After seven years of leading the Forest Preserve Foundation, Shelley Davis, president/executive director, is resigning to accept the CEO position with another Chicago-based charitable foundation. “Shelley has done a tremendous job growing the Foundation’s charitable giving and reputation, all in the service of our mission,” Board Chair Stu Cohn said in his message to the […]
By Andrew Kiefaber, 2020 summer intern This has been an atypical summer, with a global pandemic looming over it. For the Forest Preserve Experience program, that created a challenge. How could crews, which typically work outside in the preserves, still get the most from their experiences? While the pandemic forced many summer programs to shut […]
Year after year, Billy Casper Golf offers unparalleled in-kind support for the Conservation Cup. This year the organization stepped up in a huge way, making a title sponsor $15,000 cash donation to the Foundation’s annual major fundraising event. “These are tough times and we know that the Conservation Cup is facing an uphill battle with […]
In the United States, we are privileged with a bounty of protected land. The profound natural beauty of this country, from the National Parks to the Forest Preserves of Cook County, is a cornerstone of our national identity. Unfortunately, an abundance of public land alone does not guarantee widespread access to nature. For non-white people, […]
Annicka Barker, a 2019 Forest Preserve Experience participant, shared a new-found passion with her family. A $100,000 grant from the Forest Preserve Foundation will help underwrite increased wages for Forest Preserve Experience crew members this summer. “We are so pleased to support young people who rely on summer employment to help themselves and, in many […]
By Kathy Welton, guest blogger We plant trees for many reasons. Besides the beauty and the myriad environmental benefits, planting a tree is good for the soul. Trees represent the most basic form of connection. Their strong roots remind us to stay grounded. Their swaying leaves and branches remind us to bend before we break. […]
The desire to feel safe is universal and belongs to no one race or creed. But we know that many people in our country, state and county are not equally safe, even from those who are entrusted to serve and protect. We are seeing too many instances that show black people to be unsafe while […]
Naturally, with the spring season reaching its peak greenness, every golfer wants to hit the links. Golf is still happening in the Preserves, with some restrictions because of the COVID-19 pandemic and statewide orders to maintain safe and healthy distances. For the Foundation, golf plays a key role in our yearly events calendar. The Conservation […]
The Forest Preserve Foundation is pleased to announce two grants, approved by its board of directors at its May 1 meeting. Grants totaling $56,000 will support the Student Conservation Association and Free Spirit Media. A grant of $50,000 will go to the Student Conservation Association (SCA) for its 2020 summer program. Since 2015, the Foundation […]
Forest Preserve Foundation staff are finding ways to stay connected to the natural world while practicing physical distancing. Here, they reflect on their experiences during the COVID pandemic. Shelley and her son, Sage. Natural discoveries Sheltering in place is hard. Although we know and agree that the strategy to #stayhomesavelives is working, it is also […]
