Each year, the Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) awards a Personal Achievement Award to a graduating Highland Park High School (HPHS) senior who demonstrates perseverance and commitment to overcoming challenges to meet their personal goals. The recipient must also “exemplify the spirit of the Community Foundation in terms of being a part of their school community or other communities they are involved in,” said Nancy Mills, HPCF Board Member and Personal Achievement Award Committee Chair. In recognizing outstanding students who overcome obstacles, the HPCF honors those who demonstrate resiliency and dedication to their education. This year’s recipient, Carlos Sanchez, personifies these characteristics.

Carlos Sanchez

The global pandemic and consistent interruptions to regularly scheduled classes made school – and life – difficult for students. Yet, Carlos faced those and other challenges with strength and determination. “Carlos faced many difficulties related to Covid-19, Zoom learning, and personal matters. He showed remarkable resilience and persistence in working through these obstacles and setting goals for his future,” said HPCF Board and Award Committee Member Jean Meadows. She added, “Carlos is very artistic and has a good sense of humor. We know Carlos will build on his many skills, engaging personality, and perseverance to achieve his career and personal goals.”

HPCF Board Member Jean Meadows, HPHS teacher Sam Toro, Carlos Sanchez, HPCF Board Member Nancy Mills

Carlos’s ability to maintain a part-time job outside of school while pushing himself to always be his best self demonstrates his dedication to excellence, which will no doubt continue throughout his life. As one of his teachers, Sam Toro, noted “Carlos continued to improve his school attendance, challenged himself academically, held a part-time job outside of school, and took advantage of Homework Club. He independently applied to three different colleges in case he decided not to commit to joining the Marines after graduation.” The thought and effort Carlos put into preparing for his future are admirable.

The HPCF has awarded outstanding graduating students with the Personal Achievement Award since 2018. After reviewing nominations submitted by Highland Park High School staff, a small committee from the HPCF interviews the finalists and selects the winner. During the selection process, members of the Community Foundation have had the privilege to get to know a number of truly amazing students

Carlos Sanchez was awarded the Personal Achievement Award in May at Highland Park High School’s Student Honors Night. The HPHS Board and Staff congratulate him on all his hard work and wish him all the best in all his future endeavors.

Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) recently awarded 65 Annual Grants totaling $873,075 to organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of Highland Park and Highwood. These grants will be utilized to address the educational, human service, creative, and cultural arts needs of young children, teens, families, adults, individuals with disabilities, and seniors in our community as well as expand opportunities for all residents.

Since our founding, we have distributed over $7.3 million in grants to nonprofits serving our community. This total includes $6 million in Annual Grants, $240,000 in emergency COVID grants awarded in 2020 and 2021, and $1,074,500 in Highland Park Shooting Recovery and Response Fund grants distributed in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

HPCF is proud to support more than 60 organizations that deliver essential services to the residents of Highland Park and Highwood. “We’re honored to offer opportunities and support to our neighbors in Highwood and Highland Park,” said Eric Ephraim, Vice-Chair of HPCF’s Governing Board, when reflecting on the importance of the grants in strengthening the foundation of the community. “Each of our board members performs heavy due diligence to ensure that the money we raise is distributed to local organizations that will be effective. This process ensures the success of the funded programs and strengthens our community,” he continued. David Reich, a past Board Chair, added, “These grants, both small and large, have a significant impact on a broad cross-section of the community, enabling organizations to deliver services to those in need or provide educational, musical, or artistic experiences to community members. These grants impact the lives of individuals and enrich the community as a whole.”

HPCF’s 2024 Annual Grant recipients include: 112 Education Foundation, A Safe Place, Art Impact Project, Arts of Life, Arts4Impact, Bella Ru Catering Giving Program, 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, Erie Family Health Centers, Family Focus HP, Family Service of Glencoe, Focus on the Arts, Glenkirk, GPF Foundation, Gratitude Generation, Heart of the City, Highland Park After Prom, Highland Park Community Early Learning Center, Highland Park Historical Society, Highland Park Public Library, Highland Park Strings, Highwood Public Library & Community Center, Housing Opportunity Development Corporation, HPHS – Estudiante to Student Mentor Program, HPHS – Homework Club, HPHS – National Hispanic Institute, JCFS Chicago, JCYS – Lutz Family Center, Josselyn, Keeping Families Covered, Keshet, Kids Rank, Midwest Young Artists Conservatory, Mothers Trust Foundation, Music Institute of Chicago, North Shore School District 112 – Service Learning, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, Operation Warm, Parks Foundation of Highland Park, Pilgrim Chamber Players, Roberti Community House, SaLT – Service and Learning Together, Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers, The Art Center Highland Park, The Record North Shore, Time to Dance, Tri-Con Child Care Center, United Way of Lake County, Uptown Music Theater of Highland Park, Willow House, Working Together, Youth Services, and Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center.

Grant recipients shared the importance of these grants to their organizations and how the funding can help them strengthen the Highland Park-Highwood community. Susan Bell, Executive Director of College Bound Opportunities (CBO), said, “CBO is very grateful for the support the Highland Park Community Foundation has given to our Scholars from this community over the past 15 years. We are proud to count HPCF as a partner in our growth and success in advancing educational equity. HPCF has had a tremendous generational impact in Highland Park and Highwood, enabling 53 current students and 162 alumni who grew up in this community to earn their college degrees. Many of these graduates have returned here to live, work, and raise their families.” HPCF looks forward to witnessing how CBO will continue to grow and positively impact students’ lives in the future.

CBO Image, Caption: The extended Alonso-Melchor family, all of whom attended Highland Park High School and remain in the Highland Park and Highwood community, visiting freshman Ricky at Illinois State University’s fall family weekend. Pictured are Top Row: Dolores (CBO parent), Denisse (CBO Alumna, UIUC ’20), Ricky (CBO Scholar, ISU; HPHS ’24), Tati (CBO Alumna, UIUC ’12) Bottom: Aylin (CBO Scholar, Lake Forest College ’25), and Nicole (CBO Scholar, HPHS ’25). Not pictured: Diana Melchor (CBO Alumna, SIU ’17)

Reflecting upon the impact of their grant on Highland Park Community Early Learning Center, Executive Director Robin Byster said, “Highland Park Community Foundation’s Annual Grant has been instrumental in enhancing our programs. It allows us to provide high-quality, equitable early childhood education to families in Highland Park and Highwood, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive. This support not only benefits the children we serve but also strengthens our community by fostering a foundation for lifelong learning and development.”

Highland Park Community Early Learning Center, Caption: Robin Ruthie with students at the Highland Park Community Early Learning Center on the playground

“We are so grateful for the impactful partnership with HPCF!” stated Amy Rosenfeld Kaufman, Vice President of Community Relations at Community Partners for Affordable Housing. She continued, “The grant we receive supports our Community Land Trust (CLT) program in Highland Park, which provides homeownership opportunities for those who find affordable housing in the community out of reach. Many of our residents describe owning a home in Highland Park that they can afford as ‘a dream come true,’ noting feelings of stability and permanency. In addition, CLT homes are permanently affordable, helping household after household, enabling HPCF’s grant to live on into future generations. What a tremendous contribution to the community!”

Community Partners for Affordable Housing, Caption: Highland Park couple after closing on their new home

The Annual Grants HPCF awards not only uplift individuals but also enhance the community as a whole. This impact is made possible through the generosity of HPCF’s donors and the support of the City of Highland Park. Their contributions help realize our vision of an inclusive, well-rounded, and vibrant community where residents’ lives are enriched through our philanthropic efforts.

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

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

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

2024 HPCFGA Award Winner Jennifer Sobel

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

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

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

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

Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) is excited to introduce Steve Schapiro as the Foundation’s first Director of Philanthropy. As we continue to expand our reach and impact, dedicated leadership in fundraising and development will optimize the success of our efforts to address unmet needs and expand opportunities for all community members. Steve brings with him a vast amount of knowledge and experience to the Foundation and joins us with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities of the nonprofit sector. His professional background, coupled with a passion for improving lives, make him an ideal fit for this pivotal role.

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

Steve Schapiro

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

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

Executive Director Terri Olian added, “The decision to bring Steve on board reflects our commitment to strengthening our fundraising strategies, fostering donor relationships, and securing resources necessary to advance our mission. With Steve’s guidance and expertise, we are confident in our ability to expand our reach and make an even greater difference in the lives of children and adults throughout Highland Park and Highwood.”

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

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

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

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

2024 HPCF Golden Apple Awardee Sarah Douglas and Family Members

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mobile Food Bank

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

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

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

Tri-Con Child Care Center

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

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

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

CEL Bowling Night

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

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

Robot Revolution

A Community That Cares

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

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

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

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

Ashley Kelly

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

Cere Woods

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) is proud to welcome Freedom Home Care as our newest Corporate Champion! As a business dedicated to serving its community members, Freedom Home Care directly reflects HPCF’s mission of addressing unmet needs — specifically, in this case, senior care.

“Corporate Champions are vital to HPCF’s operations,” said HPCF Board Member Cookie Kohn. “They provide wonderful support, both in terms of their financial contributions and their broader engagement with us. We’re a part of a greater community, so the more we work together, the better.”

Local businesses play a vital role in advancing HPCF’s mission, and we are proud to partner with Freedom Home Care. Their commitment as a Corporate Champion helps strengthen and uplift the Highland Park-Highwood community.

“Our Corporate Champions are those local businesses that are demonstrating their leadership by standing up and supporting the Foundation because they know that the Foundation aids nonprofits that are the fabric of the community,” noted Jon Levey, HPCF Vice Chair.

“The beauty of Corporate Champions is that the community supports these local businesses as patrons — they are essential to keeping them going. In turn, these same businesses support the community,” added HPCF Board Member Jamie Strait Muller. “It’s a remarkable thing to see how everyone looks out for one another in a variety of ways.”

Freedom Home Care was founded in 1997 by Bob and Sharon Burack, two Highland Park residents who recognized a need to provide in home care for community members. “It was a natural transition to figure out a way to support these patients at home,” said Jenanne Rock, Director of Operations. “That was the original goal of Freedom Home Care: to find a way to provide services and support for people who need and want to remain at home and as independent as possible.”

Providing quality, customized care, Freedom Home Care treats every patient as an individual, strives to understand their needs, and meets them at every level of support. “From one hour of care to 24/7 coverage, we have staff to help with driving, errands, meal preparation, housekeeping, personal care, showering, short-term assistance after a hospitalization or an inpatient procedure, all the way through around-the-clock RN and LPN care. We truly have the full range of home care services,” Jenanne explained. “We are now also able to provide additional services through Home Health, which is an insurance-based service for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nursing.”

Freedom Home Care, like many of our Corporate Champions, has deep roots in our community. In addition to the Buracks, many of their employees live locally. Their home office is in Highland Park, with additional offices in Lake Forest, Vernon Hills, and Barrington. “We have children here, too. This is where our families are, and we are very committed to supporting people here in whatever ways we can,” Jenanne said. “We’re in a service business focused on helping people, and the philosophy of giving back is woven into everything we do. It’s all about caring for the community we live and work in.”

HPCF is honored to welcome Freedom Home Care as a Corporate Champion. With over 400 clients served per year — about 60% of them from Highland Park and Highwood — Freedom Home Care demonstrates a strong commitment to giving back to the community it serves.

If your business is interested in becoming a Corporate Champion, please contact Terri Olian, HPCF Executive Director, at terri@hpcfil.org.