Some leaders spend their careers making history. Others spend their lives opening doors so that others can follow. Mrs. Dorothy Brown Cook did both.

Her journey from a modest upbringing in Minden, Louisiana, to becoming an Attorney, Certified Public Accountant, and the longest serving Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County is a powerful testament to what discipline, perseverance, and education can create. She rose through barriers that once seemed insurmountable and carried countless people along with her through her commitment to equity, service, and excellence.

The Dorothy Brown Scholarship and Community Development Fund was created to honor that legacy and extend it to the next generation. This Giving Tuesday, your support helps students and emerging leaders gain access to education, mentorship, and community centered opportunities that mirror the values Dorothy lived every day.

A Mission Guided by the Power of Education and Service

Dorothy believed that education is a life changing tool that creates possibilities far beyond the classroom. She and her seven siblings all became first generation college graduates, proving that access to learning can lift entire families and communities. Her personal story of working through high school and college while excelling academically reflects the resilience, focus, and determination that the Fund seeks to nurture in today’s youth.

Your Giving Tuesday contribution supports scholarships for students who show promise, leadership, and a desire to uplift others. It helps young people who remind us of Dorothy’s journey: hardworking, committed, and ready to make an impact.

A Legacy of Innovation and Public Service

Dorothy did more than lead. She transformed the systems entrusted to her. Through her vision, the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office modernized decades old operations, strengthened financial accountability, and created customer centered services that saved taxpayers millions. Her reforms improved access to justice and demonstrated how integrity and innovation can reshape public institutions.

The Fund carries this forward by supporting individuals preparing for careers in public service, law, business, technology, and community development. Each scholarship and mentorship opportunity reflects Dorothy’s belief that leaders must be both skilled and compassionate, both strategic and community minded.

Expanding Equity. Creating Opportunity. Strengthening Communities.

Beyond scholarships, the Fund invests in initiatives that build stronger neighborhoods and empower underserved communities. Support goes to programs that expand access to resources, promote civic engagement, and widen pathways to achievement.

Your Giving Tuesday gift helps fuel:

• Scholarships for students in need
• Mentorship for emerging professionals
• Leadership development grounded in accountability and service
• Community based initiatives that advance equity and opportunity

These efforts help create a future shaped by fairness, education, and progress.

A Giving Tuesday Gift That Honors a Life of Purpose

Supporting the Dorothy Brown Scholarship and Community Development Fund is an act of gratitude for a life dedicated to justice, innovation, and community advancement. When you give, you are helping to raise leaders who will carry Dorothy’s values into courtrooms, classrooms, boardrooms, and communities across the country.

Your generosity tells a young person:
You deserve a chance to learn. You deserve a chance to lead. You deserve a future filled with possibility.

This Giving Tuesday, help continue a legacy built on excellence, service, and the belief that every person has the potential to rise when given the opportunity.

Dorothy Brown Scholarship & Community Development Fund

By United Federal Grants Clearinghouse (Fiscal Sponsor: Abundant Charities)

Dorothy Brown Scholarship & Community Development Fund

Invest in the Legacy of Leadership, Education, and Opportunity

Team Members