We are deeply grateful for your unwavering support throughout 2024. Your generosity made it possible for us to provide 64 Annual Grants and 11 Recovery Fund Grants that positively impacted thousands of children and adults in Highland Park and Highwood. Click the image below to explore the tangible difference your contributions made in expanding opportunities and addressing unmet needs within our community.
Your continued support plays a crucial role in building a more inclusive and thriving community, enriching the lives of all residents, and strengthening the resources that empower our neighbors to overcome adversity and reach their full potential.
Join us in making a lasting impact.
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As 2025 comes to a close, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks for your incredible support. Your generosity has fueled meaningful progress this year—strengthening local nonprofits, supporting families, and helping us build a stronger Highland Park and Highwood.
Yet even with this strength, conversations with our partners show that many residents are experiencing increasing hardship.
- Families are facing rising childcare costs, housing instability, food insecurity, and increased need for basic essentials.
- Seniors are worried about food insecurity as well.
- Federal, state, and local funding for nonprofits continues to decline, even as needs grow.
- Significant uncertainty surrounds new Medicaid work requirements, changes to the ACA, and other shifts in funding.
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2020 HPCF Golden Apple Award Recipients!
Josh Chodoroff, Nairy Hagopian, Katarina Tolemy
in 2010, the Highland Park Community Foundation established the HPCF Golden Apple Award to recognize outstanding teachers in the Highland Park school systems. The HPCF is forever grateful to former Chairman, Board member, and Advisory Board member Andy Livingston for initiating the award, which became a signature program of the Foundation under his leadership.
HPCF Golden Apple Award nominations are made in a K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 rotating cycle. A selection committee, composed of exemplary educators, administrators, and former Award recipients, evaluates the extensive applications and completes full-day teacher observations. A final recipient of the Award is then chosen based on instruction, content knowledge, student and staff interaction, and contribution to school and community.
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Fun Outdoor Entertainment Your Whole Family Will Enjoy!
Since its inception, the Highland Park Community Foundation has financially supported and promoted creativity at a grassroots level by investing in recurring festivals, events, and programs that promote arts and cultural participation, celebrate diversity, foster connections, and provide creative experiences for residents of all ages. These activities benefit individuals and families and build a better and stronger community.
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“It is my privilege to use my mind, heart, and time to make my class safe and productive for learning. I do everything I can to help [my students] prepare to create their own future. I hope that they are as fulfilled with what they choose and I am being a teacher.”
Miriam Schuman, Special Education Teacher, Northwood Middle School
In 2010, the Highland Park Community Foundation established the HPCF Golden Apple Award to recognize outstanding teachers in the Highland Park School systems. Under the leadership of former Chairman, Board member, and Advisory Board member Andy Livingston, the award became a signature program of the Foundation.
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We are proud to welcome Shellé Jewelers as our 10th Corporate Champion. The relationship between the HPCF and local businesses has been an essential component of the work we accomplish each year, and our new partnership with Shellé Jewelers brings additional and exciting opportunities for the coming years.
Shellé Jewelers is a third-generation family-owned business with an impactful presence in the North Shore area. Since its inception, Shellé Jewelers has been committed to the giving spirit through fundraisers and donations that support local organizations. By becoming a HPCF Corporate Champion, Shellé Jewelers has extended its philanthropic hand to directly benefit the Highland Park/Highwood community.
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September 29, 2023
6:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Binny’s Beverage Depot, Highland Park
Incredible Food & Drink Provided by Wonderful Local Restaurants
28 Mile Distilling, Backyard Grill, BellaRu Catering, Bent Fork Catering, Binny’s Beverage Depot, Bluegrass, Carol’s Cookies, The Chunky Scone,
The Claim Company, Donã Paty’s Restaurant,
Long Grove Confectionery Co., Maria’s Italian Bakery & Caffe,
Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar, Once Upon a Bagel, Tamales…A Mexican Joint, Viaggio Highland Park
Festive Community Celebration
Exciting Raffle Prizes
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We are Honored to Introduce ASHLEY KELLY and CERE WOODS, New Members of HPCF’s Governing Board of Directors!
Raised in Highland Park, Ashley has always been a strong advocate for community and helping neighbors.
Cere and her husband, Tom, chose to put down their roots in Highland Park in 2020. They and their two children love living here and being part of this vibrant community!
We Proudly Recognize KATERINA SHUTMAN, Recipient of the 2024 HPCF Personal Achievement Award!
Each year we recognize a graduating Highland Park High School senior with the HPCF Personal Achievement Award. The award honors a student who perseveres despite obstacles or a disability, works hard, serves as a positive influence, and thrives in the school environment. This year’s recipient, Katerina Shutman, possesses each of these qualities and more!
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Last week, we shared our Impact Report, celebrating the meaningful progress we’ve made together in supporting Highland Park and Highwood’s most vulnerable neighbors. Your generosity fueled that success—and we are deeply grateful.
But as we continue our mid-year check-ins with our nonprofit partners, we’re hearing about new and growing challenges that call for our attention, compassion, and action.
Recent policy changes, economic uncertainty, and funding disruptions are making it even harder for local families to access the resources they need. Our grantees are reporting:
Threats to Essential Programs
Frozen or eliminated federal grants and potential Medicaid cuts are putting long-standing programs at risk—including those focused on affordable housing, food insecurity, early childhood education, and care for our most vulnerable residents.
Increased Fear & Barriers to Access
Concerns related to immigration status and newly mandated language restrictions are preventing residents from seeking critical help—especially for mental health, housing, and domestic violence services.
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As we begin 2026, we do so with deep gratitude and a clear sense of both progress and purpose. Thanks to your generosity, 2025 was a milestone year for HPCF, with $1,012,240 in grant awards distributed to organizations working every day to improve and enhance lives throughout our community.
We also enter the new year with new Board leadership, renewed momentum, and the distinction of being re-certified as a Qualified Community Foundation under the Illinois Gives Tax Credit Act — allowing individual and business donors to receive a 25% state tax credit for donations to the Foundation. More information follows below.
At the same time, we know many of our neighbors are facing increasing challenges. Economic pressures are growing, people are losing health insurance, and SNAP benefits are being cut. Funding for nonprofits continues to tighten as well. While we remain hopeful about the year ahead, your continued support — at the start of and throughout the year — will be essential to sustaining the vital work of the local nonprofits we support.
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