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‘‘ 2012–2013 evanston!communityfoundation It takes strong and healthy families. Parents and children need It takes honest conversations— to be connected and more opportunities to talk to each with one other. We each have our own circle another, have of friends, and don’t see the richness, opportunities the diversity of others. We need a way for healthy to get into those other circles. psychological Indira Johnson development, physical development, education, economic people who think outside the box, It takes advancement people who are dedicated to the community and security. and willing to be creative, try new ideas, Lindsay Chase- be aggressive, articulate aims and set Lansdale a course to accomplish long-term goals. ‘‘ Karl Berolzheimer It takes the diversity you find in Evanston—and affording opportunities to all. Clara Pate what does it take for a community to thrive? It takes commitment. We need people who participate in making our community better, who are willing to offer their services in whatever capacity, and dedicated to helping everyone succeed. ‘‘ Pam James grants 7 funds 9 financials 10 donors 12 leadership 16 it takes all of us. What does it take for a community to thrive? Your answers to this question say a lot about Evanston. Passion. Commitment. Engagement. Evanstonians don’t just ‘‘ sit around and gripe. We step up, sign up, and give our time and energy to solve problems. Volunteers at Evanston ReBuilding Warehouse and Curt’s Café, mentors at Evanston Scholars, early childhood educators, nonprofit boards—all passionately committed to building a thriving and inclusive community. Diversity. Respect. Talking to one another. We come in many ages and colors, and we work and worship in different ways. We cherish that diversity. But we know we need, as Indira Johnson reminds us, more places where we can talk and listen to one another, and more opportunities for all our children to learn to swim, as Clara Pate insists. Thinking outside the box and planning for the long term. ECF founders took the bold step of creating this foundation and starting its endowment. The next wave took another bold step by investing in the Foundation itself. Through their vision, our town is building an enduring bank of resources. Growth. From $1.1 million in 1996 to $17 million today, ECF grant funds and staff expertise have grown to the point that they add significant value to organizations of all sizes and missions, support their sustainability, and offset reduced public funding. And now? The community’s work isn’t done, so ours can’t be! Read on! As you read these pages, think how you can step up, join your neighbors, and help create better ‘‘ outcomes for all. Joan Gunzberg, Board Chair Sara Schastok, President and CEO ’’ a charitable payouts by distribution type other fund endowment support system. 10.6% distributions and scholarships 13.5% draws for operations Several colleges are within a short drive 23.7% of most Evanston neighborhoods, but for Illinois Early some ETHS students the distance can seem Childhood Fellowship much longer. Kids whose parents didn’t go and other initiatives to college can be uncertain how to navigate $12.5 million their way to campus. And those who make it it takes... total grants 1987– 2013 can find unexpected barriers. ETHS Golden Apple Teacher Steve Newman was dismayed to see, year after year, some of his best ‘‘ former students dropping out. “They had such donor advised promise, it seemed they’d be fine. But then 13.8% fund grants they’d hit a roadblock they were not able a common determination. One can sell you a to overcome.” sink, another helps kids get into college, a third 38.4% Newman founded Evanston Scholars to break competitive and that pattern. Working with parents, school staff, serves great coffee. As root2fruit grantees, they’re strategic grants and volunteer mentors, Evanston Scholars all benefiting from three years of Foundation starts in junior year helping students prepare. They look for a college that’s a good fit in funding and collaboration. And they share a academics, social climate, and financial aid, common determination: bringing people together a explains Development Director Kay Israelite. to build a future with room for everyone. leaping barriers cup of hope. “We get them ready for college, help them apply, and get a support system in place,” “At Curt’s we put our heart and soul into our says Israelite. “Then when they encounter coffee,” says the website for Curt’s Café, on obstacles— they don’t like their roommate, Central Street. It is very good coffee. But the or run short of funds, or don’t know how to café’s heart and soul are about something else manage their time — they’ve got somewhere as well: “We hope to make Curt’s a vibrant to go for help.” gathering spot, and a positive force for good, The group has built its own sense of Lou Dickson, founder and executive director, Evanston ReBuilding Warehouse. here in Evanston.” a community, the “Evanston Scholar family,” The café offers young people who’ve been says Israelite. Even more impressive is the incarcerated a chance at a new future, way it’s changing life trajectories. The ten strategy for by training them in food service and life skills. students in the first cohort are all starting “We teach them to serve coffee, make fancy their second year of college, and this drinks, serve customers, keep the room year’s 14 freshmen are attending cleaned, basic restaurant maintenance, soft fine schools —11 with reclamation. kitchen skills, making soup, a little baking,” full-tuition scholarships. says founder Susan Trieschmann. Trainees They’re on It’s a rehabber’s dream, full of elegant doors, also learn the importance of showing their way. reclaimed vanities, cabinets that didn’t fit up on time, taking responsibility, interacting someone’s remodeling scheme—all bargains, it takes a place to trade ideas. with others, plus skills like writing and all the time. Evanston ReBuilding Warehouse, problem-solving. a two-year-old nonprofit on Dempster, keeps “The only way we are going to them out of landfills and helps people put them recipe for change to use. ‘‘change this country is from the Curt’s Café draws on Trieschmann’s “Lots of people are interested in diversion,” background as co-owner of Food for Thought, says Lou Dickson, founder and executive bottom up, when people gather, and from her work with Restorative Justice director, “and they love to share ideas. It’s Evanston. Many teens in trouble feel alienated really cool.” The Warehouse supplies exchange ideas, and help each other. from their community, she learned. At Curt’s affordable building materials and teaches the volunteers who run the kitchen, the residents, architects, and contractors how At the ReBuilding Warehouse, we’re customers who come in the door, all help to work with them. widen the kids’ community, says Trieschmann. like the old country store, where “One student was waiting for a bus after a rough building community people exchanged ideas around the day; a regular customer sat down and talked And it’s also reclaiming a few human lives to him, and then drove him downtown. along the way. The Warehouse teams up wood burning stove.” The next day he was more focused and ready with Connections for the Homeless to provide to succeed.” training for people with low skills, poor work Twelve of the 14 young people who participated histories and sometimes a criminal record. in the first year have stayed away from trouble, Training covers warehouse safety, shipping and and ten have jobs or are in school or college. receiving procedures, and customer service, and offers a certification on forklift operation. Another class trains workers to deconstruct buildings and reclaim valuable materials. “We started with the mission of keeping things out of landfills,” says Dickson. “But over time it’s become more and more about building community.” Seven of ten participants in the Evanston Scholar Brenda Martinez heads to 2 | 3 first two classes have found jobs in their field. Illinois Wesleyan to pursue a B.S. in nursing. ‘‘ a a goal. Every child ready for kindergarten, every youth ready for work: that’s how village. Evanston residents identified our “Nurture the parent to nurture the child” is the community’s highest priorities back in philosophy of home visiting, which we’ve been 2006. We started by funding home funding since 2007. “ECF was ahead of its time in focusing on both generations together,” visiting for 50 low-income families and by says Northwestern Professor Lindsay Chase- Lansdale. Now, ECF is taking it to the next level, connecting providers to create a robust a in partnership with NU, Chase-Lansdale, and network of programs. Seven years later, her colleague Terese Sommer. this network has gained new partners Planning for a “Two Generations” initiative, and now reaches more young Evanston it takes... catalyst. funded by $100,000 from Ascend at the Aspen Institute, combines early learning for families and children in more ways. We started small—with babies and their children with education, training and career parents. Now, seven years after we launched development for their parents. Drawing on our “every child” initiative, broader community a successful Tulsa program and research awareness has generated expanded approaches findings, the Evanston initiative has begun by and new partnerships to reach more families mapping existing assets and designing a pilot and enrich the resources they can access. program for launch in 2014. Thanks to the Foundation’s steady support and seizing the opportunity an infusion of federal Early Head Start funds, New parents have high hopes and seek out home visiting programs are reaching almost educational opportunities for their children, half of our target low-income families—way which could make early childhood programs beyond the 7% average for Illinois communities.

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