeed a great time to hear him speak to our club once again.  Here is the audio of his presentation:
 
BECOME A MEMBER
The Rockford Cosmopolitan Club is committed to finding a cure for diabetes, supporting our region through annual grants, growing our endowment with the CFNIL for the long term while promoting through social and fundraising events. 
 
Click Here for the New Member Application.
 
 
[MEMBERS ONLY] RECEIVE UPDATES BY TEXT MESSAGE
We Cosmo's work hard to raise a significant amount of money every year for local causes.  Our Grant Awards Presentation is where we show them the money. 
 
UPDATE LIST FOR GRANT APPLICANTS
 
Cosmos, please take a moment and consider any charities you may know that would be worthy recipients, and have their main contact fill in their charity information below.
 

Register for Updates from Our Charities Board

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We are now keeping a database of all charities that are interested in our grant process.  Our Charities Board will use this new database to keep in better touch with those organizations.
 
The new grant application for 2021 is an online form, and can be submitted by CLICKING HERE. 
 
Completed grant applications are due by NOON on March 31, 2021.
MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
Anniversaries:
  • Tom Grimes
    Laurel Grimes
    January 5
Join Date:
  • Keith Kruchten
    January 3, 2018
    4 years
  • Kenneth Wolowiec
    January 6, 2015
    7 years
  • Kevin Kjellstrom
    January 6, 2015
    7 years
  • Gordon Eggers
    January 8, 2020
    2 years
  • Matthew Gabel
    January 8, 2018
    4 years
  • Peter Junor
    January 8, 2018
    4 years
  • Joe Geraghty
    January 9, 2018
    4 years
  • Nunzio Pace
    January 9, 2019
    3 years
  • Earl Smith
    January 10, 2000
    22 years
  • Chad Bauer
    January 12, 2017
    5 years
  • Matthew Marshall
    January 12, 2017
    5 years
  • Tim Huff
    January 12, 2018
    4 years
  • Andy Bowen
    January 14, 2015
    7 years
  • Ryan Meseck
    January 15, 2009
    13 years
  • Justin Lang
    January 16, 2020
    2 years
  • Brad Hatfield
    January 18, 2018
    4 years
  • Brandon Johnson
    January 18, 2018
    4 years
  • Dana Kiley Jr.
    January 18, 2001
    21 years
  • Daniel Clark
    January 18, 2001
    21 years
  • David Tartaglia
    January 18, 2018
    4 years
  • Dean Svarc
    January 18, 2018
    4 years
  • Joseph Marte
    January 18, 2018
    4 years
  • Russell Dennis
    January 18, 2001
    21 years
  • Luis Delgado
    January 19, 2017
    5 years
  • David Meyer
    January 25, 2007
    15 years
  • Jeffery Makeever
    January 25, 2007
    15 years
  • Michael Purin
    January 25, 2007
    15 years
  • Mike Spoden
    January 25, 1983
    39 years
  • Rick Swansbro
    January 25, 2007
    15 years
  • Adam Palmquist
    January 28, 2020
    2 years
  • Jamie Wasemiller
    January 28, 2008
    14 years
  • Tony Saladino
    January 28, 2016
    6 years
  • Gary Caruana
    January 31, 2014
    8 years