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(From left) Albert M. Zari, and Deborah Armah and Patrick Collins, two Fox Valley residents
who have benefited from Zari’s legacy of supporting local students’ pursuit of higher education. 📸 Credit: Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley
Although Albert M. Zari never made it past eighth grade, he went on to build a construction company, help lay the runways at O'Hare Airport, and spend his retirement doing woodworking at his St. Charles home.
Before he died in 2014, he made sure that kind of opportunity would exist for the next generation. Now, a $6.6 million transfer of assets from his foundation, which is administered by the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, is keeping that promise alive.
Here's what to know:
Who Zari was: Born in Chicago, Zari completed an electrician's apprenticeship after eighth grade, served in the Navy in World War II, and eventually founded A.M. Zari Construction Company. He became a St. Charles resident and directed that a scholarship foundation be established upon his death aimed at giving others the educational opportunities he never had.
Who it helps: The fund is open to students from Batavia, Geneva, St. Charles, Kaneland, Oswego, Sycamore, DeKalb, Yorkville, and Plano school districts — covering high school seniors, college undergrad and graduate students, and trade school students. Eligible fields include nursing, engineering, agribusiness, computer science, pre-med, finance, and several others. Awards go up to $5,000 per year, with a total maximum of $20,000 per recipient.
What's been given so far: Since the fund launched in 2015, more than $6.9 million in scholarships have gone to 348 area students. The new $6.6 million transfer ensures the fund keeps running well into the future. Deborah Armah, a 2025 Yorkville High School grad now studying nursing at Lewis University, is one of those recipients. Patrick Collins, a Kaneland alum, used his award to pursue agribusiness at Illinois State University.
How to apply: One application covers all funds administered by the Community Foundation. The 2027-28 application goes live at cffrv.org in November 2026.
According to the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, the Albert M. Zari Scholarship Fund is among more than 500 community-sourced scholarship funds created by Fox Valley-area donors.
“Last spring, a record $3.4 million was awarded to 569 students, ranging in age from 16 to 47 years old, for use over the next four years, all thanks to the generosity of Fox Valley residents,” said Beth Christoffel, Director of Scholarships. “Each scholarship has a story behind it and is a reminder to never underestimate the positive impact an individual or group can have on helping their fellow residents build better futures.”
Since its founding in 1948, the Community Foundation says it has awarded more than $30.7 million in scholarships to area residents. Zari's fund is one of hundreds with a specific story behind it.
📖 Thanks for reading
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