The Moraine Valley Foundation recently received a $14,000 donation from the Orland Park Kiwanis Club to expand scholarship opportunities for students in Career Programs. Benefiting students in programs such as Heating and Air Conditioning, Automotive Technology, Automation and Engineering Technology and Welding, the funds help pay for tuition, fees, books, tools and class supplies.
“Students in our Career Programs are using fewer typical classroom supplies and more on-the-job tools. While this prepares students for the working environment right away, they often bear the financial burden upfront, which can make students hesitant to pursue these programs,” said Patti Mehallick, director of Alumni and Annual Programs for the Foundation. “Donations like this help students surmount the costs of the program and give them confidence to succeed.”
Devoted to supporting children in the local community, the Orland Park Kiwanis Club is a volunteer service group that organizes multiple fundraising initiatives in the area. In addition to funding scholarships, the Orland Park Kiwanis Club supports the Crisis Center for the South Suburbs, Ronald McDonald House Charities, the VIP Service Dog Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and more.
Over the past eight years, the Orland Park Kiwanis Club has provided similar donations to the Foundation, helping more than 100 students through scholarships. This donation will fund scholarships for 28 Career Programs students beginning in the fall 2026 and spring 2027 semesters.
鈥淥rland Park Kiwanis Club鈥檚 donations focus on where we can have the greatest impact on people or organizations with the greatest needs,鈥 said Larry McGrenera, president of the Orland Park Kiwanis Club. 鈥淲e hope that the scholarships we provide to Moraine Valley students hit that target and look forward to the students growing our gift to pay it forward in the future, once they land a job in their chosen field. We would love to see them become the next generation of Kiwanians at our club or other ones throughout the world.鈥
Scholarships through the Moraine Valley Foundation are awarded based on a variety of qualifications, including outstanding academic or personal achievement, financial need, leadership skills and community involvement.
For more information, contact Mehallick at (708) 974-5551 or mehallickp@morainevalley.edu.
For news media inquiries, contact Joshua Lahey, Moraine Valley communications specialist, at (708) 974-5652 or聽laheyj5@morainevalley.edu.
