Good News Partners (GNP), a faith based community organization, will now provide affordable housing for an additional 27 families in Rogers Park. “For families crammed into a single room occupancy units or in shelters, this building secures, long term, another step from homelessness to home ownership” says Ronn Frantz, executive director of GNP. On average, […]
Mary McLaughlin could be considered a local treasure simply for the beautiful handpainted ceramic treasures that her company, McLaughlin Glazeware, produces in Northfield. But while high-profile customers such as Hillary Clinton are avid collectors of the enamels, chinaware, jewelry and gift boxes, McLaughlin’s other passion is found hanging on a tree. And that passion […]
Joan Johnson Board Member, Chicago Botanic Garden Lake Forest A native of Glencoe and mother of three, Joan Johnson grew up thinking of the Chicago Botanic Garden (CBG) as an extension of her own backyard. Life took her through the halls of Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, a career in marketing, and the warm climes […]
Erlene Howard Owner, Collective Resource Evanston Where most people see trash, Erlene Howard sees life. “I was seeing all this beautiful garbage,” she says of the food scraps that were leftover from her mostly vegan, mostly raw diet. Her love of raw vegetables and organics led the part-time independent bookkeeper and human resource administrator to […]
Sophie Twichell Executive Director, Friends of Ryerson Woods Lake Bluff In densely populated Lake County, Ryerson Woods is an oasis of 556 acres of green, and Sophie Twichell’s job is to make sure that future generations have access to the same rolling woods for years to come. “We want to instill the core value of […]
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the whole family is thrown into crisis, but in the rush to assist the ill child, the well siblings are often ignored. Melanie Goldish realized this in 1998 when her 5-year-old son, Travis was diagnosed with cancer. He has battled cancer twice and is now a healthy […]
Losing a sister to a heart defect inspired Estrella Rosenberg to provide life-saving surgeries to children with heart defects in developing countries. A former jury consultant, she left the business world to start her own nonprofit, Big Love Little Hearts, which has saved more than 300 lives in the past year and a half. […]
Kathy Gableman Founder, Smart Farm Barrington Three years ago, Barrington’s Kathy Gableman started brainstorming with some of her friends. They wanted to teach their community about sustainable gardening, promote volunteerism and supply healthy produce to the Barrington food pantry, which feeds a surprisingly large population. After consulting with her cousin who is involved with Evanston’s […]
Daniel Kielson, Winnetka Founder and President, BackYard Nature Center Master Site Steward, Skokie Lagoons The backyard of Daniel Kielson’s Winnetka home is a thriving ecosystem. Among the bushes and trees, squirrels play and birds flock to feeders. “Probably within a half hour, there’ll be seven or eight species of birds back here,” he says. With […]
Rotary International is such a Make It Better institution! Club meetings lift your spirits – comraderie, laughter and ways to help others are served along with breakfast or lunch. Members pay a buck to charity in order to share good news. Visitors are celebrated. Want a better day? Attend a Rotarian meeting. Want a better […]
