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.

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.

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

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.

Community members and many others will walk and ride together for gun violence prevention on August 20 at Rock The Ride North Shore. Rock The Ride was established in 2018 in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Yountville, California, when Congressman Mike Thompson and Ride Napa Valley Event Producer Rebecca Kotch wanted to find a way to use their voices to say “enough” to gun violence. The annual ride is also a way to raise funds for organizations that are supporting those impacted by gun violence or dedicated to gun violence prevention. Rock The Ride North Shore will include a 25-mile ride, a 12-mile ride, and a 3-mile walk.

After six years in Napa, California, Rock The Ride is coming to the North Shore and will honor the victims and survivors of the Highland Park shooting. Congressman Brad Schneider, Rebecca Kotch, and Highland Park resident Pam Faulkner are spearheading the effort to produce the event, which will benefit the Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) and two national organizations, the Giffords Law Center and Moms Demand Action/Every Town for Gun Safety. “We saw how very thoroughly and generously the HPCF stepped forward in the immediate aftermath of the event. We wanted to honor that and support their ongoing efforts to support survivors and victims’ families through their grants to a number of nonprofits that are helping them,” stated Pam when reflecting on why she chose the HPCF as the local nonprofit beneficiary.

Rock The Ride Napa, June 24 2023

Through the HPCF’s Highland Park Shooting Recovery Fund, the Foundation continues to address the ongoing needs of victims for mental health and other services stemming from the event. “We are honored to have been chosen as one of the three nonprofit beneficiaries of Rock The Ride North Shore,” said Betsy Brint, HPCF Chairman. “While the other two recipients address the critical issues of gun violence nationally, we are a grassroots community foundation helping local organizations address mental health and other issues impacting community members as a result of the mass shooting in Highland Park last year. We are grateful for the combined efforts of the Pam and the entire Rock The Ride Team, the important work of Moms Demand Action/Everytown for Gun Safety and the Giffords Law Center, and the hundreds of participants.”

Pam adds that, as the community passes the anniversary of the shooting, it is more important than ever to continue to have events such as Rock The Ride. “I think it’s important to continue to raise awareness, and to understand that gun violence prevention is a multi-faceted issue. We have to be aware of the ongoing impact it can have. It’s crucial that we bring people together in non-divisive ways and allow people to get involved at places where they are comfortable. Rock The Ride is a family-friendly event where we can bring people together to address the prevention of gun violence,” she stated.

Scan QR Code for Rock The Ride North Shore Registration

Rock The Ride North Shore will take place on August 20, 2023. The event begins and ends in Hubbard Woods Park. Online registration closes at 3:00 PM on August 18 with check-in and day-of registration available at Hubbard Woods Park on August 20, starting at 7:00 AM. Entrance is free for children and youth aged 17 and under. The 25-mile ride begins at 8:15 AM, followed by the 15-mile ride at 8:45 AM and the 3-mile walk at 9:15 AM. The event includes a Burritos and Bubbles Brunch in the Park for all registrants, and a brunch-only and virtual option are available. For more information, visit Rock the Ride North Shore at http://bit.ly/3JKK3dW.

Join the Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) for its 4th annual Gather for Good celebration on Friday, September 29. The event kicks off at 6:30 PM at Binny’s Beverage Depot, 153 Skokie Valley Highway, Highland Park. Proceeds from this fun and informal event will be used to further the HPCF’s mission of addressing unmet needs in the Highland ParkHighwood community. “This event is a way for the community to celebrate the nonprofits that come together and create the quilt of community that makes Highland Park and Highwood so special,” said Jon Levey, Gather for Good co-chair.

The event raises funds and awareness about the crucial work of the Foundation and, through the Jack Blane Community Service Award, honors exceptional service to the community. “Part of the purpose of the event is to recognize our leaders and people who have made an impact in the community,” stated Peter Flanzer, event co-chair, about the importance of the Award. This year, the HPCF will honor Latham & Watkins LLP and recognize a team of lawyers from the firm.

Highland Park and Highwood residents mingling at the 2022 Gather for Good celebration

The law firm of Latham & Watkins was instrumental in helping the HPCF distribute $5.8 million to victims and survivors of the Highland Park shooting and organizations supporting their needs. Specifically, Highland Park resident Mark Gerstein and four of his colleagues – Dan Breslin, Diana Doyle, Karen Frankenthal, and Daniel Robinson – provided invaluable assistance to the HPCF’s Together Highland Park Unidos Committee. “Donors across the country and around the globe showed their generosity and compassion at a time when the residents of Highland Park and Highwood needed it most. Creating the legal structure to quickly and transparently distribute the funds helped to maximize their impact to victims and their families and made a tangible difference in our community,” said Betsy Brint, HPCF Board Chair. “No amount of compensation can replace a human life, but we thank Latham & Watkins for helping us take steps as a community to come back together and move forward. Their guidance throughout the process was truly a godsend.”

HPCF Chairman Betsy Brint (center) presenting the 2022 Jack Blane Community Service Award to Nancy Mills(left) with HPCF Board member Karen Reisin (right)

Gather for Good is a night for mingling and fun! The event will feature delicious food stations and drinks provided by 28 Mile Distilling, Backyard Grill, BellaRu Catering, Bent Fork Bakery, Binny’s Beverage Depot, Bluegrass, Carol’s Cookies, The Claim Company, Doña Paty’s Restaurant, Long Grove Confectionery Co., Maria’s Italian Bakery & Caffe, Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar, Once Upon A Bagel, Tamales…A Mexican Joint, and Viaggio Highland Park. It will also include wine tastings and an incredible raffle. “Being members of the community for 40 years, we appreciate everything that the HPCF does for everyone in the community, and we look forward to hosting this fun event as a way to give back,” said Keith Youngmann, Binny’s Specialist, Suburbs.

Recognizing the difference their support makes for children and adults throughout the Highland Park-Highwood community, over 100 individuals and businesses have already signed on as event sponsors. The HPCF hopes to increase that number in the coming weeks to maximize the success of the event and the good that can be done through individual and corporate philanthropy.

Gather for Good is a night for Highland Park and Highwood residents to gather, learn about the Foundation’s work and impact on the community, appreciate members of the community who have dedicated their time to giving where they live, recognize exceptional service to our community, and help further the Foundation’s mission of addressing unmet needs and expanding opportunities for all. For more information about donations, tickets, and how to add your or your business’s name to our list of sponsors please visit https://www.hpcfil.org/events/gather-for-good/!