For over 30 years, the Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) has provided annual grants to nonprofits and governmental agencies that support residents and enhance the vitality of the Highland Park and Highwood community. These grants focus on maintaining and enhancing programs for residents that pertain to education, human services, senior services, services for individuals with disabilities, and the creative & cultural arts.

Creative and Cultural Arts

Arts and culture are not luxuries, they are essential commodities with social, economic, and health benefits. They add vibrancy to our lives and community. We are proud of the fine arts, music, writing, and literature programs and resources available to Highland Park and Highwood residents. For our community to reap their full benefits, however, there needs to be equitable access to them and expanded opportunities for their growth.

HPCF is pleased to support and promote 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.

HPCF Grantee: Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts

Education

Education brings dreams to life, creates lifelong learners, engages tomorrow’s leaders, and more. Early childhood education promises long-term and long-lasting benefits for individuals and society as a whole. Extracurricular activities improve academic performance, create self-esteem, promote the development of social and emotional growth, and provide essential life skills.

There are Highland Park and Highwood residents who cannot afford to send their young children to preschool or enroll their older students in after-school or weekend activities. There are parents who need after-school care for their children so they can work later hours to make ends meet. Our public schools and local nonprofits help, but even they require additional money to run the programs these families need and deserve. We are proud to make the impossible possible by providing critical gap funding for programs that nurture our community’s youngest learners and strengthen their families.

HPCF Grantee: JCYS George W. Lutz Family Center

Human Services

Organizations such as local food banks, legal aid clinics, mental health providers, agencies that assist with housing, and organizations that serve youth and older adults are the glue that holds communities together. Qualified professionals who focus on issues that promote positive functioning in a community are essential to creating and delivering these programs and services. While there are some very well-known and well-funded human service organizations, many of the organizations that deliver critically needed services for Highland Park and Highwood residents fly below the radar and struggle financially to meet their needs. At the same time, children and adults who receive human service assistance face significant health and safety risks if the organizations they turn to have insufficient funding and support.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, HPCF is proud to provide funding for organizations and programs that provide critically needed human services for our residents.

HPCF Grantee: Big Brothers Big Sisters

Senior Services

Seniors deserve the opportunity to age in place, be safe in their homes, and enjoy life in our community. Being active and engaged also improves their social, emotional, and physical health. Yet, they often need help with daily routines, getting around town, participating in activities, and connecting with friends.

Finding the help they need, determining how to pay for it, solving legal issues, and discovering community support are also challenges for many seniors. These issues dissipate, however, when adequate and appropriate programming is accessible and affordable.

We are committed to ensuring positive outcomes and improving the overall quality of life for all residents of Highland Park and Highwood, and are proud to provide funding for organizations and programs that serve our senior residents.

HPCF Grantee: Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers

Services for Individuals with Disabilities

Individuals with disabilities and their families seek programs and services of all kinds. The opportunities they pursue promote mental, emotional, and physical health; independent living; and a better quality of life. All individuals living with disabilities deserve to live with dignity and have the supports they need to fully participate in our community.

Still, there are residents with disabilities who find themselves on wait lists for services and programs. Many have trouble accessing housing, transportation, respite, personal assistance, and day services – all of which are critical to maintaining a purposeful life and one in which they are contributing to our community and making it a great place to live. Inadequate funding for services and programs has devastating effects on these individuals and their families as well as the greater community.

HPCF supports organizations that work to make our community inclusive and accessible to all. Our grants in this area have expanded to include programs that provide art therapy, respite for parents, and independent living in our community.

HPCF Grantee: Center for Enriched Living

Each year, the Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) awards grants to local organizations that provide essential services to the Highland Park-Highwood community. On October 19th, the Foundation awarded 63 grants, totaling, $746,925—an astonishing $133,725 more than in 2021. This year marks the largest number of dollars allocated, as well as the largest number of grant awards.

Reflecting on the needs of the community, HPCF Chair Betsy Brint describes why she believes these grants make a meaningful difference for all Highland Park and Highwood residents. “The July 4th shooting dramatically increased immediate needs in our community. We are grateful to the thousands of compassionate donors who stepped up and helped us provide funding to alleviate some of the financial strains on the organizations who provided much-needed services to victims of the shooting.” She continues, “At the same time, we knew there were a multitude of other community needs and didn’t want to let those go unaddressed. We thus continued our work on our annual grants while also working on the Response Fund. Addressing educational needs of children, food and housing issues for families, transportation needs of seniors, and needs of individuals with disabilities so they feel included in the community are just some of the needs our grants will address.”

HPCF Grant Recipient Northern Illinois Food Bank (NIFB): HPCF Board Chair Betsy Brint and Board Member Karen Reisin and other volunteers at a weekly NIFB food distribution

The HPCF 2022 annual grant recipients include: 112 Education Foundation, A Safe Place, Anixter Center, BellaRu Catering, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bitter Jester Foundation for the Arts, Blessings in a Backpack Highland Park, Cancer Wellness Center, Catholic Charities – Lake County Senior Services, Center for Enriched Living, Collaborative Community Housing Initiative, College Bound Opportunities, Community – The Anti-Drug Coalition, Community Partners for Affordable Housing, Cradles to Crayons, Curt’s Café, Direct Giving Lab, East on Central Association, Family Focus HP, Family Service of Lake County, Focus on the Arts, Glenkirk, GPF Foundation , Gratitude Generation, Highland Park After Prom, Highland Park Community Early Learning Center, Highland Park Historical Society, Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park Strings, Highwood Public Library, HPHS – Estudiante to Student Mentor Program, HPHS – Homework Club, HPHS – National Hispanic Institute, Infinity Foundation, JCFS Chicago Response for Teens, Jewish Council for Youth Services – 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, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Operation Warm, Parks Foundation of Highland Park, Pilgrim Chamber Players, Roberti Community House, SaLT – Project Shop N’ Drop, Save a Star Drug Awareness Foundation, Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers, Stuart I Raskas Friendship Circle of Illinois, The Art Center Highland Park, The Balance Project, Tri-Con Child Care Center, United Way of Lake County, Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park, Willow House, Working Together, Youth Services, Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center.

This year’s grant recipients recently shared what HPCF’s grant means to their organization and what they hope to accomplish in the community. “Many people in our community are unaware that one in four North Shore School District 112 students qualify as low-income and are eligible for the Federal Free/Reduced Lunch program. These students eat meals at school during the week but may have limited food on weekends. Since 2013 Blessings in a Backpack has provided weekend food bags to more than 150 students from Highland Park and Highwood. Grants from organizations like the HPCF directly fund the non-perishable, kidfriendly food that is sent home each week,” said Melisa Septon, Volunteer Program Coordinator for Blessings in a Backpack.

Survivors of Domestic Violence at a Safe Place Event

Robin Byster, Executive Director of the Highland Park Community Early Learning Center, when considering how this grant impacted the organization replied, “thanks to the HPCF, our program continues to be strong and has bounced back in all ways from the worst of the pandemic. We are still managing through the trauma that COVID created in many families as well the incident on the 4th of July. The HPCF continues to allow us to offer childcare to families who are experiencing financial hardship due to the pandemic or other types of family stressors but do not qualify for state childcare assistance.” The Director of Account Management at Operation Warm, Richard Lalley, also illustrated the significance of the funding to the families of Highland Park and Highwood; “HPCF’s grant helps provide new winter coats and shoes to economically disadvantage students in District 112. These gifts will bring warmth, confidence and hope to these children and their families. COVID, and now high inflation have made for Survivors of Domestic Violence at a Safe Place Event difficult choices for these families. Now they won’t have to worry about these basic needs for their children.”

In times of hardship and change such as the past few years, it is more important than ever to lean on one’s community. The annual grants provided by the HPCF, funded by its generous donors and a $300,000 grant from the City of Highland Park, ensure that our community remains tight-knit, strong, and welcoming for all its citizens.

As we enter 2025, we want to take a moment to reflect on the milestones and achievements of the past year that have made a meaningful difference in Highland Park and Highwood. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, the dedication of our Board members, and the vital services provided by the organizations we support, Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) has been able to address many of the community’s unmet needs. Looking forward, we are excited for another year of kindness, community spirit, and impactful change.

The Foundation kicked off the year by recognizing Highland Park’s police, firefighters, and public works staff for their tireless efforts. Our MLK Day of Service Project brought together local children, Board members, and community volunteers to create and deliver care packages to these dedicated public servants. This annual project provides a fun opportunity for the Foundation and the entire community to express our gratitude for the essential work these individuals do to keep Highland Park and Highwood safe, beautiful, and welcoming for all residents.

MLK Day of Service Project

May was a month of exciting events, starting with Cocktails and Conversations, which brought together members of HPCF’s three boards, our grantees, Corporate and Foundation Champions, and several leaders from Highland Park and Highwood. In May, we also had the privilege of honoring Highland Park High School (HPHS) physical education teacher Sarah Douglas with this year’s HPCF Golden Apple Award, and HPHS graduating senior Katerina Shutman with the HPCF Personal Achievement Award.

Sara Sher, HPCF Golden Apple Committee Chair, with Sarah Douglas, 2024 Award Recipient

Throughout 2024, HPCF saw internal growth, with both the Governing Board and Associate Leadership Council (ALC) welcoming new members. “We were thrilled to welcome Cere Woods and ALC co-chair Ashley Kelly to the Governing Board mid-year, and Bonnie Mervis and Tami Gilbert in the late fall,” noted Laurie Levin, HPCF Board Chair. The ALC also expanded in 2024, bringing on Ken Sabino, Andrew Sigesmund, and Zachary Harris, with Eric Zoberman also rejoining the board. With these additions, the ALC updated its mission statement to better guide its social, community service, and fundraising goals. In the spring, the Foundation also welcomed Steve Schapiro as the new Director of Philanthropy, bringing years of philanthropic experience and fresh ideas to our organization.

In early summer, the Foundation distributed a second round of Recovery Fund grants, totaling $127,500, to organizations continuing to address the needs of community members impacted by the Highland Park shooting. Funding for these grants came from individual donors, corporate matches, participants in the June Highland Park Half Marathon, 5K, and 1-mile races, as well as the November Highland Park Turkey Trot, and the August Rock the Ride for Gun Violence Prevention.

For Board members, the summer was filled with grant work. After the July 15 application deadline, they spent weeks reviewing submissions, meeting with applicants, and making important funding decisions. Their dedicated efforts led to the awarding of $873,075 in Annual Grants to 65 organizations—a significant increase from the previous year’s total of $784,825. These grants, which support nonprofits addressing the needs of Highland Park and Highwood residents, were distributed in October at The Art Center Highland Park, a long-standing HPCF grantee.

The summer was also filled with great music at Food Truck Thursdays and the Wednesday Ravinia Farmers Market in Jens Jensen Park, both of which were supported by HPCF funding. Additionally, we participated in Highwood’s Evening Gourmet Market and Highland Park’s National Night Out.

In September, the Foundation hosted its fifth annual Gather for Good fundraising event, raising nearly $260,000. The event was generously hosted by Binny’s Beverage Depot in Highland Park, where guests enjoyed a fun and lively evening, with food graciously provided by 25 local restaurants. Pablo Alvarez was honored with the 2024 Jack Blane Community Service Award for his unwavering dedication to improving the community, from his work as a Highland Park High School guidance counselor to his service as a Moraine Township Trustee. We could not think of a more deserving candidate.

2024 Gather for Good

In the fall, the Foundation also co-hosted “The Art of Communication,” the seventh seminar for nonprofits sponsored by HPCF in partnership with First Bank of Highland Park and the Highland Park Chamber of Commerce. During this seminar, a distinguished panel of experts shared valuable insights, tools, and strategies to help nonprofits communicate more effectively with their audiences and advance their missions.

2024 Nonprofit Seminar, The Art of Communication

Lastly, in 2024, we made a small but meaningful change that underscores our longstanding commitment to both Highland Park and Highwood. After more than thirty years of serving residents from both zip codes, we updated our logo to include the subline Strengthening Highland Park and Highwood since 1992. This addition “reinforces our commitment to addressing the unmet needs of both communities while also highlighting the Foundation’s role as a unifying force between them,” explained Laurie.

Updated Highland Park Community Foundation Logo

2024 was a banner year for HPCF, marked by significant milestones, deeper community engagement, and meaningful internal growth. We awarded more Annual Grants and provided more funding than ever before, participated in and hosted events that brought both residents and grantees closer together, and experienced positive changes within the Foundation that will help us continue to serve the community effectively. As we look ahead, we are excited to build on this momentum. We will continue to seek new ways to deepen our partnerships and ensure we are meeting the evolving needs of Highland Park and Highwood, further strengthening our impact.

As Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) continues to strengthen its role in addressing unmet needs across Highland Park and Highwood, thoughtful growth of the Governing Board remains a key priority. Ensuring that the Board reflects the evolving community it serves—across generations, backgrounds, and experiences—is central to the Foundation’s long-term vision.

According to Laurie Levin, Chair of HPCF’s Membership Committee, welcoming new board members is both a responsibility and an opportunity. “One of my goals, both during my time as Chair of the Foundation and now as Chair of the Membership Committee, is to bring fresh, younger talent to the Governing Board,” Laurie shared. “We’ve made great progress in recent years, and Lindsie is a wonderful example of exactly of the kind of leadership we’re seeking.”

HPCF is pleased to welcome Lindsie Miller as its newest Governing Board member. A Highland Park resident since 2011, Lindsie brings deep local roots, a strong commitment to education, and a genuine passion for community-based philanthropy. Originally from the south suburbs, she and her husband lived in Chicago before settling in Highland Park, where they have raised their family and built lasting connections.

“What stood out immediately about Lindsie,” Laurie noted, “is how many meaningful touchpoints she already has within the community. She has been deeply involved in education and volunteer work, and everyone who has worked with her speaks highly of her enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and ability to lead.”

In addition to joining the HPCF Governing Board, Lindsie is actively involved throughout the community. She serves as a Trustee for the 112 Education Foundation, volunteers with the Moraine Township Food Pantry, the Highland Park High School PTO, and Blessings in a Backpack, and is deeply committed to causes that hold personal meaning for her family. Lindsie raises funds and awareness for the Maureen N. Miller Food Pantry at Respond Now, in honor of her late mother-in-law, as well as the Abe Chait Huskie Pride Scholarship at Northern Illinois University, established in memory of her late father.

Though new to the Foundation, Lindsie was drawn to HPCF’s mission of giving where you live—a philosophy that strongly resonates with her values. “I love the idea of supporting the local community where you live and can see the direct impact,” Lindsie shared. “There is real need here that many people don’t always recognize, and it’s important to be part of an organization that helps address that.”

As a Governing Board member, Lindsie is eager to help guide the Foundation’s future while remaining true to its founding mission. “It’s important to play a role in the leadership of the Foundation and where it’s going,” she said. “Helping ensure that we stay aligned with our mission, while continuing to grow and do great things, is really meaningful to me.” Lindsie will serve on HPCF’s Grants Committee, a role Laurie describes as “the heart of the Foundation’s work.”

“The grants process is truly at the core of what we do,” Laurie explained. “Along with her fellow board members, Lindsie will review applications, participate in the vetting process, and help determine which organizations receive funding. I’m excited to see how her experience and perspective will strengthen our work.”

Looking ahead, Lindsie is eager to immerse herself fully, learning more about the nonprofit organizations HPCF supports and finding ways to expand the Foundation’s impact. “I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone on the Board and really rolling up my sleeves,” she said. “Understanding the organizations we support and how we can make an even bigger impact is something I’m very excited about.”

Beyond her professional and volunteer commitments, Lindsie’s connection to Highland Park is deeply personal. She and her husband have twin sons who are freshmen at Highland Park High School and have grown up in the community. “This is where we’ve built our family,” Lindsie shared. “We love how supportive and compassionate this community is, and it means so much to be able to give back in a way that truly matters.”

For Laurie Levin, Lindsie’s appointment reflects the direction she hopes the Membership Committee will continue to pursue. “She brings experience, generosity, and a deep sense of purpose to everything she does,” Laurie said. “I’m confident Lindsie will be a thoughtful, engaged, and impactful member of the Governing Board.”

As HPCF looks ahead, voices like Lindsie Miller’s help ensure the Foundation remains inclusive, responsive, and deeply connected to the community it serves.

Seniors deserve the opportunity to age in place, be safe in their homes, and enjoy life in our community. Being active and engaged also improves their social, emotional, and physical health. Yet, they often need help with daily routines, getting around town, participating in activities, and connecting with friends. Finding the help they need, determining how to pay for it, solving legal issues, and discovering community support are also challenges for many seniors. These issues dissipate, however, when appropriate programming is accessible and affordable. Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) is committed to ensuring positive outcomes and improving the overall quality of life for all Highland Park and Highwood residents, including older adults.

There are a number of programs and services available for older adults in our community, such as those offered by Highland Park’s Senior Center. However, for seniors 85 years of age and older, who have compromised mobility or cognitive impairment, there is a resource gap. That’s where Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers, one of HPCF’s grant recipients, focuses its work. “The kind of services that are out there don’t always fulfill seniors’ needs. For example, those with compromised mobility need assistance when leaving the home — our volunteers go to their door, help them to the car, and provide escorted transportation for errands they need to run. Our volunteers are trained and supervised to carry out this sort of escorted transportation that is not offered by anyone else in the community,” said Robbie Boudreau, Executive Director

Faith in Action Volunteers is about more than escorted transportation, however. Their programs and services fill gaps in four areas of unmet needs: transportation, social support, behavioral health, and resource counseling. In terms of social support, for example, Faith in Action founded a group known as the Supportive Older Women’s Network (SOWN) where women come together in social settings for activities like dinners, women’s discussion groups, and pet therapy. “We identified that there were a number of older women who needed to start developing a family of friends to lean on, so we started SOWN to help facilitate that.” Additionally, Faith in Action offers a Movement and Balance class in the Frank Peers building to remove obstacles that impede older adults from incorporating age-appropriate fitness into their lives.

HPCF Grant Recipient Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers

500 community members. “The HPCF has helped with capacity building and has allowed us to create new programs. We became a dementia friendly business, and we now have some dementia friendly special services in addition to having volunteers who are dementia friends that can provide special resource counseling to family caregivers. Additionally, we have a family caregiver support group.”

Faith in Action Volunteers is a non-denominational and inter-faith, volunteer-based organization. “Volunteers come from a variety of different churches and synagogues as well as coming from the community in general. We are always looking for additional volunteers to help us grow and reach more seniors in the community,” Robbie added.

Seniors also need places to safely engage in physical activity and express themselves artistically and spiritually. HPCF grant recipient, Time to Dance, focuses on just that, providing adults 50 years old and above a safe space to take ballet, dance fitness, modern, and tap dance classes. Co-Founder Lynne Belsky notes that “Seniors in any community can have problems with isolation and interconnectedness, and it can be hard for our older population to get the exercise that their doctors recommend. So, on a basic level, that’s what we do: provide a community of people who can move together and improve their wellbeing in mental, social, and physical ways.” Lynne, a professional dancer, along with Lisa Gold, dance educator and owner of Highland Park’s North Shore School of Dance, realized this shared vision by creating the nonprofit, Time to Dance.

With the support of HPCF grant funding, Time to Dance is offering a “Free Day of Dance” for adults 50 and up on Sunday, April 14. Morning and afternoon sessions, each with an 80-person capacity, will include 20-minute trial segments of the four types of dance classes they offer. Registration is available on the Time to Dance website, time-to-dance.org. Over the past six years, Time to Dance has grown substantially, recruiting new students and teachers, and starting new classes to reach an even greater number of older adults. It has also, in a relatively short time, developed into an influential organization that positively impacts its students, as attested to by student Caryn Newburger, “Going to class is the highlight of my day. The positive feeling that comes from it carries with me for the rest of the day.”

HPCF Grant Recipient Time to Dance

In addition to offering dance classes, Time to Dance participates in outreach events at a number of senior living and memory care facilities. “Our students have an opportunity to perform at these events, and we also get people there to join in and dance with us. It gives our students a goal to work toward throughout the year and encourages even more seniors to sign up for classes,” said Lynne

Lynne said she hopes to expand their offerings by adding a basic beginning class. “Our beginning ballet class has been going on for six years now and is a huge hit. All of our classes are drop in and it can be difficult for a new person to walk in and just start learning, so we’re ready to add a basic beginning class.” Lynne also noted that, “Scholarships are available for community members if they contact us about it. We believe no one should be turned away based on their ability to pay.” Finally, Lynne recognizes how important safe movement practices can be for seniors. “I’m a physician and a physical therapist, and we have taken education on safe dance practices. People feel more comfortable because we adapt the classes and the moves to what they can do.”

HPCF’s Board is grateful for all Time to Dance and Faith in Action Volunteers do forHighland Park and Highwood seniors. To learn more about them and our other grant recipients, visit hpcfil.org.

The Highland Park Community Foundation (HCPF) recently awarded 63 grants, totaling $784,825, to organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for Highland Park and Highwood residents. These grants will be used to address the educational, human service, creative, and cultural arts needs of young children, teens, families, single adults, individuals with disabilities, and seniors in our community and expand opportunities for all residents. The awards topped all previous annual grant award distributions and were announced on October 25th at an event the HPCF held for its grant recipients.

“We’re honored to have the opportunity to address unmet needs in Highland Park and Highwood. Our grant process is a rigorous and intensive team effort involving every single board member,” says Eric Ephraim, Grants Committee Chair, speaking to the importance of the grants to strengthening the community. He continues, “we are grateful for the very generous financial support from individuals, families, foundations, and businesses – as well as the City of Highland Park – who entrust us to find the most effective organizations to serve our neighbors. This helps ensure opportunities for success and lives of dignity for as many in our community as possible. That’s how our community foundation can be a foundation for the community.”

The HPCF 2023 annual grant recipients include: the 112 Education Foundation, A Safe Place, Anixter Center, Art Impact Project, Arts of Life, Bella Ru Catering, 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 Affordable Housing, Curt’s Café, Direct Giving Lab, East on Central Association, Family Focus HP, Family Service of Glencoe, Focus on the Arts, Glenkirk, GPF Foundation, Gratitude Generation, Heart of the City, Highland Park Community Early Learning Center, Highland Park Historical Society, Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park Strings, Highwood Public Library & Community Center, HP After Prom, HPHS – Estudiante to Student Mentor Program, HPHS – Homework Club, HPHS – National Hispanic Institute, Infinity Foundation, JCFS Chicago Response for Teens, JCYS – 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, Operation Warm, Parks Foundation of Highland Park, Pilgrim Chamber Players, Roberti Community House, SaLT – Service and Learning Together, Save a Star Drug Awareness Foundation, Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers, The Art Center Highland Park, 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.

Grant recipients readily shared the significance of the grants to their organizations as well as what they plan to accomplish with their funding. “Keeping Families Covered has been blessed to receive a grant from the Highland Park Community Foundation for the past few years. The funding supports our important work to provide individuals and families with the basics they need to thrive. Like many local nonprofit and social service organizations, we continue to see an increase in requests for help with essentials like diapers, formula, and period products. Demand for our programs has doubled since 2020, and the cost to keep our shelves stocked is higher. We are grateful for the Foundation’s belief in our mission and continued investment in programs that provide much needed assistance to the most vulnerable residents in the community,” said Ann Marie Mathis, Founder & CEO of Keeping Families Covered.

Reflecting upon the impact of The Art Center Highland Park’s grant, James Lynch, Executive Director, said, “The HPCF is the hub of the wheel for our and other not-for-profit organizations in Highland Park and Highwood. Their support empowers us to add more community-building programs to our schedule and to keep striving for new ways to be current, active, and relevant. We consider them one of our most urgent partners.” Nancy Bulzoni, Executive Director of Cancer Wellness Center, stated, “We are proud partners of the Highland Park Community Foundation addressing the unmet needs of all Highland Park and Highwood residents as we expand cancer support services to reach more people. The Cancer Wellness Center helps people affected by cancer find a way forward. Support from the Foundation helps provide counseling and support group services to those facing cancer – patients, survivors, and their loved ones. As a nonprofit that relies on donations, we are grateful for every dollar we receive, and support from the community we serve is even more special.”

The annual grants the HPCF provides not only fortify individuals, they strengthen our community as a whole. The HPCF thanks its generous donors as well as the City of Highland Park for supporting its mission and furthering its vision of an inclusive, well-rounded, and vibrant community where residents’ lives are enriched through its philanthropic efforts.

HPCF Grant Recipient Bitter Jester Music Festival, 2023 Preliminary Concert Photo by Alex Glassman

HPCF Grant Recipient 112 Education Foundation, Robotics Tournament

HPCF Grant Recipient Highwood Library, Book Buffet

HPCF Grant Recipient Josselyn, Counseling Session

HPCF Grant Recipient Roberti Community House, Food Distribution

HPCF Grant Recipient Southeast Lake County Faith in Action, Senior Care

HPCF Grant Recipient Tri Con Child Care Center, Learning through Play

Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) is thrilled to welcome Tami Gilbert and Bonnie Mervis to our Board of Directors, along with Zach Harris, Ken Sabino, and Andrew Sigesmund to our Associate Leadership Council (ALC). Thanks to the dedication of community members like Tami, Bonnie, Zach, Ken, and Andrew, our mission to address unmet needs in Highland Park and Highwood continues to flourish. Their passion and commitment inspire us as we begin a year of impactful work, starting with Treats for the Streets, HPCF’s ALC-led project for the City of Highland Park’s annual MLK Day of Service event.

Bonnie Mervis

Bonnie Mervis is a lifelong Highland Park resident who grew up in the community and returned to stay in 1976. She worked as a social worker at Indian Trail Elementary School for 23 years––a role she cherished and one that gave her a deep understanding of the needs within our community. Now retired, Bonnie previously ran a private practice in Highland Park and has an extensive background in training school social workers. Her involvement with the HPCF began after volunteering at the Foundation’s 2024 Gather for Good fall fundraiser. “I was really moved by the experience,” she recalls. “I saw people from the schools I worked at and people that I grew up with; I just felt like this is where I belong, and this is what I want to do.” Reflecting on her decision to join the Board of Directors, Bonnie shared, “I am really proud of Highland Park and Highwood, I think this is an amazing community, and I believe the Board of the Foundation is a big part of that.”

Tami Gilbert

Tami Gilbert brings over three decades of experience in the healthcare sector as a Registered Nurse with an MBA in Nursing Administration. Her expertise provides a valuable perspective on fostering a healthier community and encouraging healthy habits–– something she is deeply passionate about. A Highland Park resident since 2009, Tami has raised her children in the community and is eager to channel her dedication to community development into her new role as an HPCF Board Member. Sharing what excites her most as a new Board member, Tami said “I am looking forward to the type of collaborative work that comes with this position. There are so many amazing organizations in the community working to improve the quality of life of the residents of Highland Park and Highwood, and I am excited to serve as a liaison between them and the Foundation.”

Zach Harris

The Foundation is also honored to welcome Zach Harris, Ken Sabino, and Andrew Sigesmund to the ALC, a group of dedicated future community leaders committed to advancing HPCF’s vision. Zach, a Highland Park native, returned to the community in 2020 after completing medical school and residency on the East Coast. Since then, he has established a psychiatry practice in Highland Park and dedicates his free time to giving back to the community where he was raised. Reflecting on his decision to join the ALC, Zach shared, “Coming back to Highland Park, I wanted to be more a part of the community, to connect with folks, to embrace some of the things that make this a really special place that maybe you don’t realize when you’re a teenager growing up here.” He added, “The ALC is a great chance to get to know some of the other members of the Foundation who are younger and trying to figure out what their relationship with philanthropy in the community looks like.”

Ken Sabino

In addition to Zach, we are thrilled to welcome Ken Sabino to the ALC. Ken, who has lived in the Highland Park and Highwood community since 2021 with his wife and four-year- old son, works as a Residential Real Estate Agent with Baird & Warner, helping individuals and families find homes in the Chicagoland area. His recent decision to join the ALC was driven by his desire to give where he lives, investing time and effort back into the community where he is raising his son. “I love Highland Park, and I have been meaning to get involved philanthropically for a while now because we are so grateful for everything this community offers. I finally got to a point in my life where I was able to dedicate time to giving back, and I wanted to take advantage of that,” Ken said. He added, reflecting on the importance of his role in the Foundation, “I have really enjoyed getting to know the grant recipient organizations that provide vital services to the community. It has been very rewarding to be a part of that process.”

Andrew Sigesmund

Joining Zach and Ken is Andrew Sigesmund, a longtime Highland Park resident and successful entrepreneur. After returning to the community in 2011 to raise his family and grow his business, AMS Staffing, Inc., Andrew sought a way to give back. “I wanted to join the ALC as a way to show my children the importance of community,” he said. “Being part of the Foundation allows me to give back to the amazing community that has given so much to my family. Over the past few years, I’ve witnessed incredible strength in the Highland Park and Highwood community, especially in difficult times, and I wanted to be directly involved in supporting the efforts that HPCF fosters.”

Zach, Ken, and Andrew will join other ALC members in spearheading this year’s MLK Day of Service project, which reflects the Foundation’s commitment to community support and gratitude. Led this year by the ALC, HPCF’s project brings together local children, members of its Boards, and community volunteers to assemble and deliver care packages to Highland Park and Highwood’s hardworking Police, Fire, and Public Works Departments.

Eric Zoberman

ALC Co-Chair Eric Zoberman explained, “Treats for the Streets is our way of recognizing and thanking first responders for all they do to support our community. During the event, children and adults create heartfelt notes for the recipients, expressing gratitude for keeping us safe. We include the notes in care packages filled with treats, designed to offer a quick pick-me-up during an emergency or on a cold, winter night. At the end of the event, we deliver the packages to the Departments as an additional way to express our gratitude.”

This annual project provides a fun and meaningful opportunity for the Foundation and the community to show their appreciation for the essential work these individuals do to keep Highland Park and Highwood safe, beautiful, and welcoming for all residents.

The City’s MLK Day of Service program will take place on Monday, February 17th at the Highland Park Recreation Center. The event will begin at 10 AM and end at 12:30 PM. For more information about the event, visit the City of Highland Park’s MLK Day page. To learn about the new members of HPCF’s Board of Directors and ALC, visit hpcfil.org.

This March, the Highland Park Community Foundation’s (HPCF) Associate Leadership Council (ALC) is bringing Bocce Night back after its successful debut in 2020. On Saturday, March 7, from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., the ALC will host the event at the Highwood Bocce Club, offering residents of Highland Park and Highwood a fun, welcoming evening of friendly competition, connection, and an opportunity to learn more about HPCF’s mission of giving where you live.

Designed as an accessible and fun introduction to the Foundation’s work (HPCF), Bocce Night aims to connect new audiences with HPCF in a relaxed, social setting. For ALC member Ken Sabino, who is helping to lead the event, the evening is about visibility, outreach, and strengthening community ties. It also continues the tradition of bringing people together through fun community-focused gatherings.

“The goal of the event is to raise awareness about HPCF, especially the ALC, and the good work being done to support residents,” Ken shared. “A lot of it is also about bringing in people who may not know about us yet but want to give back to their community.”

That focus on expanding awareness is central to the ALC’s mission. As ALC Co-Chair and HPCF Governing Board member Taryn Kessel explained, the ALC plays a key role in broadening the Foundation’s reach.

“We’re really trying to expand our visibility and attract different demographics in the area,” Taryn said. “We want to reach more people who might want to get involved or become donors to support our mission.”

Beyond hosting events, the ALC serves as a bridge between the HPCF and the next generation of community leaders. “Our role is really about building future leaders,” Taryn shared. “Before the ALC started, I felt like the visibility of the Foundation skewed toward a demographic rooted in the original founders. But there are so many younger families and returning residents who were raised here and are now raising families of their own.”

Many of those residents, she noted, are searching for meaningful ways to give back, often without realizing that HPCF already exists and aligns with their values. “They may not know about the Foundation,” Taryn said, “but it’s exactly what they’re looking for. Our work touches so many lives in the community.”

From supporting cultural and creative arts, education, human services, senior services, and services for individuals with disabilities, HPCF’s reach is broad. “We really cast a wide net in strengthening this community,” Taryn explained. “The ALC helps make that work more visible to a younger cohort, so more people want to be involved.”

At its core, Bocce Night is meant to be joyful and inclusive. “This is just supposed to be a really fun night to come together,” Ken said. “It’ll be an inexpensive way for people to get out of the house, have fun, and help spread the word about HPCF and the ALC.” Taryn echoed that sentiment, adding, “I think it’s going to be an entertaining night that helps raise awareness about who we are and what we do.”

With friendly competition, shared purpose, and a commitment to connection, the ALC’s Bocce Night reflects the heart of HPCF — bringing people together to strengthen the community they call home.

For more information about Bocce Night, email info@hpcfil.org. To purchase tickets for the event please visit tinyurl.com/alcbocce

Every Wednesday and Thursday, throughout the summer, the sounds of lively music and community members gathering emanate from Jens Jensen Park at the corner of St. Johns and Roger Williams in Highland Park. This now eight-year-old happening began as small Sunday morning jam sessions started by Highland Park resident Noah Plotkin at a coffee shop on that same corner. Needing more space to accommodate ever-growing audiences, the concert was moved to Jens Jensen Park where it eventually became a full lineup of musical performances at Food Truck Thursdays — an event enjoyed by Highland Park and Highwood residents of all ages.

The Meadow Ridge Ramblers performing at the Ravinia Farmers Market, 2022. Photo by Noah Plotkin.

The Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) provides funding for the concerts through its Jens Jensen Legacy Fund, which was established in 1994 to honor Jens Jensen and his vision for the Park. “Jens Jensen was a landscape architect. He wanted his park to be enjoyed not only for its beauty, but also used to celebrate arts and culture, for social gatherings, music, and poetry readings. It thus seemed logical to our Board to provide funding for music in the Park as a way to honor his legacy and fulfill his vision,” said Laurie Levin, HPCF Vice-Chair. Three years ago, inspired by the success of Food Truck Thursdays, Noah and the HPCF collaborated to bring music to the Wednesday Ravinia Farmers Market as well.

Families gathering to enjoy Food Truck Thursday in Jens Jensen Park. Photo by Mark Hersch

Noah, born and raised in Highland Park, has always been passionate about music. He is a percussionist as well as a music director and has coordinated the music in the Park for the past eight years. “I love working with the HPCF. They’ve always seen my passion as something that is key for bringing neighborhoods and communities together to enjoy live music. Jens Jensen Park is an amazing space to host performances during Food Truck Thursdays and the Ravinia Farmer’s Market. With funding from the HPCF, the City of Highland Park, and the Ravinia District Special Service Area 17 property owners, we’re doing wonderful things for the community every Wednesday and Thursday,” he said.

Live music in Jens Jensen Park has made Highland Park more vibrant and engaging. “It’s a way of celebrating who we are and enjoying the cultural fruits of the talents that are in our midst,” said Laurie when reflecting on the importance of these events. For more information, visit enjoyhighlandpark.com/food-truck-thursdays and raviniafarmersmarket.com. For more information on Noah Plotkin, visit www.liferhythmsinc.com.

Nominations for the Highland Park Community Foundation’s (HPCF) 2024 Golden Apple Award are now open! The HPCF Golden Apple Award honors and recognizes teachers who display excellence in their profession as well as those who leave a lasting, positive impact on their students in the Highland Park and Highwood community. The annual HPCF Golden Apple Award will be awarded in spring 2024 to a Highland Park High School teacher who exemplifies 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 student’s lives through their academic guidance and encouragement.”

HPCF 2024 Golden Apple Award nominations will be accepted for full-time teachers currently working at Highland Park High School. Community members – students, parents, colleagues, and administrators – may submit nominations. Nominations by family members and self-nominations will not, however, be accepted. To nominate an educator, please visit https://bit.ly/3PiLEJG.

L to R: 2023 HPCFGA Award Recipient Mirela Vesa with finalists Rachel Joseph, Meredith Rossman, and HPCFGA Committee Chair Sara Sher

“The Golden Apple Award is a wonderful opportunity to recognize and thank our high school teachers for the outstanding work they do,” said Jean Meadows, HPCF Board liaison to the HPCFGA Committee. “They create exciting, thoughtful, and engaging learning experiences for our diverse student population. And they build meaningful personal relationships with children and parents. Our teachers are such a valuable resource in our caring community.”

The HPCF Golden Apple Award honoree will receive a $2,000 honorarium, a $500 Apple Store gift card, and a Golden Apple statue. There will also be a celebration in recognition of the recipient at the high school, and they will be honored by the HPCF after the award presentation.

In order to be eligible for the award, the nominee must have completed four full years of teaching. Educators must also be committed to continue teaching in the Highland Park and Highwood community for at least two years and be part of the Golden Apple Selection Committee after receiving the HPCF Golden Apple Award. Nominations will be accepted until Wednesday, November 17, 2023, at 5:00 P.M.

Show your appreciation for the outstanding HPHS teachers 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.