Highland Park foundation awards $25,000 in grants

The Highland Park Community Foundation bolstered the work of 15 community agencies that assist Highland Park and Highwood residents with a fourth round of COVID-19 grants totaling $25,000.

With this round of emergency funding, the HPCF has now disbursed 55 grants, totaling close to $145,000, to community organizations that are dedicated to serving Highland Park and Highwood residents in need of emergency assistance during the pandemic.

Agencies benefiting from this additional round of grants include: A Safe Place, Center for Enriched Living, Cradles to Crayons, Family Focus Highland Park, Family Service of Lake County, Glenkirk, Gratitude Generation, Highland Park Community Early Learning Center, Highwood Public Library, Jewish Council for Youth Services, Keshet, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Project Shop N' Drop, The Josselyn Center, and Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center.

Generous donations from the community to the HPCF's COVID-19 Emergency Appeal enabled the foundation to address the following needs: PPE, food, paper products, thermometers, cleaning supplies and sanitizing disinfectant; rent assistance for families with children in preschool; emergency rent, utility, food and transportation assistance for victims of domestic violence and their families; toiletries and hygiene supplies for children and adults; preschool classroom desk shields and outdoor classroom supplies; workstations; and funding to enable in person and virtual programming that supports the ongoing educational, mental health and wellness needs of community members, including individuals with disabilities.

"Meeting the unmet needs of Highland Park and Highwood's residents at their most vulnerable time is of paramount importance to the foundation and all of our board members," HPCF Vice-Chairman Betsy Brint said.

"We are most grateful to all of the individuals, families and businesses who have generously supported our COVID-19 Emergency Response Appeal."

In addition to the COVID-19 emergency grants, the HPCF will make its annual grant award disbursements this fall to further support the work of numerous agencies and organizations that assist Highwood and Highland Park residents year-round.

There have always been many real needs of the community. They are greater now than ever before.

"When the coronavirus hit, we felt it was our responsibility to address not only the ongoing needs of Highland Park and Highwood residents, but also their unexpected urgent needs," HPCF Grants Committee Co-Chair Eric Ephraim said.

"The HPCF has responded to the needs of our community with four rounds of emergency grants. We could not have done this without the help from so many donors who embraced our effort to help their friends and neighbors."

To contribute to the HPCF COVID-19 Emergency Response Appeal, or to make a donation that will support the ongoing needs of the community, visit hpcfil.org. Contributions of any size will make a difference. Donations may also be mailed to P.O. Box 398, Highland Park, IL 60035.

To learn more about the Highland Park Community Foundation and its work, visit hpcfil.org.