About the Hunter Family Foundation
Our Mission
The Hunter Family Foundation is a public charity dedicated to helping others do well.
Our focus is on assisting individuals fill the gap that exists in their pursuit of higher education. We partner with post-secondary institutions & organizations to help people fulfill their educational dreams.
Our Vision
We envision a future where people in need have access to resources and support to achieve their educational goals and make a positive impact in their families and communities.
Our Story
After years of successful careers in corporate America, recently retired couple, Ellery and Nina Hunter, began to reflect on the privileges that were afforded to them through faith and education. They realized that they were blessed to be a blessing. They also recognized that the favor they experienced extended to their two daughters, Andrea and Adrian. The four of them each had various skills that could be used to make an impact–namely in strategy, finance, organizational management and creativity.
While the family was already giving their time, talent and treasure in their community, they asked themselves, ‘What more is God calling us to do?’
Aware of the stark disparities in education and opportunity that exist in their community, they all felt a deep responsibility to do more. So one Sunday evening in 2023 during a family dinner, they came together and pledged to pool their efforts and resources into establishing the Ellery and Nina Hunter Family Foundation, dedicated to helping others do well.
Ellery Hunter
Chief Executive Officer
Ellery is the Chief Executive Officer, providing strategic direction, leading fundraising efforts, and managing partner relationships to fulfill the Foundation’s mission “to help others do well”. He retired in 2021 from a successful 33-year corporate career focused on labor-management relations. Ellery serves the community as a trustee of his Alma mater Calumet College of St. Joseph, and as a board member and volunteer mentor of SAFE (a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting families with shelter). A life-long learner, Mr. Hunter is a published Christian author, a graduate divinity school student and has served for many years as a minister in the local church.
Nina Hunter
Chief Financial Officer
Nina is the Chief Financial Officer, ensuring that all financial matters with the Foundation meet the highest standards of integrity, accountability, and regulatory compliance. Mrs. Hunter retired in 2022 from a distinguished 36-year corporate career as a senior leader in various disciplines, including operations and finance. She is the long-time Board Chair of the Quad County Urban League and also serves as the Treasurer of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Glen Ellyn Area Alumnae Chapter. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Purdue University, West Lafayette, and an M.B.A. From Northern Illinois University and is a CPA.
Andrea Bovan
Chief Operating Officer
Andrea Bovan is the Chief Operating Officer, using her drive, communication and project management skills, to provide oversight to all areas of the Foundation to guarantee goals are achieved aligned with the mission of the organization. Andrea is a dynamic Operations Leader at an Illinois utility company with experience in logistics, marketing and customer & public relations. Mrs. Bovan, a wife and mother of two young boys, also serves her community as a volunteer mentor with SAFE (a non-profit organization dedicated to assisting families with shelter) and as the Board Chair of her company’s African American Employee Resource Group. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
Adrian Hunter
Chief Marketing Officer
Adrian Hunter is the Chief Marketing Officer, leading the branding and marketing strategy for the Foundation. Since 2018, Adrian has used her creative eye and talent for writing to publish five novels, and run her own art business. She has cultivated a life of service, in college at Howard University leading their Alternative Spring Break Chicago project, working for 1 year post graduation with Americorps followed by 6 years working as a middle school teacher for Chicago Public Schools. She currently works in public event coordination for a large Chicago non-profit, and volunteers for a mentoring organization for young girls on the South and West sides of Chicago. Adrian earned her Bachelor of Arts in English from Howard University as well as a Masters of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University.
"Education remains the key to both economic and political empowerment."
-Barbara Jordan
Calumet College of St. Joseph
GAP Scholarship
The God Always Provides (G.A.P.) Scholarship, was established in the fall 2024 at Calumet College of St. Joseph as a resource to help students who face a financial gap after all financial aid and scholarship awards have been applied towards their tuition. Its purpose is to assist students in clearing any balance that is keeping them from registering for the next academic semester. The scholarship may be used to cover any institutional costs including tuition, books, fees, and housing.
Upcoming Opportunities
With our mission in mind to help others do well, we are committed to working with post-secondary institutions and organizations in the future to expand our scholarship opportunities. We will also host various campaigns and fundraisers to support those in need to assist in fulfilling their educational aspirations.