

2024 in Review: A Year of Milestones, Growth, and Community Impact
3 Jan 2025As we enter 2025, we want to take a moment to reflect on the milestones and achievements of the past year that have made a meaningful difference in Highland Park and Highwood. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our Board members, and the vital services provided by the organizations we support, Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) has been able to address many of the community’s unmet needs. Looking forward, we are excited for another year of kindness, community spirit, and impactful change.
The Foundation kicked off the year by recognizing Highland Park’s police, firefighters, and public works staff for their tireless efforts. Our MLK Day of Service Project brought together local children, Board members, and community volunteers to create and deliver care packages to these dedicated public servants. This annual project provides a fun opportunity for the Foundation and the entire community to express our gratitude for the essential work these individuals do to keep Highland Park and Highwood safe, beautiful, and welcoming for all residents.


May was a month of exciting events, starting with Cocktails and Conversations, which brought together members of HPCF’s three boards, our grantees, Corporate and Foundation Champions, and several leaders from Highland Park and Highwood. In May, we also had the privilege of honoring Highland Park High School (HPHS) physical education teacher Sarah Douglas with this year’s HPCF Golden Apple Award, and HPHS graduating senior Katerina Shutman with the HPCF Personal Achievement Award.


Throughout 2024, HPCF saw internal growth, with both the Governing Board and Associate Leadership Council (ALC) welcoming new members. “We were thrilled to welcome Cere Woods and ALC co-chair Ashley Kelly to the Governing Board mid-year, and Bonnie Mervis and Tami Gilbert in the late fall,” noted Laurie Levin, HPCF Board Chair. The ALC also expanded in 2024, bringing on Ken Sabino, Andrew Sigesmund, and Zachary Harris, with Eric Zoberman also rejoining the board. With these additions, the ALC updated its mission statement to better guide its social, community service, and fundraising goals. In the spring, the Foundation also welcomed Steve Schapiro as the new Director of Philanthropy, bringing years of philanthropic experience and fresh ideas to our organization.
In early summer, the Foundation distributed a second round of Recovery Fund grants, totaling $127,500, to organizations continuing to address the needs of community members impacted by the Highland Park shooting. Funding for these grants came from individual donors, corporate matches, participants in the June Highland Park Half Marathon, 5K, and 1-mile races, as well as the November Highland Park Turkey Trot, and the August Rock the Ride for Gun Violence Prevention.
For Board members, the summer was filled with grant work. After the July 15 application deadline, they spent weeks reviewing submissions, meeting with applicants, and making important funding decisions. Their dedicated efforts led to the awarding of $873,075 in Annual Grants to 65 organizations—a significant increase from the previous year’s total of $784,825. These grants, which support nonprofits addressing the needs of Highland Park and Highwood residents, were distributed in October at The Art Center Highland Park, a long-standing HPCF grantee.
The summer was also filled with great music at Food Truck Thursdays and the Wednesday Ravinia Farmers Market in Jens Jensen Park, both of which were supported by HPCF funding. Additionally, we participated in Highwood’s Evening Gourmet Market and Highland Park’s National Night Out.
In September, the Foundation hosted its fifth annual Gather for Good fundraising event, raising nearly $260,000. The event was generously hosted by Binny’s Beverage Depot in Highland Park, where guests enjoyed a fun and lively evening, with food graciously provided by 25 local restaurants. Pablo Alvarez was honored with the 2024 Jack Blane Community Service Award for his unwavering dedication to improving the community, from his work as a Highland Park High School guidance counselor to his service as a Moraine Township Trustee. We could not think of a more deserving candidate.


In the fall, the Foundation also co-hosted “The Art of Communication,” the seventh seminar for nonprofits sponsored by HPCF in partnership with First Bank of Highland Park and the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce. During this seminar, a distinguished panel of experts shared valuable insights, tools, and strategies to help nonprofits communicate more effectively with their audiences and advance their missions.


Lastly, in 2024, we made a small but meaningful change that underscores our longstanding commitment to both Highland Park and Highwood. After more than thirty years of serving residents from both zip codes, we updated our logo to include the subline Strengthening Highland Park and Highwood since 1992. This addition “reinforces our commitment to addressing the unmet needs of both communities while also highlighting the Foundation’s role as a unifying force between them,” explained Laurie.



2024 was a banner year for HPCF, marked by significant milestones, deeper community engagement, and meaningful internal growth. We awarded more Annual Grants and provided more funding than ever before, participated in and hosted events that brought both residents and grantees closer together, and experienced positive changes within the Foundation that will help us continue to serve the community effectively. As we look ahead, we are excited to build on this momentum. We will continue to seek new ways to deepen our partnerships and ensure we are meeting the evolving needs of Highland Park and Highwood, further strengthening our impact.