Improving Lives in Lake County’s Latinx Community

Holly Kerr has been actively engaged with the CLC Foundation as a donor, friend and board member since the mid-1990s. Throughout her life, she has developed a philanthropic passion to “provide opportunity for people who wanted to improve their lives.” Her leadership and generosity has helped hundreds of CLC students pursue an education and develop the leadership skills necessary to thrive in today’s marketplace.

Holly’s association with CLC began when she and her husband formed the Roy G. Kerr Foundation shortly before his death in 1994. Their desire was to provide educational opportunities and leadership development, primarily for young people in Lake County’s Latinx community. One of the first public events the couple’s foundation held was on CLC’s Grayslake campus. Holly met the CLC Foundation executive director at the time, who invited her to be on the board—and she has been a member ever since.

From the beginning, Holly’s intention was to spend the resources they set aside, and not to run the Kerr Foundation forever. She remarked, “We wanted to use the money to advance the mission, and then be done! Spend the money sooner and focus on immediate need. Support those in great need—today!”

During her career as a teacher and business executive, Holly began helping Latin American immigrants secure work visas, and currently funds a scholarship for undocumented students attending CLC. She remembered fondly her work with DACA students after President Obama signed the DREAM Act in 2012. She volunteered to help students fill out their paperwork, and said, “I will never forget the looks on their faces. That’s why I do this work!”

Even though Holly wound down the Kerr Foundation last year, she continues to give generously from her personal resources in support of educational opportunities. She is a dedicated board member who works hard to make higher education a reality for deserving students.

Your support creates opportunities for students at CLC. Contact John Butler at (847) 543-2713 or jbutler3@clcillinois.edu to learn how you can create a legacy that changes lives.