The Highland Park Community Foundation Announces the Appointment of Terri Olian as Executive Director
Highland Park, IL - October 10, 2017: The Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) is proud to announce the appointment of Terri Olian to the position of Executive Director.
"I'm proud to announce the appointment of the Highland Park Community Foundation's first Executive Director, Terri Olian," said Peter Flanzer, Chairman of the Highland Park Community Foundation. "We decided to add this new leadership position to enable us to accelerate the growth of the Foundation and elevate its profile within the community while continuing its important mission of providing funds to the organizations that support the residents of Highland Park and Highwood. With Terri at the helm, I have every confidence in our ability to create new avenues for HPCF to achieve its mission and leverage its involvement with in the community."
As Executive Director, Ms. Olian will leverage her laudable leadership skills and extensive background in community and civic service to support all facets of the HPCF. She will also be responsible for strategic initiatives to increase donor activity. In her new role, she will continue to elevate the Highland Park Community Foundation's profile within the community, including driving day-to-day operations, recruiting key volunteers, developing alliances, and championing HPCF's goals. Ms. Olian will report directly to Peter Flanzer, Chairman of the Highland Park Community Foundation.
The public-spirited Ms. Olian brings an impressive number of years of service-minded commitment to the Highland Park/Highwood Community. As an elected official, serving as Councilwoman for the City of Highland Park from 2005 to 2011, Ms. Olian functioned as Council Liaison to numerous commissions and committees including the Business & Economic Development Commission, Design Review Commission, Human Relations Commission, Senior Center Advisory, and Sister Cities Foundation. During her tenure as Councilwoman, she also collaborated on a robust number of community-focused initiatives including the Downtown Business Alliance, Green Initiatives Alliance, Healthy Highland Park Task Force, Late Nite Highland Park, and Community: The Anti-Drug (formerly Parents: The Anti-Drug).
A true champion of the community, Ms. Olian was a Board Member on the North Shore School District 112 from 1999-2005, while concurrently holding an impressive roster of civic and community board positions. Currently, Ms. Olian continues to offer her support to both First Bank of Highland Park as a CRA Advisory Board Member and Community Partners for Affordable Housing as a Governing Board Member. She previously provided leadership expertise to the latter organization as President from 2012 to 2014.
Throughout her 30+ year philanthropic volunteer career, Ms. Olian has contributed a vast array of knowledge and expertise to improving the Highland Park community by serving and supporting the initiatives of over 19 community and civic organizations.
"With the addition of Terri to the leadership team of the Highland Park Community Foundation, and the support of our dedicated volunteer Board of Directors, the HPCF will continue to help our community by providing grants to organizations that support community residents with needed services and enhance their lives," said Nancy Mills, Vice-Chairman of the Highland Park Community Foundation.
For more information on the Highland Park Community Foundation please visit: www.hpcommunityfoundation.com.
About Highland Park Community Foundation: The Highland Park Community Foundation was established in 1992 at the request of the City of Highland Park to build and maintain a permanent endowment fund. The fund serves to support and expand the services of social service, cultural, and educational agencies in Highland Park and Highwood. It is also used to nurture the early stages of new and innovative programs. The Foundation's avowed purpose is to "meet the unmet needs" of the community - needs that are not met by governmental or other sources.