September was a whirlwind of activity, and we couldn’t have done it without the incredible support from our community! From the 2024 Annual Grants Board meetings to our annual seminar for nonprofits, and especially Gather for Good, we have much to celebrate and reflect on. Thank you for helping us make these moments possible!
We’re excited to share upcoming opportunities to come together again and support HPCF, including the Turkey Trot and a Paint Your Own Cookie fundraiser. Plus, you can nominate a deserving educator for the 2025 HPCF Golden Apple Award. Together, we make a difference for our neighbors in need and for our entire community.
Thanksgiving is Around the Corner!
Register to Participate or Sign up to Volunteer
for the 2024 North Shore Turkey Trot 5K, 10K, and Kids’ Trot!
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“What a spectacular event!!! Congratulations on an incredible evening of food, spirits, friendship and community. The Community Foundation and “Gather for Good” represent the best of Highland Park: caring for our neighbors, inclusivity, and a strong sense of social responsibility. Thank you for all you do.”
— Carol & Rick Wolfe
We gathered for such an important cause: to make a difference, change lives, and strengthen our community.
We are deeply grateful to everyone who supported the event through a sponsorship, ticket or raffle purchase, or a monetary or in-kind donation.
With donations still coming in, we’ve raised nearly $300,000 to support HPCF’s 2025 annual grants. These funds will be used to meet critical needs and enhance the quality of life for all who call our community home.
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We are pleased to announce that the HPCF Board has approved a second round of emergency grants, totaling $60,350, to address urgent needs arising from the Coronavirus outbreak.
The money has been awarded to 17 organizations that serve Highland Park and Highwood children, families, and seniors. The funds will be used immediately to help vulnerable members of our community with
- food and essential basic needs for babies, children and adults
- household items as well as rental and utility assistance for families and individuals, including victims of domestic violence
- webcams, mobile devices, software upgrades, and funding to support mental health tele-services for youth and adults and virtual programming for individuals with special needs
- PPE supplies
- affordable legal services in the areas of housing, domestic violence, and immigration
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As a Community Health Ambassador, we wanted to share some important news.
We do not want to flood your inboxes, but in case you do not subscribe to the City of Highland Park’s newsletters, we wanted to be sure you knew about the City’s vaccination clinic scheduled for April 8th.
The City of Highland Park is hosting a COVID-19 Community Vaccination Clinic on Thursday, April 8, at the Highland Park Country Club, 1201 Park Ave West.
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Great communities are created by people who give where they live or work – lifting each other up and caring for each other with acts big and small.
For 30 years, the Highland Park Community Foundation has supported and celebrated the many great nonprofit organizations that serve the Highland Park-Highwood community by addressing residents’ needs. To help us celebrate our 30th anniversary, we want to spotlight our community members of all ages, businesses, school staff, and city employees who “give where they live” by promoting kindness and answering Dr. Martin Luther King’s call for service.
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The July 4th Fund remains open and will accept donations through Friday, October 7, 2022. At that time, the Fund will officially close so the final amount for distribution to victims and nonprofit organizations can be determined and payment amounts calculated.
Once the initial Fund closes, the Highland Park Community Foundation will establish a new Fund. Donations to the second Fund will be distributed to nonprofit organizations that are addressing needs of victims and community members impacted by the July 4th shooting. The Highland Park Community Foundation will administer the Fund and distribute the donations as grants.
Individuals, businesses, and other organizations are encouraged to donate by October 7, 2022. Donations can be made at this link.
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As previously announced, when the Highland Park Shooting Response Fund closed, we distributed $5.8 million, 100% of the funds donated, to assist families of the victims who were killed, victims who were physically injured, and nonprofit organizations serving the needs of victims and the community following the shooting.
We also opened a second fund, the Highland Park Shooting Recovery Fund, to accept donations that would be distributed as grants to nonprofits that are addressing continuing needs for mental health and other services resulting from the shooting.
Through the generosity of donors to the Recovery Fund, the HPCF was recently able to distribute $367,000 to support the work of 15 organizations that are providing services for impacted members of our community.
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We are thrilled to announce a significant step forward in our mission with the engagement of Steve Schapiro as our first Director of Philanthropy. As we continue to expand our reach and impact, dedicated leadership in fundraising and development will optimize the success of our efforts in both the short and long term.
Steve brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our organization, and joins us with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the nonprofit sector. His record as an accomplished development professional, coupled with a passion for improving lives, make him an ideal fit for this pivotal role.
The decision to bring Steve on board reflects our commitment to strengthening our fundraising strategies, fostering donor relationships, and securing resources necessary to advance our mission. With his guidance and expertise, we are confident in our ability to expand our reach and make an even greater difference in the lives of children and adults throughout Highland Park and Highwood.
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We are Honored to Welcome
Ballyhoo Hospitality and
Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric
to our Growing List of Corporate Champions!
Through their generous multi-year pledges, Ballyhoo Hospitality and Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric are helping to advance our shared mission and create a lasting impact in Highland Park and Highwood.
Ravinia Plumbing, Sewer, Heating & Electric was founded in 1928 by Arnold Peterson, a skilled master plumber who moved to Highland Park from Minnesota in the mid-1920s. With nearly a century of service and deep roots in our community, we were thrilled when David Ariano, representing the third generation of this family-owned business, expressed interest in becoming a HPCF Corporate Champion. Ravinia Plumbing has long been a trusted name in Highland Park, and their continued commitment to supporting local initiatives strengthens their legacy of service. We are proud to partner with them and look forward to the positive difference we will make together.
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Fall is in full swing at HPCF, and the season has already brought great energy and engagement—from our Annual Grants Board meetings (more to come on that soon) and nonprofit seminar to our partnership with Great Pumpkins, spreading festive cheer throughout the community.
And there’s still more to come! We’re excited for Kim Smith’s annual Thanksgiving cookie sale (with a new twist!), Uncorking for a Cause (a brand-new fundraiser thoughtfully created by Vin Highland Park), and the return of the North Shore Turkey Trot.
Plus, you can nominate a deserving educator for the 2026 HPCF Golden Apple Award.
As always, thank you for being part of our work. Together, we make a real difference for our neighbors and our entire community.
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