The Aura FoundationAugust 2026 This Month at a Glance As summer continues, we're excited to share the latest updates from The Aura Foundation, celebrate the impact we've made together, and highlight upcoming opportunities to connect, learn, and prioritize wellness. A Message from Our Executive DirectorAs we welcome August, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported The Aura Foundation. Whether you've made a donation, volunteered your time, attended an event, or shared our mission with others, you are helping us create meaningful change in our community. This summer has been filled with exciting milestones, including the launch of our Self-Care Sundays initiative. Thanks to the generosity of our donors and volunteer practitioners, we're expanding access to affordable wellness experiences and creating spaces where individuals can slow down, heal, and connect. As we continue to grow, I invite you to take part in our upcoming programs, prioritize your wellbeing through our community wellness offerings, and save the date for our official Launch & Learn Community Business & Resource Expo this October. Together, we're removing barriers, building stronger communities, and creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. Thank you for being part of this journey. Jen Mendoza Executive Director The Aura Foundation  Upcoming Foundation Events + ProgramsThe Aura Foundation Launch & Learn Community Expo Join us for the official launch of The Aura Foundation at our Launch & Learn Expo, a unique experience bringing together business, wellness, and community under one roof. It will be held on October 2, 2026, from 10- 2 p.m. at the Prisco Community Center in Aurora. Connect with local businesses and nonprofit organizations, explore wellness activations, enjoy a community luncheon, and gain insights from leaders in entrepreneurship, financial empowerment, mental health, and personal growth. Be part of a movement dedicated to strengthening our community through connection, education, wellness and opportunity. Sponsorship & Exhibitor opportunities are limited.  InspiHER Aligned & Thriving Business Retreat  The Aligned & Thriving Business Retreat is your opportunity to elevate your leadership, refine your strategy and grow your business. Join us, on September 2 from 1-5pm, for the final event in the 2026 InspiHER Aligned & Thriving 2-Part Series, a transformative 4 hour retreat created for ambitious women ready to lead, grow, and thrive with purpose, clarity, and intention. Through meaningful connection and practical strategies, you'll leave feeling renewed, empowered, and equipped to cultivate lasting success in both your personal and professional life, without sacrificing your wellbeing. Thank you to Maritza Rodriguez of American Family Insurance for sponsoring! Limited sponsorships remain and early bird pricing ends today! InspiHER Global: The World at Our Table We are excited to announce the launch of InspiHER Global, a new series that celebrates the rich cultures, traditions, and stories of women from around the world. InspiHER Global creates a space for women to proudly represent their heritage, share their unique experiences and how it shapes the work they do, and foster meaningful cultural connections within the community. Watch a sneak peek here. Thank you to our Event Sponsor Am Perfect Spa, located in Pacifica Square, in Aurora.  Foundation News & AnnouncementsHealing | Growth | Leadership The Aura Foundation First Awarded Grants!Earlier this year, the Aura Foundation NRP officially began its journey with a vision to make wellness more accessible, strengthen our communities, and create pathways for healing, leadership, education, and opportunity. In just a few short months, we’ve been humbled by the support of the Dunham Foundation, the Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, and most recently a $265k R3 grant from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). These investments fuel our mission to make wellness accessible to those who need it most and build pathways into care careers to help our community continue to grow. With support specifically from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, we can expand our work in restoration, reinvestment, and renewal, creating opportunities where they're needed most across our communities. Thank you for believing in our vision and standing with us as we continue building a future where healing, growth, and leadership are within reach for all.  Candid Platinum Seal of TransparencyThe Aura Foundation has been recognized with the 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, a distinction awarded to nonprofits that demonstrate a strong commitment to openness and trust. This recognition reflects our dedication to sharing our progress, measuring our impact, and stewarding every contribution with care. We are grateful to our community of supporters, whose partnerships allow us to continue creating accessible opportunities for healing, learning, leadership, and connection. Learn more about our impact and view our Candid profile here.  Meet Our Newest InternsWe are thrilled to welcome Isabelle, Leylani, Maria, and Pearla to The Aura Foundation team! Throughout their internships, these young women have played an important role in supporting community outreach, partnership development, event planning, administrative operations, program initiatives, and foundation communications while gaining valuable hands-on experience in the nonprofit sector. Their passion, creativity, and dedication have already made a meaningful impact as we continue advancing our mission to strengthen wellness, leadership, education, and community connections. We are proud to support their professional growth and look forward to seeing all they accomplish. Thank you, ladies, for being part of The Aura Foundation family!     Influential Women RecognitionCongratulations to our Executive Director, Jen Mendoza, on being recognized as an Influential Woman of 2026! The Influential Women award honors women who are making a meaningful impact through leadership, innovation, mentorship, service, and their positive influence within their organizations and communities. This recognition reflects Jen’s commitment to leading with purpose, empowering others, and creating opportunities that strengthen individuals and communities alike. Through her vision, dedication, and passion for service, she continues to inspire those around her and make a lasting impact. Learn more about her story here. We are incredibly proud of Jen and this outstanding achievement!  Free & Donation Based ProgrammingSelf-Care Sundays Self-Care Sundays is our free monthly wellness program dedicated to making healing, self-care, and holistic wellness more accessible to our community. Through free wellness workshops and donation-based healing sessions, participants can explore practices such as meditation, stress management, sound healing, Reiki, and other holistic wellness offerings. Our goal is to create a welcoming space where individuals can learn, recharge, and prioritize their wellbeing without financial barriers.  Community Yoga  Take time to relax, reset, and recharge at the upcoming Free Community Yoga sessions. Open to the entire community and welcoming all experience levels, this class offers a supportive space to practice mindfulness, movement, and self-care. Join us for an hour dedicated to your wellbeing. We look forward to seeing you there! Our Work in ActionJuly 2026Self-Care Sundays Guided Theta Breathwork with Bridget Rose  Last month, we were excited to host our very first free Self-Care Sunday Community Wellness Workshop. Led by Bridget Ramirez, participants experienced a Guided Theta Breathwork session featuring a breathwork demonstration, Theta Meditation, Reiki, and guided journaling. Together, these practices created a welcoming space for reflection, relaxation, and healing as attendees connected with themselves and one another. Watch how the experience went here. We're looking forward to continuing the Community Wellness Workshop series on August 9 with our next free event focused on Nervous System Regulation led by Dr. Yakima Palmer. We hope you'll join us! Self-Care Sundays Community Healing Session Our first Self-Care Sundays Community Healing Session welcomed 14 community members for an afternoon of rest, reflection, and healing. Through private Reiki sessions led by volunteer practitioners, participants experienced a supportive space to slow down, recharge, and prioritize their well-being. Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, and helped make this event such a meaningful success. Self-Care Sundays Community Healing Sessions are held on the last Sunday of every month, and we hope to see you at our next session on August 30. Community Yoga  The community continues to show up to utilize our free Community Yoga classes. Community members came together for an evening of movement, mindfulness, and connection. Through gentle stretches, balance-building poses, and relaxing guided meditation, participants were invited to slow down, recharge, and nurture both body and mind. We look forward to continuing to make wellness more accessible through our free yoga classes each month. Watch a recap of one of our recent classes here. Community PartnershipsGive Something Back  Last month, we were pleased to welcome Susan Brown from Give Something Back for a check-in with our team and interns. It was a wonderful opportunity to share The Aura Foundation's progress, discuss future initiatives, and strengthen our partnership in creating meaningful workforce development opportunities for the youth. We are grateful for Susan's ongoing support and shared commitment to investing in the next generation of leaders.  Congressmen Bill Foster  Our team had the opportunity to meet Congressman Bill Foster to share The Aura Foundation's vision for building healthier, more connected communities across Illinois' 11th Congressional District. We discussed the impact of our work in mental wellness, leadership development, and community programming, while exploring opportunities for future collaboration. We look forward to continuing the conversation and welcoming Congressman Foster's office to our Launch & Learn Expo this October. Community Spotlight We're excited to welcome Graceful Therapy as one of The Aura Foundation's newest community partners. With offices in Aurora and Oswego, Graceful Therapy provides compassionate, evidence based counseling for children, teens, adults, couples, and families. Their experienced team supports individuals navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions, relationship challenges, and more, creating a welcoming space where healing and personal growth can flourish.
To learn more about Graceful Therapy and the services they provide, please visit here. Volunteer Opportunites If you are interested in hosting a workshop, volunteering as a practitioner, sponsoring a session, or donating to support this community program, please reach out to us at hello@theaurafoundation.org. Ways to Get InvolvedThere are many ways to support the Aura Foundation's mission: Donate Every contribution helps us continue serving our community. Volunteer Share your time and talents with those who need it most. Attend Events Participate in upcoming programs and fundraisers. Become a Sponsor Partner with us to create meaningful community impact. Spread the Word Follow, share, and engage with us on social media. Connect With UsAura Foundation 1242 North Eola Road, Aurora, Illinois |
