The Neighbors of Kenilworth Philanthropy Report
2023-2024
2023-2024
Since our organization’s inception over 125 years ago, philanthropy has consistently served as a critical element to our activities as the Neighbors of Kenilworth. During the past year, our members continued this important legacy through our annual financial donations and numerous collection drives supporting local charities.
In the 2023-2024 season, the Neighbors of Kenilworth Board of Directors voted to donate a total of $3,000 to the following local organizations:
Pickles Group $500
Providence Englewood Charter School Foundation $500
Northwestern Settlement (recipient of the Fannie Manierre Ward Memorial Fund) $500
Special Gifts Theater $500
Fill a Heart for Kids (recipient of the Isabelle Lovedale Memorial Fund) $500
New Trier High School Scholarship Fund $500
The Neighbors of Kenilworth, in conjunction with its membership base, also conducted numerous Collection Drives for the following local non-profit community partners:
Thank you to our members for your continued generosity to our local community.
Kristin Pilant
2023-2024 Philanthropy Chair
In the 2023-2024 season, the Neighbors of Kenilworth Board of Directors voted to donate a total of $3,000 to the following local organizations:
Pickles Group $500
Providence Englewood Charter School Foundation $500
Northwestern Settlement (recipient of the Fannie Manierre Ward Memorial Fund) $500
Special Gifts Theater $500
Fill a Heart for Kids (recipient of the Isabelle Lovedale Memorial Fund) $500
New Trier High School Scholarship Fund $500
The Neighbors of Kenilworth, in conjunction with its membership base, also conducted numerous Collection Drives for the following local non-profit community partners:
- Our October drive supported Bernie’s Book Bank. Our members filled bins with over 500 new and gently used children’s books (birth-6th grade reading level) during our book drive, helping Bernie’s recover from a devastating flood which ruined many of their book donations in their warehouse earlier in 2023.
- November collection efforts benefited the New Trier Food Pantry. Thanks to the generosity of our membership, carloads of non-perishable food stuffs and much needed household items were delivered to help our local neighbors in need.
- During the holiday season, our December drive assisted the Fill a Heart for Kids with a Hot Cocoa packing session as part of our December coffee event. The Karen Miller fund supported the costs of the cocoa packages and our members stuffed hundreds of packages supporting local students in foster care and those experiencing homelessness.
- The Fill a Heart for Kids event was so popular, that we further supported the organization in January with a sherpa blanket drive to help home insecure teens stay warm during the winter months.
- In March, we supported the Northwestern Settlement House with their annual Mother’s Day Gift Room. The gift room allows young students and families to “shop” for gifts for their mothers from the many donations provided. Our members donated costume jewelry, candles, water bottles, purses and other treasured items along with gift bags and wrapping to make Mother’s Day brighter for so many hardworking mothers.
Thank you to our members for your continued generosity to our local community.
Kristin Pilant
2023-2024 Philanthropy Chair
Charitable organizations we have partnered with in the past include:
Infant, Inc.
Infant, Inc. is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) charity that delivers baby formula and
layette baskets of brand new newborn clothing (newborn - 12 months), free of
charge, to approximately 60 food pantries and shelters in the Chicago area. Each year, INFANT,Inc. distributes approximately 200 layettes to needy families. The Grand Food Center shoppers may continue to give back to Infant, Inc. by submitting receipts and delivering them to Susie Coughlin at 727, Cummings Avenue.
Infant, Inc. is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) charity that delivers baby formula and
layette baskets of brand new newborn clothing (newborn - 12 months), free of
charge, to approximately 60 food pantries and shelters in the Chicago area. Each year, INFANT,Inc. distributes approximately 200 layettes to needy families. The Grand Food Center shoppers may continue to give back to Infant, Inc. by submitting receipts and delivering them to Susie Coughlin at 727, Cummings Avenue.
Howard Area Community Center
The Howard Area Community Center provides holiday baskets to needy families in Rogers Park through the Holiday Sharing Program. This program brings local churches, schools and community volunteers together once a year to collect gift items that make the holidays a little brighter for families in Rogers Park struggling with poverty.
The Howard Area Community Center provides holiday baskets to needy families in Rogers Park through the Holiday Sharing Program. This program brings local churches, schools and community volunteers together once a year to collect gift items that make the holidays a little brighter for families in Rogers Park struggling with poverty.
The New Trier Food Pantry
The Pantry is an important service for residents whose incomes do not cover all their needs. It's shelves offer a variety of canned and packaged food, useful paper goods, and toiletry items for all ages. A freezer is stocked with vegetables, meat, poultry and nutritious frozen dinners. The Food Pantry is open to qualified residents of New Trier Township, which includes the villages of Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka,and Glencoe, plus portions of Glenview and Northfield.
The Pantry is an important service for residents whose incomes do not cover all their needs. It's shelves offer a variety of canned and packaged food, useful paper goods, and toiletry items for all ages. A freezer is stocked with vegetables, meat, poultry and nutritious frozen dinners. The Food Pantry is open to qualified residents of New Trier Township, which includes the villages of Kenilworth, Wilmette, Winnetka,and Glencoe, plus portions of Glenview and Northfield.
Fitting Futures, The Junior League of Evanston -
North Shore
Fitting Futures TM is a Junior League of Evanston - North Shore community outreach effort providing support for low-income women in job training programs. Fitting Futures seeks to break the cycle of poverty and help women get back to work by provding a personal clothing and job readiness session and interview - appropriate attire at no cost: simultaneously boosting confidence and building careers. Fitting Futures is the only employment attire service on the North Shore, offering direct help to local women striving for economic self - sufficiency. Fitting Futures is housed at the Junior League Thrift House, 920 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.
North Shore
Fitting Futures TM is a Junior League of Evanston - North Shore community outreach effort providing support for low-income women in job training programs. Fitting Futures seeks to break the cycle of poverty and help women get back to work by provding a personal clothing and job readiness session and interview - appropriate attire at no cost: simultaneously boosting confidence and building careers. Fitting Futures is the only employment attire service on the North Shore, offering direct help to local women striving for economic self - sufficiency. Fitting Futures is housed at the Junior League Thrift House, 920 Chicago Avenue, Evanston.
Supporting Fitting Futures are Neighbors of Kenilworth Past Presidents:
Lisa Shadek, Kathryn Mangel and Karen Miller
Lisa Shadek, Kathryn Mangel and Karen Miller
Katie White, NOK President and Karen Miller, NOK Past President
Karen Miller, NOK Philanthropy Chair with Jr. League of Evanston-North Shore Fitting Futures C0-Chairs Kristin Hagen and Carolyn Song-Pegg, Fitting Futures Co-Chairs. Over 200 items were collected including 48 pairs of shoes and 50 blouses !!
Our collected toys, games, books hats and mittens for the children of the Howard Area Community Center.
We loaded up an entire van!
We loaded up an entire van!
Katie White, Neighbors of Kenilworth President, Karen Miller Past President and current Philanthropy Chair, Margaret Wenzel, Director of Development, Howard Area Community Center, and Malik Kemokai, Outreach, HACC
Karen Miller, NOK Philanthropy Chair, with Susie Coughlin and Lisa Iberie