The Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation held its annual Celebration of Philanthropic Excellence on Tuesday February 17 at the Carleton Hotel. One hundred and twenty guests assembled for a report to the community on the Foundation’s impact in 2014 and for presentation of Excellence in Philanthropy Awards. These are given each year in three categories. Outstanding Individual Philanthropist award to John Harris with a $1000 grant from the Foundation directed Wonderworks Children’s Museum; Outstanding Group award to The Neighborhood Giving Project with a $500 grant to Opportunity Knocks; and Ella Dixon, Outstanding Philanthropic Youth with a $500 grant to Project Heal. The Foundation notably reported that in 2014 it distributed more than $3,000,000 from its funds for the first time in its 57 year history.
