Highland Park Neighbors Magazine Articles

For decades, Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) has supported organizations that strengthen the fabric of the Highland Park and Highwood community. Among its many areas of focus, early childhood education remains a cornerstone of the Foundation’s grantmaking — an investment not only in young children but in the long-term well-being of the entire community.

“Highland Park Community Foundation prioritizes early childhood education because it lays the groundwork for lifelong learning, health, and empowerment,” said HPCF Board Member and Grants Committee Co-Chair Alyssa Knobel. “Research shows that investments in the earliest years have a lasting impact not only on individual children and families, but on the overall strength and resilience of the community.”

Alyssa also noted that the Foundation’s work is strengthened by the commitment of local nonprofit partners. “We’re continually inspired by the dedication and innovation of our local organizations. It’s a privilege to help steward resources toward programs that are both responsive to community needs and focused on long-term impact.”

HPCF Board Member and Grants Committee Co-Chair David Reich echoed the importance of this work. “Getting kids started at an early age is beneficial not only for them but for the community,” he said. “Early education helps children develop socially and academically while also supporting families. It’s been an essential part of the Foundation’s work for many years.”

Through annual grants and long-standing partnerships, HPCF supports several organizations providing high-quality early childhood education and care, including the Tri-Con Child Care Center, Highland Park Community Early Learning Center, JCYS George W. Lutz Family Center, and Family Focus Highland Park.

Tri-Con Child Care Center

Founded in 1971 following a community needs assessment that identified subsidized childcare as a major gap in services, Tri-Con Child Care Center was created through a partnership between the National Council of Jewish Women, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and Trinity Episcopal Church. Since then, the center has remained committed to providing affordable early childhood education for families who live or work in Highland Park and Highwood.

“Families have always treasured what education can mean for their children,” said Executive Director Pam Feinberg. “But historically there weren’t many places for working families to send their children because most programs charged the full cost of care.”

Support from HPCF helps Tri-Con maintain its scholarship program so children can attend regardless of their family’s financial circumstances. “Whether someone can pay one dollar or one hundred dollars a month, the Foundation’s funding helps us make our scholarship program work,” Pam said.

Like many nonprofits, Tri-Con has also experienced financial pressures in recent years. While its state contracts remain in place, payments can sometimes arrive later than expected, creating temporary funding gaps. At the same time, families are feeling the impact of rising everyday costs.

“Our families are affected by the same things everyone else is seeing — higher grocery prices and other rising expenses,” Pam noted. “Fortunately, the community has been incredibly supportive, with local organizations and volunteers helping provide groceries and other essentials for families when needed.”

Highland Park Community Early Learning Center

The Highland Park Community Early Learning Center has been serving local families since 1951 and will soon celebrate its 75th anniversary. The nonprofit preschool provides fullday, year-round care for children ages two through five and holds the State of Illinois’ highest quality designation.

A defining feature of the center’s mission is its commitment to access. Development Director Alex Costelle explained that Lake County is often described as a “childcare desert,” meaning there are far more young children than there are spaces in licensed childcare facilities.

“There are thousands of children under five in the county but only a fraction of the licensed childcare spaces available,” Alex said. “That means preschool can become inaccessible for many families.”

To address that challenge, the center reserves two-thirds of its enrollment for children receiving scholarship assistance, much of which is supported by HPCF grants.

In recent years, demand for that assistance has grown. “We’ve seen a rapid increase in families asking for scholarship support,” Alex shared. “Between inflation and changes in the broader economy, more families need help covering the cost of childcare than we’ve ever seen before.”

HPCF support has also helped the school expand enrichment opportunities, including the launch of a bilingual music program that introduces children to songs and activities in English and Spanish.

JCYS George W. Lutz Family Center (JCYS)

JCYS has served young people and families for more than a century. The organization began expanding its early childhood programming in the 1970s as more parents entered the workforce, and its Highland Park location has been a hub for families since 1979.

Today the center serves approximately 180 children each year through early childhood education and day camps. “We see generations of families come through our programs,” said CEO Samantha Jakubowski. “There are parents who attended JCYS as children and now have their own kids enrolled here. That kind of connection really speaks to how deeply rooted the program is in this community.”

HPCF support has helped JCYS provide scholarships and fund specialized services such as a child and family development specialist who assists families with developmental concerns or life transitions.

Samantha noted that economic shifts can affect the families and staff the center serves. “Many of our families are dual-working households, and when the broader economic environment becomes uncertain, people feel that in different ways,” she added. “Support like HPCF’s helps ensure that children and families receive the care and resources they need.”

Family Focus Highland Park

For more than four decades, Family Focus has supported parents and young children in Highland Park and Highwood through programs designed to strengthen families and reduce isolation.

“Originally, the goal was to create a place where families could connect and support one another,” said Bobbie Hinden, Director of the Family Focus Highland Park Center. “That sense of community remains central to our work today.”

Over 90 percent of the families served by the Highland Park center are low-income, Spanish-speaking households. In recent months, some families have faced additional uncertainty related to employment, immigration concerns, and economic pressures.

“We’ve seen families needing more support with basic necessities — things like food, rent assistance, diapers, and clothing for children,” Bobbie explained. “In some cases, family members are hesitant to leave home or have experienced disruptions to employment.”

Support from HPCF helps the organization adapt to these evolving needs. Grants provide funding for supplies, professional development, and community programming that might otherwise fall outside traditional funding sources. “The Community Foundation’s support really allows us to respond to families in meaningful ways,” Bobbie added. “We’re incredibly grateful for that partnership.”

Investing in the Future

For HPCF’s Board, the work of these organizations illustrates how early childhood education benefits not just individual families but the community as a whole. “Many children would not be able to participate in these programs without scholarship assistance,” David Reich emphasized. “Reaching families who need support at this age is incredibly important. These programs help children learn, grow, and become part of the community from the very beginning.”

Through partnerships with dedicated nonprofits and ongoing support from donors, HPCF continues to invest in early learning as a pathway to stronger families, thriving children, and a resilient community. As Alyssa reflected, “When we invest in young children today, we’re investing in the future of Highland Park and Highwood for generations to come.”