$10,000 to Make Highland Park S.M.I.L.E.

Release Date: Feb. 3, 2009

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill., February 3, 2009—Each year the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park gives away $5.5 to $6 million dollars to health care programs and services in which Highland Park residents and surrounding communities can benefit. This year the Park District of Highland Park was the fortunate recipient for a $10,000 grant that will go towards the S.M.I.L.E. (Scholarships Mean Involvement and Leisure for Everyone) fund.

“The Park District is extremely grateful to again be a recipient, for the second year, of a $10,000 grant from the Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park. This year especially, because of the economy, there has been an increase in financial aid requests. With the monies received through this grant, the District will be able to provide numerous recreational opportunities to families in need, whom may not otherwise have been able to afford the benefits of these programs. The Park District has helped hundreds of families in the past and we look forward to continuing to do so in the future, thanks to this generous grant, along with individual and community organization donations,” stated Superintendent of Recreation Services Kathy Donahue.

S.M.I.L.E. is the Park District’s Grant-In-Aid program that was created in 1992 to provide funding for families in need of financial assistance and allow them to take advantage of the Park District’s recreational programs. Last year S.M.I.L.E. served over 237 individuals and 70 families. Each year the District strives to provide more funding for S.M.I.L.E. through special events like the upcoming Park Avenue Plunge and the Firecracker 4 run/walk, as well as donations.

The Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park was established in 2000 with $100,000. Highland Park Hospital receives about $4 million a year. Grants for the remaining $6.3 million are distributed to community organizations. There has never been a time where the Healthcare Foundation has turned down a grant because of lack of funds.

“We established the Healthcare Foundation in order to continue providing our community with close and personal ties to health care. It is rewarding to be able to give away such a large amount of money to help the uninsured and underinsured,” commented James C. Styer, Chairman, Healthcare Foundation of Highland Park.

About the Park District of Highland Park
The Park District of Highland Park, founded in 1909, operates and manages over 600 acres of land in 44 park areas, and offers approximately 2,800 recreational and seasonal programs. Facilities include an indoor ice arena, indoor tennis and racquetball complex, two recreation centers, a nature center, an 18-hole golf course, driving range, adventure golf, aquapark, beaches, boat launch ramp and yacht club on Lake Michigan.

###