Nominations for the 2026 Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) Golden Apple Award are now open!

Each year, the Highland Park Community Foundation recognizes an exceptional teacher through its HPCF Golden Apple Award, honoring an individual who exemplifies excellence in education and makes a lasting impact on their students. In 2026, the award will be presented to a pre-K through 5th grade teacher who goes above and beyond in their dedication to their students, school, and community.

“Each year, we honor an exemplary educator with the prestigious HPCF Golden Apple Award,” said Sara Sher, Chair of the HPCF Golden Apple Committee. “The recipient is chosen based on content knowledge, instruction, staff and student interaction, and contribution to school and community. It is our mission to collect nominations from the community to award a teacher who has dedicated their time and effort to making a difference in their students’ lives through their academic guidance and encouragement.”

2024 HPCFGA Award Winner Jennifer Sobel

Nominations for the HPCF Golden Apple Award will be accepted for full-time teachers currently working in North Shore School District 112 in grades pre-K–5. Community members—including students, parents, colleagues, and administrators—may submit nominations; however, self-nominations and nominations by family members will not be accepted. To nominate an outstanding educator, please visit hpcfil.org and click on “awards” in the navigation bar.

The HPCF Golden Apple Award honoree will receive a Golden Apple statue and the Sara Sher Excellence in Teaching Prize—which includes a $2,000 honorarium and $500 Apple Store gift card. The recipient will be recognized at their school and honored by the NSSD112 Board of Education and HPCF’s Board of Directors.

To be eligible for the award, the nominee must have completed four full years of teaching and be committed to continue teaching in the Highland Park-Highwood public school system for at least two more years. They must also be part of the Golden Apple Selection Committee after receiving the award. Nominations will be accepted until Monday, November 3, 2025, at 5:00 P.M.

Show your appreciation for outstanding educators who make a difference every day by submitting one or more nominations today! For more information or questions regarding the HPCF Golden Apple Award, please contact Sara Sher at sarasher606@gmail.com.

Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) is excited to introduce Steve Schapiro as the Foundation’s 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 to address unmet needs and expand opportunities for all community members. Steve brings with him a vast amount of knowledge and experience to the Foundation and joins us with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the nonprofit sector. His professional background, coupled with a passion for improving lives, make him an ideal fit for this pivotal role.

Native to this area, Steve is aware of the disparities that exist within our community and looks forward to expanding our fundraising platforms to address them. “I am humbled and honored to be working with Highland Park Community Foundation’s dedicated Board and staff. As we look to the future, a focused effort on fund development is required to expand opportunities and address the unmet needs of residents in Highland Park and Highwood, an effort I’m eager to engage in. I look forward to meeting our generous donors and broadening our base of support from the business community, foundations, and individuals,” he said. “Over the next several months, I will also be meeting our partner agencies, who provide the essential and irreplaceable services and programs our residents need. I will be at community events as well to introduce myself to as many people as possible and raise awareness about the Foundation and all we do to strengthen our community.”

Steve Schapiro

Steve is an accomplished development professional with a solid record of success in executing fundraising plans across a wide range of sources including special events, major gifts, and corporate gifts; cause-related marketing; sponsorships; and grants. He has led diverse fundraising teams and collaborates harmoniously with donors, the C-suite, volunteers, staff, and boards. He has held senior-level positions with several leading nonprofit organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association and, most recently, the Les Turner ALS Foundation as Chief Philanthropy Officer.

“We are thrilled to have Steve Schapiro join our team,” said HPCF Board Chair Laurie Levin. “He has lost no time in meeting our Board members and bringing his wealth of experience in the philanthropy world to help HPCF identify and foster new donor bases, increase the commitments of existing donors, and broaden the initiatives that will enable HPCF to thrive generationally. Steve is approachable and enthusiastic, characteristics that align perfectly with the HPCF’s mission to address the unmet needs of our diverse community.”

Executive Director Terri Olian added, “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 Steve’s 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.”

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Steve as we continue to build a brighter future for our community!

Nominations for the 2025 Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) Golden Apple Award are now open! This annual award honors and recognizes teachers who exemplify excellence in their profession as well as those who leave a lasting positive impact on their students. The HPCF Golden Apple Award will be presented in the spring of 2025 to a teacher in grades 6-8 who demonstrates these qualities.

“Each year, we honor an exemplary educator with the prestigious HPCF Golden Apple Award,” said Sara Sher, Chair of the HPCF Golden Apple Committee. “The recipient is chosen based on content knowledge, instruction, staff and student interaction, and contribution to school and community. It is our mission to collect nominations from the community to award a teacher who has dedicated their time and effort to making a difference in their students’ lives through their academic guidance and encouragement.”

Nominations for the HPCF Golden Apple Award will be accepted for full-time teachers currently working in North Shore School District 112 in grades 6-8. Community members— students, parents, colleagues, and administrators—may submit nominations, however, nominations by family members and self-nominations will not be accepted. To nominate an educator, please visit https://bit.ly/HPCFGA2025.

2024 HPCF Golden Apple Awardee Sarah Douglas and Family Members

The HPCF Golden Apple Award honoree will receive a Golden Apple statue and the Sara Sher Excellence in Teaching Prize—a $2,000 honorarium and $500 Apple Store gift card. The recipient will be recognized at their school and honored by the NSSD112 Board of Education and HPCF’s Board of Directors.

In order to be eligible for the award, the nominee must have completed four full years of teaching and be committed to continue teaching in the Highland Park-Highwood public school system for at least two more years. They must also be part of the Golden Apple Selection Committee after receiving the HPCF Golden Apple Award. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, November 15, 2024, at 5:00 P.M.

Show your appreciation for the outstanding middle school educators who have positively impacted their students by submitting one or more nominations today! For more information or questions regarding the HPCF Golden Apple Award, please contact Sara Sher at sarasher606@gmail.com.

For the first time in its history, Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) has awarded over $1 million in Annual Grants — a major milestone in our mission to support and uplift the Highland Park-Highwood community! This year, we awarded 64 Annual Grants totaling $1,012,240 to support a wide range of essential services that improve the lives of residents. From early childhood education and youth development to mental health services, support for individuals with disabilities, and cultural arts programming, these grants help strengthen vital programs and expand opportunities for residents of all ages and backgrounds.

Since our founding, HPCF has awarded nearly $8 million in grants to nonprofits serving our community. This includes $240,000 in emergency COVID grants (awarded in 2020 and 2021), and $490,000 in Highland Park Shooting Recovery Fund grants (distributed in 2023 and 2024).

Our commitment to healing continues. In 2025, organizations supporting ongoing recovery needs were invited to request additional funding through our Annual Grants — ensuring this critical work can move forward.

HPCF is proud to support more than 60 organizations that provide essential services to Highland Park and Highwood residents.

“It’s incredible to be able to support so many critical needs,” said Craig Leva, HPCF Board Member. “Every dollar we grant has a direct impact where we live. As a board, we are always thinking about how we can make a real di`erence by funding programs that address a wide range of needs.”

Cere Woods, another HPCF Board Member, added, “I am continually impressed by the leadership of our grant recipients and the scope of needs they address. Their dedication to bettering the community is something I am proud to support.”

Reflecting on the significance of our Annual Grants, former Board Chair David Reich shared, “Many of these organizations are facing very real challenges — decreased funding, rising needs, and economic pressures. Supporting and uplifting our community has never been more important.”

HPCF’s 2025 Annual Grant recipients include: 112 Education Foundation, A Safe Place, Art Impact Project, Arts of Life, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts, Blessings in a Backpack Highland Park, Cancer Wellness Center, Center for Enriched Living, Collaborative Community Housing Initiative, College Bound Opportunities, Community – The Anti-Drug Coalition, Community Partners for A`ordable Housing, Curt’s Café, Direct Giving Lab, East on Central Association, Erie Family Health Centers, Family Focus HP, Family Service of Glencoe, Focus on the Arts, Glenkirk, GPF Foundation, Gratitude Generation, Heart of the City, Highland Park After Prom, Highland Park Community Early Learning Center, Highland Park Historical Society, Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park Strings, Highwood Public Library & Community Center, Housing Opportunity Development Corporation, HPHS – Estudiante to Student Mentor Program, HPHS – Homework Club, HPHS – National Hispanic Institute, JCFS Chicago, JCYS Highland Park – George W. Lutz Family Center, Josselyn, Keeping Families Covered, Keshet, Kids Rank, Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, Mothers Trust Foundation, Music Institute of Chicago, North Shore School District 112 – Service Learning, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, Omni Youth Service, Operation Warm, Parks Foundation of Highland Park, Partners in Aging, Pilgrim Chamber Players, Roberti Community House, SaLT – Service and Learning Together, The Art Center Highland Park, The Record North Shore, Time to Dance, Tri-Con Child Care Center, United Way of Lake County, Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park, Willow House, Working Together, Youth Services, and Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center.

HPCF’s grant recipients recently shared how vital our support is to their work, and how it strengthens the Highland Park-Highwood community.

Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB), founded in 1983, has long worked to combat food insecurity. In 2017, they launched their Mobile Market in response to rising needs in Highland Park and Highwood.

“We started the Mobile Market in 2017 when we saw increased need in the community,” said Hester Bury, Development O`icer at Northern Illinois Food Bank. “Before COVID, we served about 80 families at each distribution event. That number surged to 300-400 during the pandemic, and we’re still consistently serving 200-300 families each month from the Fort Sheridan Metra Station parking lot.”

The Mobile Market o`ers an anonymous, dignified way for people to access food — especially those who may not feel comfortable going to a food pantry and sharing personal information. “We are so grateful for HPCF. Their grants help us provide staples and fresh produce. And through HPCF’s networking and educational events, we’ve built connections with some truly incredible nonprofits, further strengthening the community.”

Mobile Food Bank

Tri-Con Child Care Center was founded in 1971 after a United Way needs assessment identified early childhood education as the most significant service gap for local families. In response, three local organizations came together to form Tri-Con: Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Trinity Episcopal Church (where the Center is housed but maintains no religious a`iliation), and the National Council of Jewish Women.

“Tri-Con Child Care Center is preparing underserved children in our community for kindergarten, helping them build social and emotional skills, and teaching empathy,” said Pam Feinberg, Executive Director.

“HPCF has always been a wonderful supporter. Beyond their annual grants, they provided discretionary funds that recently allowed us to install a security system in the church. With their continued support, we look forward to creating a vibrant space where the next generation of children can thrive.”

Tri-Con Child Care Center

Center for Enriched Living (CEL) was founded in 1968 when two mothers asked a community organization to include their sons with developmental disabilities, so they could experience friendship and belonging like their peers. “That vision grew into a vibrant organization that empowers teens, adults, and seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) to experience life’s possibilities through an incredible variety of programs,” said Karen Fay, CEL Grants Manager.

CEL’s programs go beyond social enrichment. They include employment services, adult day programs, mental health support, and inclusive education initiatives to promote empathy and understanding in local schools.

“HPCF’s ongoing support has helped CEL reach more people, deepen our impact, and provide inclusive programs that empower individuals with IDDs to thrive in Highland Park and Highwood,” Fay said. “CEL is proud to be so invested in the community, actively championing inclusion that enriches everyone and creates stronger businesses, schools, and neighborhoods,” she noted, reflecting on the significance of HPCF’s grant.

CEL Bowling Night

The 112 Education Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) serving North Shore School District 112 schools, is celebrating 30 years of enriching educational opportunities, positively impacting more than 14,000 students since its founding. From early investments in iPads and Chromebooks to launching its own grant program, the Foundation has evolved as the District’s needs have changed and has been a vital partner in enhancing how students learn.

Over the past five years, HPCF’s Annual Grants have helped the 112 Education Foundation grow The Robot Revolution, a robust robotics program. “We now have robotics teams in all nine schools, starting in fourth grade, and we are piloting a third-grade program,” said Susan Kaden, Executive Director. Technology-based programs are expensive and constantly evolving. HPCF’s support is essential to keeping the program current, accessible, and growing.”

Robot Revolution

A Community That Cares

HPCF’s Annual Grants play a vital role in strengthening the Highland Park-Highwood community by enhancing the quality of life, expanding opportunities, and helping address unmet needs across all ages and stages of life.

This impact is made possible thanks to the generosity of HPCF donors and the steadfast support of the City of Highland Park. Together, we are building a more inclusive, vibrant, and thriving community — one grant at a time.

Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) is honored to welcome Ashley Kelly and Cere Woods to our Governing Board! Both Ashley and Cere possess experience, skills, and qualities the Foundation looks for in its Board members, including an unwavering love of the Highland Park and Highwood community. Their presence on the Governing Board promises to bring innovation and progress to the Foundation, and we look forward to all their contributions.

“An important role of the Governing Board is to better understand what the needs of the community are and how we can help meet them,” said Cookie Kohn, a member of the Executive Committee and Membership Committee Chair. Many wonderful organizations, dedicated to addressing unmet needs in the community, operate in Highland Park and Highwood. The Governing Board is committed to getting to know them on a personal level through a liaison program, which helps the Board members determine how to best allocate funds. “Every member of the Governing Board is a liaison to two or three organizations, and they share with the rest of the Board how their specific organizations improve the community and how they think grant funds should be distributed,” added Cookie. “We were thrilled that Ashley and Cere wanted to help with this and cannot wait for them to be a part of our grant-making process!”

Ashley Kelly

Highland Park native Ashley Kelly has been a member of the HPCF since 2019 when she helped found the Associate Leadership Council (ALC), of which she now serves as Co-Chair. Ashley looks forward to all the new opportunities available to her as a part of the Governing Board, and specifically looks forward to “forming relationships with the people within the organizations that the Foundation awards grants to and being a part of the process that allocates funds to keep the community thriving.” Ashley’s work at Allstate Insurance Company, where she oversees national sports and entertainment sponsorships, and engagement marketing, helped prepare her to step into her role as a member of the Governing Board. The sponsorship deals that she manages each have an important philanthropic component; whether that be recognizing student athletes for ways in which they improve their local communities or organizing community service events in markets where sporting events occur, they are always looking for ways to have a positive impact. “I hope my skills, background, and experience can help fill any gaps, and I can jump in wherever there is a need, drawing on my work experience and other volunteer efforts,” Ashley added.

Cere Woods

Having moved to Highland Park in the midst of the pandemic in May of 2020 with her husband, Tom, and two children, Cere Woods was nervous that the social restrictions would make it difficult to integrate into the community. She discovered, however, that she was welcome with (socially distanced) open arms and found her home here. Wanting not just to live in Highland Park, but also to become involved in the community, Cere was excited to learn there was a vacancy on HPCF’s Governing Board. “Now that we’ve been in Highland Park for four years, I was looking for a way to meaningfully give back to the community. The HPCF stood out to me as an organization that gives back to a broad network of organizations that serve the community in a variety of ways,” she said. Cere was also struck by how the Board looks out for the well-being of the entire community and cares about the needs of people from all walks of life. “I’m thrilled to have the chance to oversee how the funds are used and make a difference in the community on a broad level as opposed to getting involved in a single organization,” she added.

HPCF’s Governing Board ensures the funds, which are so generously donated by individuals, businesses, and foundations to help our community, go to organizations that can positively impact Highland Park and Highwood residents. The application deadline for this year’s annual grants is July 15th. Like the rest of the Board, Ashley and Cere are eager to dive into the requests, meet with applicants, and help decide which programs and services to support, and at what level, to best address needs and strengthen our entire community. For more information, visit hpcfil.org.

Highland Park native Nancy Mills is a dedicated philanthropist whose giving spirit has positively impacted the community and its residents. Her work throughout the years with the Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF), as well as within both the legal and educational systems has impacted countless lives and earned her the honor of receiving the HPCF’s 2022 Jack Blane Community Service Award. “I am just thankful that I can contribute – that I have the time and the ability to do this – and I think the Highland Park and Highwood community is incredibly special. Giving back is meaningful to me,” she remarks. A true humanitarian, Mills has dedicated her time to serving and bettering this incredibly special community to ensure equity, safety, and opportunity for all who live here.

Nancy recalls being inspired to get involved with service work when her children entered elementary school and she saw the need for volunteers across different educational stages in the community’s schools. “When my kids were in elementary schools that’s when I really started helping in their schools; I was an art mom and helped with food days and a lot of other activities within the elementary and middle schools.” At the high school level, Mills embraced FOCUS on the Arts, taking on leadership positions ensuring that the program brought unique experiences to enrich student learning and ensured that members of the larger community had the opportunity to connect with world-class artists and programming opportunities and events.

Nancy’s empathy and dedication to helping others are further exemplified in her work as a court advocate with A Safe Place, which provides emotional support and technical assistance for individuals facing domestic violence. “My work as a court advocate has touched me deeply and impacted the lives of survivors working to move their lives forward during some of the most difficult circumstances,” said Nancy. As a volunteer, she has helped people apply for emergency orders of protection, and two-year plenary orders to ensure that all members of the community have access to quality assistance and an equitable chance for justice against abusers. “The legal process can be intimidating, and my work as an advocate has helped them navigate a complex process. The individuals facing these circumstances appreciated having someone supportive by their side as they moved through the court system.”

Court advocates from A Safe Place participate in the North Shore Taco Run 5K, July 2019. From left to right: Kim Mudd, Maria Villarreal, Janette Tinoco-Ledesma, Mindy Sterns, Stacie Chukerman and Nancy Mills.

As an active member of the Board of Directors of the Highland Park Community Foundation for the past eleven years and the Foundation Chairman from 2018-2020, Nancy has helped to increase its reach and expand its impact. During her tenure as Chairman, Mills led the Foundation through an intense period of growth that allowed more money to flow back into parts of the community that needed it most. She recalls, “we were implementing a strategic plan where a big part of that was to raise awareness of the Foundation and its role as a trusted partner in our community. We more than doubled our incoming donations. As a result, we were able to put more resources back into our community. The increase in donations allowed the Highland Park Community Foundation to fund more charitable organizations, and our impact has grown exponentially.”

“Nancy has been a driving force in our Foundation – she had a vision that helped us develop a strategic plan and set our sights higher,” said Betsy Brint, the current Chair of the Foundation. “Her energy and drive are amazing. Her leadership helped the community understand the importance of giving close to home and we are grateful for all the hard work and dedication she has shared with us. We are so proud to present her with the 2022 Jack Blane Community Service award in recognition of all she has done to better our community.”

Each year, Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) honors an individual or organization with the Jack Blane Community Service Award, named for dedicated public servant Jack Blane. The award recognizes those who go above and beyond in serving the Highland Park/Highwood community and improving residents’ lives. Last month, HPCF proudly honored Highland Park High School counselor, Chair of the Board of Directors of Josselyn, and Moraine Township Trustee Pablo Alvarez with the 2024 Jack Blane Community Service Award.

Pablo has been an active community member since moving to Highland Park and becoming a counselor at Highland Park High School in 2008. Of his position at the high school, which he still maintains, Pablo said, “I really enjoy working here because it’s not just about choosing classes or writing a recommendation. It’s about providing a healthy outlet for students to share what they’re going through and helping them manage it. It’s about developing positive connections with the students because high school is such a crucial time in their lives. It’s about helping them navigate the highs, lows, and everything in between. I also enjoy leading our famed chess team that attracts a wide range of diverse students, allowing them to create incredible memories!”

His dedication to his students goes well beyond his position as a counselor, however. Tom Koulentes, former HPHS Principal and current HPCF Board Member, shared how particularly impressed he was by Pablo’s commitment to using his role as a counselor to support students’ success. As an example, Tom highlighted the establishment of the Latino Boys Groups. “One of the most remarkable things he did was to create our Latino Boys Groups. He would meet with boys from each age group once a week and talk about grades, attendance, extracurriculars, etc. What developed were groups of young men who really cared about each other and were committed to supporting each other to get through the challenges of high school.” Creating the Latino Boys Groups is just one of the many ways Pablo has engaged with and impacted students beyond the counselor’s office.

Pablo also looks for ways he can help students beyond the school walls. Through his work, Pablo became aware of Josselyn, a nonprofit that provides community-based mental health care. “I was really amazed by the amount of support they have available for students and families. A lot of times, it’s challenging to find effective counselors and resources for families that are underinsured or uninsured. I accepted a Board position to help fill those gaps and ensure that their client base had access to effective counselors, psychiatrists, and other resources offered by Josselyn.” When reflecting on Pablo’s contributions to the organization, Susan Resko, Josselyn’s CEO and President, said, “Pablo goes above and beyond the typical job description of a Board Chair.” As an example, she said, “We recently received notice of a state grant for Nuestro Josselyn to greatly expand programming. Pablo is very involved in the program expansion and its communications with community partners. He has a special affinity for the program as it directly benefits many of the young people that he works with at the high school. He has been instrumental in ensuring this grant has the maximum impact and benefit for our community’s youth.”

Notably, Pablo’s impact on the community isn’t limited to our younger population. He is both an elected trustee of Moraine Township and Chair of the Township’s Latino Advisory Board. “At Moraine Township, we provide a safety net of services for residents that includes a food pantry and door-to-door van transportation for seniors and disabled residents, along with emergency relief and energy assistance for income-qualified residents. Working with the Latino Advisory Group, I collaborate with other Latino leaders to address the needs of the Latino community in Highland Park and Highwood. I also work with the Park District of Highland Park and previously developed a partnership with the Botanic Garden and Ravinia to benefit our communities. We try to make it so all families can take advantage of the resources in the area to benefit their kids and entire family,” Pablo said. Anne Flanigan Bassi, Moraine Township Supervisor, added, “Pablo is an elected Moraine Township Trustee and Chair of the Township’s Latino Advisory Board, a group of people that work with the Latino community and partner with the Township to try to identify gaps that agencies or the Township can address. Under Pablo’s leadership, the committee has partnered with Ravinia, Botanic Gardens, Park District of Highland Park, and others to make more resources available to our residents.” Pablo was also involved in the Friends for Health Board, and he worked with students at the Highwood Library throughout COVID, helping to supplement the education they were receiving virtually.

The Jack Blane Community Service Award was presented to Pablo at HPCF’s 2024 Gather for Good event on Friday, September 20, at Binny’s Beverage Depot in Highland Park. Beyond honoring Pablo’s dedication to service in the community, through the event, the Board raised funds to support HPCF’s annual grants and awareness about the Foundation’s mission of addressing unmet needs in Highland Park and Highwood—a mission to which Pablo himself is clearly committed.

Highland Park Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) and Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) are excited to announce their new strategic alliance and creation of a new initiative that will benefit local businesses and our community!

The Chamber is known for its dedication to economic development and business advocacy. The HPCF is known for its longstanding commitment to addressing unmet needs and expanding opportunities for all Highland Park and Highwood residents. Bringing their extensive networks and resources to the table, the Chamber and the HPCF have joined forces to create Connecting Commerce with Community, a collaborative effort that will provide valuable resources for businesses and help our community.

“Partnering with HPCF allows us to expand our impact beyond the business community and address broader social issues that affect us all,” said Chamber President & CEO, Lori Rubin Dekalo. “Together, we can create a more vibrant and inclusive community.”

“This partnership will enhance our efforts to address the many real needs in our community,” added Terri Olian, Executive Director of the HPCF. “By increasing our base of support, we will be able to provide greater assistance where it’s needed most. We will also be helping our local businesses through ongoing promotions that are integral to all of our sponsorship programs.”

The Need

Highland Park is often described as an affluent North Shore suburb. While there are many in the community of significant means, there are also residents who face daily challenges. These run the gamut from food and housing insecurity, lack of access to quality childcare services, mental health issues, seniors needing help with daily routines and transportation, and more.

Significant Ancillary Benefits to Participating Businesses

• Brand Reputation: Corporate philanthropy enhances a company’s reputation. It shows the business cares about more than just profits; it also cares about the well-being of the community.
• Customer Loyalty: Customers appreciate businesses that give back to the community. They are more likely to remain loyal to a brand that shows commitment to local causes.
• Employee Engagement and Satisfaction: Employees feel proud to work for a company that is actively involved in making a positive impact in the community, boosting morale and employee satisfaction.
• Talent Attraction: Companies that are socially responsible and community-oriented are often more attractive to job seekers. Potential employees are drawn to organizations that prioritize giving back.
• Strengthening the Local Economy: Investing in the community contributes to its economic growth. This creates a ripple effect, benefiting other local businesses and residents.
• Enhanced Visibility and Growth: Participation in the program will enhance a business’s visibility and provide access to valuable resources that will help it grow and thrive.

Through this exciting program, local businesses will help nurture children, strengthen families, assist older adults, support individuals with disabilities, develop leadership skills and academic confidence in teens, enhance artistic experiences, and more. To learn more, contact Steve Schapiro, HPCF’s Director of Philanthropy, at steve@hpcfil.org or 847-804-7127, or Lori Dekalo, President & CEO at Lori@chamberhp.com or 847-432-0284. We look forward to making a lasting positive impact in our community through this groundbreaking partnership!

Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) is incredibly excited to share that our community will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to attend a local production of Les Misérables this summer! Les Misérables (Les Mis) is the world’s longest running musical and known to be one of the greatest musicals ever created. Sir Cameron Mackintosh – the original producer of Les Mis – personally granted an exceptional license to HPCF grant recipient Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park to produce the show, based on his desire to help our community continue to heal after the Highland Park shooting.

Local theaters in the U.S. are not permitted to license and perform Les Misérables; only infrequent Broadway performances and national tours have ever been allowed. However, after Jamie Davidson, Founder and President of Uptown Music Theater, made a personal plea to Sir Cameron Mackintosh, he generously granted the license. “Mackintosh specifically expressed his desire to help our community continue to heal and move forward from the shooting. This musical has lasted such a long time because it causes us to think, to reflect, to discuss together – which can help our community move forward with positivity,” added Jamie. “This unique opportunity is meaningful not only for Uptown Music Theater, but for our community as a whole.”

Set against the backdrop of 19th century France, Les Mis tells Victor Hugo’s enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice, and redemption. With its humanistic themes of justice, community, faith, and perseverance, it is a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. With a magnificent score that includes “I Dreamed a Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” “Master of the House,” it is no wonder that this epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.

Les Mis will be performed with a live 20-piece orchestra at the brand new state-of-the-art Performing Arts Center at Deerfield Highland School. There will be 10 performances, starting Friday, July 26, 2024, and ending Sunday, August 11. Friday and Saturday night shows will start at 7pm; Sunday matinees at 2pm; and for the final weekend of the performance, there will be an additional showing on Thursday at 7pm. Proceeds from the show will benefit HPCF’s Highland Park Shooting Recovery Fund.

Uptown Music Theater was founded in 2019 to provide meaningful and accessible music theater for the Highland Park and Highwood community. “We have an educational purpose, we’re a professional theater, and we try to create an environment where our actors and technicians have an opportunity to learn and grow. We have a community focus, perform in Highland Park, and welcome graduates of the Highland Park High School Theater Program as performers and technicians. Uptown Music Theater brings musical theater directly to the community by providing a safe space for people to come together and inspire creativity,” further explained Jamie.

The significance of the theater in the community cannot be understated. The performing arts bring culture and color to Highland Park and Highwood, making life in our community more vibrant. Uptown Music Theater has been an integral part of bringing the arts to the community over the past four years, and has been supported by HPCF grant funding since its creation.

Uptown Music Theater will donate a portion of the proceeds raised through the performances to the Foundation’s Shooting Recovery Fund. Jamie said he was “inspired to give something back, so we reached out to the Community Foundation. We wondered if there was an opportunity to pay it forward. When we found out that the Highland Park Shooting Recovery Fund was still accepting donations, we decided that Uptown’s performance of Les Mis could financially benefit the fund. The HPCF has supported us and our mission since we began, and we’re incredibly grateful to have been a grantee each year. We have a really strong relationship with the foundation and look forward to maintaining that for years to come.”

Uptown Music Theater strives to make its shows accessible for everyone and offers discounts to seniors, children, and those who cannot afford full-priced tickets. Les Mis will be co-produced by Jamie Davidson and Larry Mason, Secretary and Co-Founder of Uptown Music Theater, and directed by Scott Shallenbarger. Complementary tickets will be provided for victims and first responders. To purchase tickets and for additional information, visit umthp.org

Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) recently launched its Aiming High for Highwood grassroots fundraising campaign, aimed at rallying Highwood businesses to support the community’s most pressing needs. As part of the campaign, HPCF reached out to Highwood businesses through letters, emails, and phone calls. A special thank you goes to local business owner Lenny Innocenzi, whose dedication and leadership were pivotal in securing the participation of both small and large businesses in this important effort.

“A lot of the organizations that the Foundation invests in to improve the community directly benefit a large number of Highwood residents, including Tri-Con Child Care Center, Nuestro Center-Josselyn, the Highwood Public Library, and many others. However, not everyone is aware of the HPCF’s involvement, and it’s crucial that more people understand the scope of its work,” Lenny shared, reflecting on the significance of this campaign in raising awareness about HPCF’s commitment to Highwood. As a long-time Highwood business owner, Lenny worked tirelessly to connect with fellow local business owners, ensuring they understood the Foundation’s vital role in addressing unmet community needs through its grant funding for nonprofits. Thanks to his dedication, more than a dozen businesses have stepped up to support HPCF, reinvesting in the community they serve.

Lenny Innocenzi

“Aiming High for Highwood helps to drive awareness and connect our small business community to HPCF,” says Jim Hospodarsky, Highwood Alderperson and HPCF Liaison. “Gaining their support is extremely important as HPCF continues to fund organizations that directly impact Highwood residents. I am thrilled with the progress we’ve made and grateful for the success of this initiative so far.” Steve Schapiro, HPCF’s Director of Philanthropy, added, “The goal of this campaign is twofold: to raise awareness and to raise funds that can be reinvested in the community. With the generous gifts we’ve received, we will be able to provide grant funding to local organizations that benefit a large number of Highwood residents. These additional resources will help support residents in need, as the money raised will go back into the community through our annual grants.”

HPCF is honored to have received generous donations from a number of local Highwood businesses in support of the inaugural Aiming High for Highwood fundraising campaign. Thanks to their generosity, the Foundation will be able to further its mission of addressing unmet needs in the community. The growing list of businesses that have contributed includes 28 Mile Distilling, ABLAZE Design Group, Del Rio Restaurant, Anonymous, D’s Coffee Shop, Highwood American Legion, IC Signs & Graphics, JD Pizza (DBA Buffo’s), Law Offices of Diambri & Caravello, Maria’s Italian Bakery & Caffe, Joy & Lenny Innocenzi, Jerry’s Liquors, Pastificio, Sandy’s Restaurant, and The VITI Companies.

Several businesses that donated shared why they believed the campaign––and the Foundation as a whole––are essential to improving the lives of Highwood residents. “At ABLAZE Design Group, we believe in the power of community and the importance of supporting our future leaders. We are proud to contribute to the Aiming High for Highwood campaign, helping to provide opportunities for local students to thrive. As a family-owned business rooted in the Highland Park community, we are committed to giving back and fostering growth and success for the next generation,” said Ava Markoutsas one of the owners of the ABLAZE Design Group, which is co-owned by George Markoutsas and David Lipsky. Cory Hock, owner of IC Signs and Graphics, added, “As a small business owner of IC Signs & Graphics for the last 16 years, I know every dollar counts, and it’s foundations like Highland Park Community Foundation that go above and beyond expectations for our community! We are proud to support our community and its people!”

HPCF is deeply grateful for the donations from the Highwood business community, as well as for the generosity of a Highwood resident who provided a $2,500 matching gift. Their contributions will help address critical needs in the Highland Park–Highwood community. The Foundation extends its heartfelt thanks to everyone who has supported this effort to date.