Immediately after the July 4, 2022, Highland Park Parade shooting, the Highland Park Community Foundation established the Highland Park Shooting Response Fund and the Together Highland Park Unidos Committee to manage the donation distribution process.
The Fund was closed on October 7, 2022, to facilitate the distribution of its assets. In accordance with the Committee’s Final Protocol, at the end of October, the Committee distributed a total of $5.8 million, 100% of the funds raised. Of the total, $5.22 million was allocated to individual claimants and $580,000 to community organizations that provided mental health and other services for impacted community members. The grantmaking process for organizations was managed by the Highland Park Community Foundation.
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We have been thinking a lot lately about what it truly means to be a community.
We have diverse lifestyles and viewpoints to be sure, but come together with the common goal of helping neighbors we know and many we do not. We take care of one another, in tragedy and in triumph. In Highland Park and Highwood, that spirit of community has shined brightly time and again.
The Highland Park Community Foundation harnesses that spirit to address unmet needs and expand opportunities for all Highland Park and Highwood residents. For more than three decades, the generosity of our donors and the relationships we’ve built with over 60 organizations have uniquely positioned the HPCF to identify where help is needed most and provide it through grant funding to nonprofits.
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HPCF’s Board of Directors is excited to announce its award of 65 grants totaling $873,075 to organizations* dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for Highland Park and Highwood residents. We express our heartfelt gratitude to all our grant recipients for their invaluable contributions to our community, as well as to the generous donors and the City of Highland Park whose support made these grants possible.
These grants will support programs and services that address the educational, human service, creative, and cultural arts needs of young children, teens, families, adults living alone, individuals with disabilities, and seniors. By addressing their diverse needs, these resources will help expand opportunities for all residents and foster a thriving community.
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Mesirow Renews Platinum-Level Commitment
We’re proud and deeply grateful to share that Mesirow has renewed its five-year pledge at the Platinum Corporate Champion level—continuing its extraordinary commitment to the residents of Highland Park and Highwood.
As a valued longtime partner of the Foundation, Mesirow’s renewed investment reflects its strong desire to help address the evolving needs of our community. With headquarters in Chicago and a local office in Highland Park, Mesirow is strongly rooted in the area. As an independent, employee-owned financial services firm, it combines a personalized approach to helping clients achieve their financial goals with a strong sense of responsibility to the communities it serves.
We are truly honored by Mesirow’s renewed partnership and grateful for their unwavering belief in our mission. Their support helps us sustain the vital programs and services that improve lives and strengthen our community.
Learn more about how corporate partners like Mesirow are shaping a stronger future for our community.
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The Coronavirus presents serious challenges for our community.
Thankfully, as we have learned from Highland Park City Manager Ghida Neukirch, a group is meeting weekly and communicating daily about COVID-19 emergency preparedness and community response. This group consists primarily of government representatives from Highland Park, Highwood, and Deerfield; School Districts 109, 112, and 113; Moraine Township and Lake County; and representatives from NorthShore University Health System. Each entity is also in communication with several state agencies, Ravinia Festival, local property owners and businesses, Family Service of Lake County, the Chamber of Commerce, and others, including the Highland Park Community Foundation. As information is developed it is brought back to the community partners group for their consideration and possible action. The extent to which everyone is
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That is likely to be the case for some time. Indeed, our latest round of funding requests exceeded all previous rounds in both number and dollar amount.
To address continuing urgent needs the HPCF Board just approved a 5th round of emergency grants.
We have now provided nearly $170,000 to help our community. There is more we need to do, however, to address COVID-related needs, including:
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SEARCH NO MORE! Use the QR code below or click here to support our year-end appeal and DOUBLE your impact!
A local family foundation is matching, through the end of the year, all new gifts and increases in total donation amounts from gifts made in 2020, up to a total of $25,000!
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Over the past seven weeks, our community has stepped up in such a big way to support those who were impacted by the 4th of July shooting. While we recognize and work to alleviate the grief and sorrow, we also want to recognize the good in our community that flows from the strength and love of our friends and neighbors.
We are, therefore, resuming our annual tradition and will Gather for Good on Friday, September 23rd, at Binny’s Beverage Depot. We hope you will join us as our event takes on special meaning this year.
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A New View of Your Impact
For 31 years, we’ve been asking you to support our efforts to address unmet needs in our community. As the needs have evolved, we’ve been able to count on the consistent and incredible generosity of so many.
You’ve allowed us to lead with impact, and we want to renew our efforts to share that impact with you. Our new, monthly newsletter will be a way to tell you about the individuals and organizations whose work you make possible.
We hope you enjoy your brand new Community Catch Up.
Funding Areas
In 2022, the Highland Park Community Foundation distributed 63 annual grants – totaling $746,925 – to organizations that provide invaluable programs and services to residents in our community. In future editions of Community Catch Up, we will highlight the impact of specific organizations. In the meantime, we are excited to let you explore our 5 funding categories. To see a list of the grantees within each category, click on the images below.
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In our final Community Catch Up of the year, we are excited to share news about Highwood Library and four of our other 2023 Grant Recipients. We also offer you a second bite at the apple!
On December 6th, Highwood Library reopened as Highwood Library & Community Center! In a beautifully renovated space, children and adults will have access to traditional library resources as well as a variety of services and programming. The space will also provide invaluable community collaboration opportunities.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony on December 6, Laura Ramirez, Executive Director, poignantly spoke about the difference the Highwood Library & Community Center will make for residents.
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