Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center After-School and Summer Tutoring & Mentoring Programs
346 Taft Avenue, Suite 205, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
About
Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center After-School and Summer Tutoring & Mentoring Programs offer after school tutoring, mentoring, and other after school programming, as well as summer programs. Students take part in activities that enrich learning. The program also hosts events that have face-painting, snow cones, games, raffles, auctions, international food trucks, and live music.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center (GECRC) offers out-of-school programming that empowers under-resourced K–12 students to meet state and local standards for academic and social-emotional learning, involves students in activities that enrich learning, and connects families to schools and other resources necessary to support student success and well-being. The organization provides cost-free tutoring and mentoring through after school and summer programs for under-resourced children in grades K–12, with a focus on low-income children attaining core literacy and social-emotional skills and assistance for English Language Learner (ELL) students as they integrate into the community. GECRC’s organizational pillars are described as mutually empowering, resourceful, and advocacy-focused.
The Glen Ellyn Community Resource Center opened in April 2002 and later developed into the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center. GECRC and CCSD89 (D89) have partnered to open a new GECRC site in D89, and District 41 has a partnership with GECRC. GECRC is among the area’s most active nonprofits, assists ELL students as they integrate into the community, and connects students and families to additional community resources.
The leadership team includes Sarah O'Donnell as Executive Director; Lizzy Doty as Associate Director of Program and Volunteers and Park View Elementary Site Lead; Lisa Hepner, MSW, as Volunteer Coordinator; Gayle Rueter as Administrative Assistant; Laura Ulepic as Development Manager; and Emily Lobdell as Communications and Volunteer Outreach Coordinator. Site and program staff include Karla Kampen, Churchill Elementary Site Lead; Sean Heupel, Jayden Dixon, Troy Burrows, and Arjumand Fatima, Classroom Coordinators at Churchill Elementary; Sophia Garcia, Classroom Coordinator at Churchill Elementary; Hamna Khan, Program Aide at Churchill Elementary; Cheryl Sammer, Lincoln Elementary Site Lead; Alejandra Ponce, Program Aide at Lincoln Elementary; Mayra Kulik and Katie Pelayo, Hadley Junior High Site Leads; Katie Reed, Classroom Coordinator at Hadley Junior High; and Meghan Sedlacek, Glen Crest Middle School Site Lead. Additional support roles include Cho Pyone as Burmese Translator. The board includes Alan Taylor (Board President), Jodi Herbold (Board Vice President), Kim Laubinger (Treasurer), Becky Gasaway (Secretary), and directors Jen Dietzler, Nell Gallagher, Penelope Johnson, Erica Nelson, Evelyn Rodriguez, Catherine Voigt, Karen Winter, and Madeleine Winter. Lisa Hepner holds an MSW.
GECRC marks milestones and community support through events such as its 20th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser “Dare to Dream,” which features an auction, raffle, international food trucks, and live music, and a GECRC Family Fun Day with face-painting, snow cones, games, and a raffle. In testimonials, Executive Director Sarah O’Donnell states that she is honored to be joining the team at GECRC and working side-by-side with neighbors across the community to ensure all children in Glen Ellyn are able to reach their fullest potential. Board President Alan Taylor expresses gratitude for six years of leadership by outgoing Executive Director Leah Harding and states that Glen Ellyn is a healthier and more vibrant community because of her work bridging the opportunity gap for under-resourced students. Leah Harding shares that she is continually impressed and inspired by the students’ educational journeys, that it has been an honor to be part of many students’ lives and to live and work in a generous and impactful community, and that “We’ve done so much good together!”
Last updated February 5, 2026.
• Ages: 5–18 years old
Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center (GECRC) offers out-of-school programming that empowers under-resourced K–12 students to meet state and local standards for academic and social-emotional learning, involves students in activities that enrich learning, and connects families to schools and other resources necessary to support student success and well-being. The organization provides cost-free tutoring and mentoring through after school and summer programs for under-resourced children in grades K–12, with a focus on low-income children attaining core literacy and social-emotional skills and assistance for English Language Learner (ELL) students as they integrate into the community. GECRC’s organizational pillars are described as mutually empowering, resourceful, and advocacy-focused.
The Glen Ellyn Community Resource Center opened in April 2002 and later developed into the Glen Ellyn Children’s Resource Center. GECRC and CCSD89 (D89) have partnered to open a new GECRC site in D89, and District 41 has a partnership with GECRC. GECRC is among the area’s most active nonprofits, assists ELL students as they integrate into the community, and connects students and families to additional community resources.
The leadership team includes Sarah O'Donnell as Executive Director; Lizzy Doty as Associate Director of Program and Volunteers and Park View Elementary Site Lead; Lisa Hepner, MSW, as Volunteer Coordinator; Gayle Rueter as Administrative Assistant; Laura Ulepic as Development Manager; and Emily Lobdell as Communications and Volunteer Outreach Coordinator. Site and program staff include Karla Kampen, Churchill Elementary Site Lead; Sean Heupel, Jayden Dixon, Troy Burrows, and Arjumand Fatima, Classroom Coordinators at Churchill Elementary; Sophia Garcia, Classroom Coordinator at Churchill Elementary; Hamna Khan, Program Aide at Churchill Elementary; Cheryl Sammer, Lincoln Elementary Site Lead; Alejandra Ponce, Program Aide at Lincoln Elementary; Mayra Kulik and Katie Pelayo, Hadley Junior High Site Leads; Katie Reed, Classroom Coordinator at Hadley Junior High; and Meghan Sedlacek, Glen Crest Middle School Site Lead. Additional support roles include Cho Pyone as Burmese Translator. The board includes Alan Taylor (Board President), Jodi Herbold (Board Vice President), Kim Laubinger (Treasurer), Becky Gasaway (Secretary), and directors Jen Dietzler, Nell Gallagher, Penelope Johnson, Erica Nelson, Evelyn Rodriguez, Catherine Voigt, Karen Winter, and Madeleine Winter. Lisa Hepner holds an MSW.
GECRC marks milestones and community support through events such as its 20th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser “Dare to Dream,” which features an auction, raffle, international food trucks, and live music, and a GECRC Family Fun Day with face-painting, snow cones, games, and a raffle. In testimonials, Executive Director Sarah O’Donnell states that she is honored to be joining the team at GECRC and working side-by-side with neighbors across the community to ensure all children in Glen Ellyn are able to reach their fullest potential. Board President Alan Taylor expresses gratitude for six years of leadership by outgoing Executive Director Leah Harding and states that Glen Ellyn is a healthier and more vibrant community because of her work bridging the opportunity gap for under-resourced students. Leah Harding shares that she is continually impressed and inspired by the students’ educational journeys, that it has been an honor to be part of many students’ lives and to live and work in a generous and impactful community, and that “We’ve done so much good together!”
Last updated February 5, 2026.
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