Hill's charity spreads across suburbs

Builder Kimball Hill Inc.'s charitable donations spread across the suburbs.

From new programs at local hospitals and colleges to the construction of a domestic violence shelter, the philanthropic efforts of the home builder and its leaders haven't gone unnoticed.

"It would be a tragedy for this community if this company goes out of existence," said Rebecca Darr, executive director of WINGS, a domestic violence agency.

If it wasn't for the Rolling Meadows-based homebuilder and the support of David Hill and his wife, Diane, WINGS wouldn't have its "safe house," which is a domestic violence shelter, she said.

Because of David Hill's influence with area companies, more than 75 trade partners came together to donate $750,000 worth of materials and labor to build the house. Since then, the Hills also donated $1 million to the home.

David Hill sits on the Harper College board of trustees. Besides making policy decisions for the Palatine college, he's also given a lot of time and money to better the campus.

"It's not just the money, but also the leadership," says Catherine Brod, the executive director of Harper's educational foundation.

At Harper, Kimball Hill Inc. and the Hill family personally have funded three major sculptures on campus.

The family has also given seed money to start the Kimball Hill Deaf Institute and has provided an endowment scholarship fund, Brod said.

At the college's 40th anniversary gala late last year, the Kimball Hill organization donated $50,000 to the college. The event was co-chaired by the Hill couple.

The Northwest Community Hospital Foundation is another beneficiary of the family's philanthropy.

"They have meant everything to Northwest," said David Ungurean, executive director of the hospital's foundation. "They are dear friends and tremendous people to this community."

At the hospital, Kimball Hill Inc. helped fund a new prostate cancer therapy program, he said.

David Hill and his company are well-known advocates for affordable housing.

Hill was a founding board member of the North West Housing Partnership, a Schaumburg-based non-profit that promotes economically diverse housing.

"This news is very sad and disheartening because he has picked up a legacy his family started so long ago," said Holly Fraccaro, the executive director.