2019 Highland Park Community Foundation Grant Awards Reception Distributes an Unprecedented $525,000 in Grants
50 Programs and Services Will Receive Grants Benefiting Highland Park/Highwood Residents
Highland Park, IL - November 14, 2019: The Highland Park Community Foundation (HPCF) held its annual Grant Awards Reception on Wednesday, November 13th at the Highland Park Community House in downtown Highland Park. This year, the Foundation awarded an awe-inspiring $525,000 in grants to nonprofits that provide programs and services for Highland Park and Highwood residents.
Since 1992, HPCF has provided support to expand the services of social, cultural and educational agencies in Highland Park and Highwood. Each year, the Foundation is proud to provide grants to support organizations that address unmet needs in our community and expand opportunities for all Highland Park and Highwood residents.
"This year, we're thrilled to award more grant dollars than ever in the Foundation's history," said Nancy Mills, Chairman of the Highland Park Community Foundation. "Our grant awards include grant funding from the City of Highland Park for distribution to nonprofits. This, combined with $225,000 from our endowment - a record amount for the Foundation - enabled us to award 50 grants to support the exemplary work of so many organizations that help our community."
The 2019 Grant Awards Reception opened with a celebratory cocktail reception and a musical performance by students from Midwest Young Artist Conservatory. Chairman Mills welcomed the attendees, which included guest speakers, honorees, grant recipients, City Council members Alyssa Knobel, Kim Stone and Dan Kaufman, numerous donors, and HPCF Board Members.
2019's guest speakers and honorees included: Sara Sher, Highland Park Community Foundation Golden Apple Committee Chair; Patricia Castro, fifth grade dual language teacher at Oak Terrace Elementary School and 2019 Highland Park Community Foundation Golden Apple Award recipient; Alicia De La Cruz, founder and coordinator of the Working Together program at Highland Park High School (a HPCF grant-funded program) and several HPHS students who have benefited from programs supported by the Foundation.
Vice-Chairman David Reich and HPCF Board Member and Reception Chairman, Sofia Alvarez, presented the grant awards. Vice-Chairman David Reich closed the evening's special award segments. For a complete list of the HPCF 2019 Grant Recipients, please visit:https://hpcfil.org/2019/11/12/highland-park-community-foundation2018-grant-recipients/.
"Our goal as an organization is to support programs and organizations that benefit our community," said Mr. Reich. "We are thrilled to assist these worthy organization that provide opportunities for community members of all ages."
All of the food, beverages, and décor for the Grant Awards Reception were generously donated by Sunset Foods. In addition to the many individuals, families, and private foundations who support the Foundation's work, the following corporate sponsors have given generously to the Foundation this year: ALX Salon, Autohaus on Edens, Bartlett Wealth Management, Bob Baizer/Romanucci & Blandin, Binny's Beverage Depot, First Bank of Highland Park, Fox Swibel Levin & Carroll, LLP, Fulton Developers, Guy Scopelliti Landscape, Inc., Highland Park Bank & Trust, HLM Capital, IC Signs & Graphics, Illinois Bone & Joint Institute, Jasculca Terman Strategic Communications, Keyth Technologies, Kovitz Investment Group, Law Firm of Becker Gurian, Martin Associates, Mesirow Financial, Morgante Wilson Architects, North Shore Compassionate Care, Porsche Exchange, PwC, RMB Capital, Sunset Foods, The Ribbon Print Company, True Juice, Tucker Development, Valerie Wilson Travel Inc., Highland Park, and Wipfli LLP.
The HPCF accepts grant proposals from governmental agencies and organizations that have 501(c)(3) non-profit status. The population they serve must be at least 51% Highland Park/Highwood residents. All grant proposals must be received by July 15th of the application year. For more information, please visit: https://hpcfil.org/.
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. As the philanthropic heart of the community, the HPCF improves and enriches people's lives with annual grants to nonprofits that provide educational, social service, and cultural programs for Highland Park and Highwood residents. The Foundation's avowed purposes are to expand opportunities and address the unmet needs of the community - needs that are not met by governmental or other sources.