July 31, 2025

Over Half of Rockford’s Violent Crimes Tied to Domestic Violence: Gemini Solar Awards Grants to Local Organizations Tackling the Crisis

WINNEBAGO COUNTY, IL — Domestic violence crimes account for more than 50% of all violent crimes in the City of Rockford, and in Winnebago County, domestic violence affects nearly 1 in 3 households. These challenges underscore the urgent need for community support in domestic violence, mental health, and the judicial system.

In response, Gemini Solar is proud to award its Q2 community grants to seven impactful organizations serving this and other vulnerable populations in Winnebago County:

• Prairie State Legal Services
• YMCA of Rock River Valley
• Family Counseling Services
• Life Decisions
• 205 Direct Dental Service
• Severson Dells Nature Center
• Boy Scouts of America, Black Hawk Area Council

Among these, a $2,500 grant will support the YMCA’s Camp HOPE America, the first camping and mentoring initiative in the U.S. specifically designed for children exposed to domestic violence. The funding will enhance its “Challenge by Choice” program, which empowers children through a six-day immersive experience and year-round mentoring ensuring more children have access to the tools they need to break the cycle of violence.

During the recent grant presentation, Winnebago County Board Member Angela Fellars joined Gemini Solar in celebrating the critical work and success of Camp Hope.

“It was epic! You can’t say that about many things in life, but it’s the only word I can use, epic,” said Paula Capone, Camp Hope Manager describing this year’s week of camp. “If you don’t have hope, you have despair. Hope is everything.”

Family Counseling Services, now in its 145th year serving the greater Rockford community, never turns away a client due to an inability to pay.

“The grant will be put to immediate use helping clients facing financial hardship,” said Executive Director Lynn Momberger. “You are truly making a meaningful difference in their lives.”

“These organizations are doing extraordinary work on the ground,” said Anne-Marie Williams, Director of Community Relations for Gemini Solar. “From legal advocacy and mental health care to youth mentoring and nature education, each one is ensuring that all the members of our community can thrive. We are proud to support their efforts.”

Since launching the Gemini Solar Community Grant Program, we’ve proudly supported a range of impactful nonprofits across the region, including Northwest Community Center, Remedies Renewing Lives, Rockford Women’s Club, Golden Apple Foundation, Lifescape Community Services (Meals on Wheels), Family Peace Center, Gigi’s Playhouse, Northern Illinois Food Bank, and Rosie’s Birthday Club.

The Gemini Solar Community Grant Program offers quarterly funding between $500 and $5,000 to nonprofits in Winnebago County. Applications for Q3 grants are open until September 15.

To learn more or apply, visit https://www.gemini-solar.com/grant-program/

About Gemini Solar

Our mission is to create a more sustainable future through utility-scale solar energy development. We are intentional about giving back, providing educational opportunities, and building partnerships within our rural and farm communities to ensure that future.
For media inquiries, contact Anne-Marie Williams at annemarie.williams@geenexpower.com

YMCA of Rock River Valley, Camp Hope: Angela Fellars, Anne-Marie Williams, Paula Capone, Adam Czamanske, Director of Development for Gemini Solar, and Megan Freeman-Larson, Grant Specialist

205 DDS: Dr. Cyrus Oates, Anne-Marie Wiliams, and Becky Kendall, Board Secretary

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Contact: Mars Rinaldi
815-962-5585
mars@familycounselingrockford.org

Rockford, IL– Family Counseling Services of Northern Illinois (FCS) is thrilled to announce it has been awarded a generous grant of $33,321.00 from the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois. This funding will support the implementation of the organization’s proposal, titled “Enhanced Individual and Group Experiential Therapy.”

The grant will be utilized to provide subsidized therapy for underserved clients in the community, ensuring access to high-quality mental health services. Specifically, the funds will allow FCS to provide 75 individual clients with four therapy sessions each and 25 clients with eight hours of group therapy.

In addition to direct therapy support, the grant will be used to enhance the therapeutic environment at FCS. Investments will include the purchase of supplies that foster creativity, emotional expression, and healing, such as musical instruments; art supplies; role-play props; therapeutic games, toys, and books; and comfortable furnishings for therapy spaces.

“This grant will empower us to provide more inclusive, experiential therapy options that help individuals and groups heal in innovative ways,” said Lynn Momberger, Executive Director of FCS. “We are incredibly grateful to the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and the Dr. Louis & Violet Rubin Fund for recognizing the importance of accessible mental health care and experiential therapy.”

Experiential therapy focuses on engaging clients through creative, hands-on activities that deepen emotional processing and strengthen self-expression. By expanding access to these innovative methods, FCS continues its mission to promote mental wellness and resilience in the Rockford community.

The mission of Family Counseling Services is to foster stronger communities by providing individuals and families with accessible, professional counseling and mental health care that empowers them to thrive. Learn more at www.familycounselingrockford.org.

The mission of the Community Foundation of Norther Illinois is to inspire endowment and promote philanthropy for the current and future needs of the people of Northern Illinois. Since its founding in 1953, CFNIL has granted more than $90 million for charitable purposes. Learn more about CFNIL’s history, grantmaking, and commitment to endowment at www.cfnil.org.

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Contact: Mars Rinaldi – Project Manager
815-962-5585

ROCKFORD, IL., May 7- Family Counseling Services of Northern Illinois is pleased to announce two new members of its Board of Directors with the appointment of two accomplished individuals, Stacy Lidvall and Angela Schmidt. Their expertise and proven track records within the nonprofit arena will enhance the board’s strategic vision. As Family Counseling Services continues its trajectory of growth and dedication to its mission, the addition of Ms. Lidvall and Ms. Schmidt reflect FCS’ continued commitment to service in the Rockford/Northern Illinois communities.

Stacy Lidvall is a resident of Rockford, and has been an active community volunteer for nonprofit organizations for several years. Already an invaluable member of FCS’ events committee and co-chair of the Dancing with the Rockford Stars event, she has also served the community with the Margaret M. Rudolph Trust, the Amanda Reed Memorial, Rockford Symphony Orchestra, Rockford Catholic Schools, and Rockford Lutheran Schools. Her expertise in fundraising, event planning, and networking is a valuable asset to FCS and the community as a whole. Together with partner Gabriel Chappell, Stacy is an active parent of six children.

Angela Schmidt, PhD was a licensed psychologist for 20 years, with a strong background in counseling. A native of the Midwest, Angie is now a certified life coach, helping people and groups take control of their lives with her company, Potentialocity. Her areas of expertise are interconnected with the mission of FCS, with skills such as solution-focused therapy, domestic violence response, advocacy, and personal development among many other things. Angie has served on the Womanspace and Girls Scouts of Northern Illinois boards, as well as with NICNE and Transform Rockford. Angie and her partner Mike Delaney enjoy travel and camping together, and supporting family and friends.

Currently serving on the Family Counseling Services Board of Directors are Stan Goral, President; Jennifer Paterson, Vice President; Heather Riley, Secretary; Laurie Fester, Treasurer; Dawn Reints, Immediate Past President; and board members Rose Dusing, Mary Jo Hare, Becky Hopper, Mike Peyton, Sue Razbadouski, Brian Temperly, Zachary Townsend, Paul VonDriska and Marcia Williams.

The mission of Family Counseling Services is to foster stronger communities by providing individuals and families with accessible, professional counseling and mental health care that empowers them to thrive.
Learn more at www.familycounselingrockford.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ROCKFORD, IL- Family Counseling Services of Northern Illinois is proud to announce that they have been awarded a $15,000.00 grant for “Expanding the Reach of Experiential Therapy.” This grant was awarded by the Dr. Louis and Violet Rubin Fund of the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ Community Grants Program.

The proposal put forth from FCS, entitled “Expanding the Reach of Experiential Therapy” sought funding to enhance the equipment, furnishings, and therapy tools used in the existing Experiential Therapy room opened at Family Counseling Services’ Rockford location in May of 2023. Experiential Therapy is a category of therapeutic techniques in which expressive tools and activities are used to allow clients to re-enact and re-experience emotional situations as a way to reprocess them. Some forms of Experiential Therapy include art, music, movement/dance, poetry, guided imagery, play therapy, drama/role-playing, and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). In addition to therapy equipment and tools, the funding will also help pay for sessions for clients who are experiencing difficulty with treatment costs.

FCS Clinical Director Kelly Finch is thrilled to see this expansion coming to life. “Having this space dedicated for both adults and children to engage in alternative types of therapy is exciting for both our therapists and our clients. We will be able to offer opportunities to work on problems and issues through art, dance, poetry, drama and music. We are excited to have a space that we can engage clients in using expressive therapies toward their healing. Each and every one of us is different; and when you offer a client a chance to express themselves through creativity, you give them an opportunity to feel seen and heard. This is a very powerful way to heal in therapy and can provide a deeper level of witnessing a client’s experience and emotions.”

“We are grateful for the funding from CFNIL in support of our Experiential Therapy room and service” says FCS Executive Director Lynn Momberger. “Many clients are better able to communicate about the mental health issues they are facing when engaged in the activities of experiential therapy. We’ve seen excellent results with art therapy, play therapy, music therapy, and sand tray therapy; especially with children. We want to provide more clients with opportunities for additional types of experiential therapy, and this grant will allow us to do that.”

The mission of the Community Foundation of Norther Illinois is to inspire endowment and promote philanthropy for the current and future needs of the people of Northern Illinois. Since its founding in 1953, CFNIL has granted more than $80 million for charitable purposes. Learn more about CFNIL’s history, grantmaking, and commitment to endowment at www.cfnil.org.

Family Counseling Services’ mission is to foster stronger communities by providing individuals with accessible, professional counseling and mental health care that empowers them to thrive.. Learn more at www.familycounselingrockford.org.

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We are saddened to share the news that Cathy Riplinger, one of our therapists, passed away on February 24.

Cathy was a compassionate and skilled social worker and a wonderful woman who touched the lives of many. She was an integral part of the FCS team, committed not only to helping clients but to sharing her knowledge and mentoring her colleagues. Cathy’s family has planned a memorial service to be held at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, IL on May 22. Guests are welcomed at 9:30 am, with the service beginning at 10am. In remembrance of the many contributions Cathy made to our community, we’d love you to honor her legacy by doing a special act of kindness.

She will be greatly missed.

You can find Cathy’s obituary at:

Cathy Riplinger Obituary – Visitation & Funeral Information (dupagecremations.com)

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March 15, 2021 – Family Counseling Services, a nonprofit mental health resource and counseling center serving the Northern Illinois area since 1877, has announced the selection of Lynn Momberger, as its new executive director.

“We are very pleased to announce this appointment,” reported Dawn Reints, FCS Board President. “Lynn brings leadership and professional nonprofit development experience to FCS’ agency services.  She has worked as Director of Development at two local nonprofits, and has a breadth of experience to share with our clients.”

Mombergers’s resume includes experience in both manufacturing and service sectors, in both for profit and nonprofit.  Most recently Lynn was Director of Development with Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois.  Before Girl Scouts, Lynn was Director of Development at Discovery Center Museum for five years.  Prior to her career in fundraising Lynn spent 15 years in executive search and recruiting for the Furst Group in Rockford where she recruited several professionals for the not-for profit sector.

“I look forward to serving as the Executive Director as FCS continues to serve the area’s mental health service needs,” states Momberger.  “FCS has a long history of providing quality, affordable mental health counseling to the community, with an emphasis on serving those without means.  I’m dedicated to this mission because it provides real impact on the overall health of our community.”

Family Counseling Services is a 501(c)3 organization providing counseling, psychotherapy and family life education to individuals and families in Winnebago, Boone and Ogle counties in Illinois.

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