Meeting with others interested in seeding ‘the now’ for a rich harvest in the future, there’s a quiet force at work here in Byron. The focus? Ensuring that the future of the community’s children is brighter, better, and filled with opportunity. I had the opportunity to sit down with Michelle Albert to learn more about her work through the Byron Foundation and how it has made a significant impact on the lives of countless students and educators over the years.

Michelle’s journey to Byron began 25 years ago when she and her family moved to the community from Zion, Illinois. Her husband worked for the nuclear power plant in Zion, and when it closed, the family had a choice—move to a larger town or come to Byron, a small town with a strong school system. The decision was easy.

“The schools drew us here,” Michelle says, recalling how the community and the school district made their transition smooth for their eighth-grade son at the time. “We quickly found our place here, and it was the best decision we made.”

Today, Michelle is deeply involved with the Byron Foundation, an organization established in 1992 by a group of forward-thinking community members. Their mission is to raise funds and give grants to educators for projects and programs that fall outside the school district’s budget. The foundation was created with foresight, knowing that the tax revenue from the local nuclear plant wouldn’t last forever. The foundation’s goal was simple but profound—provide enrichment opportunities for students that the regular school budget couldn’t cover. Michelle explains, “The Byron Foundation helps bridge the gap. It allows educators to apply for grants that provide opportunities and experiences beyond the standard curriculum.”

The foundation supports initiatives that span from early childhood education to high school programs, offering grants to any staff member who has a vision for enhancing students’ learning experiences. “It’s not just teachers who can apply,” Michelle emphasizes. “It could be the librarian, the band instructor, or any staff member. If their project enhances education and benefits the students, we’re interested.”

One of the standout programs the foundation recently supported is the “United Sound Band Program,” which pairs special needs students with general education students to help them learn to play an instrument. It’s a program that fosters not only music education but also empathy, inclusion, and confidence. “It’s about much more than just music,” Michelle says. “It’s about giving every student a chance to shine and learn together.”

The Byron Foundation has given over $200,000 in grants. “Over the years, there have been fifty board members who have dedicated time and resources raising money for our children. In addition to traditional savings options, we decided in 2017 to focus on long-term planning and sustainability. We established the Byron Foundation Endowment Fund, providing a reliable source of income in perpetuity. It shows the solidity and permanence of the The Byron Foundation and our continued commitment to the educational excellence of the Byron School District,” Michelle says. The Foundation’s work doesn’t stop at funding these programs. They also manage about $35,000 in funds for other individuals and groups who want to give back to the community through scholarships.

One of the most important aspects of the foundation’s work is its focus on sustainability. “We don’t just fund things indefinitely,” Michelle explains. “We want to give programs a strong start, but we also encourage educators to find other ways to sustain their projects in the long term. It’s about teaching the man to fish, not just giving the fish.”

For Michelle, giving back to the community is deeply personal. Having raised her family in Byron and benefited from its schools, she feels a responsibility to help ensure that future generations have the same opportunities. “We came here for the schools,” she says, “and now we get to give back. It’s our moral obligation to use our skills and talents to help others.”

It’s clear that Michelle’s dedication to the Byron Foundation goes beyond just attending meetings and signing checks. She’s passionate about the impact that the foundation has on the community, and she’s committed to its future success. With a binder full of notes, articles, and records from the foundation’s 32-year history, Michelle is always ready to discuss what’s been done—and what’s next.

“We’ve come a long way, but there’s always more to do,” she says. “Whether it’s funding a new program, managing scholarships, or helping the community understand the importance of what we’re doing, we’re here to make sure Byron’s students have every opportunity to succeed.”

Michelle Albert and the Foundation Board members are not just stewards of funds—they are stewards of the community’s future, helping to build a foundation for success, one grant at a time.