Our History and Purpose

The Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Citizens Foundation was formed by the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Resources Commission in 1997 as a charitable organization with three purposes:

To create an awareness in Lake Forest and Lake Bluff of the interests and needs of senior citizens
To support the activities and facilities of Dickinson Hall, the senior center serving Lake Forest and Lake Bluff
To provide material and financial support to the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Resources Commission

The Foundation's objective in funding these programs and services is to foster independence, engagement, and continued personal growth of older adults in our community, with particular emphasis on fostering independence.

The Foundation's first order of business was to raise the funds necessary to renovate Dickinson Hall to serve as the home for the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Center. This allowed the facility to move from its previous home at Gorton Community Center in 2001.

The Foundation board now meets periodically throughout the year to fulfill its threefold purpose, to carefully steward its assets, and to fulfill its legal responsibilities.

Funding

Gifts to the Foundation are used to support programs and services for the 4,200-plus older adults living in the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff communities. Gifts can be designated for a specific purpose:

Senior Advocate and related social services
Transportation program
Wherever the need is greatest

These gifts fund grant requests that come to us through the Senior Resource Commission.

The Foundation is efficiently run. Annually it spends only 1% of its assets on administrative and fundraising expenses.

Grants

Through the generosity of its donors, the Foundation is able to contribute more than $190,000 per year for programs and services. About 40% of the Foundation's contribution supports the activities of Dickinson Hall and its members, and 60% supports the needs of the broader senior community in the Lake Forest and Lake Bluff area by funding the Senior Advocate and related services (40%) and a transportation program for older adults (20%).

Learn more about grant requests.

Financial and Legal Documents

Conflict of Interest Policy

Area Served

Our service area is the Lake Forest High School District 115 boundaries. View a larger map.

Affiliations

The Senior Citizens Foundation has important affiliations with the following organizations:

Senior Resources Commission: Established by the Lake Forest City Council in 1996, the purpose of the Senior Resources Commission is to present to the Mayor and City Council recommendations for the coordination and planning for senior residents in order to preserve their dignity, independence, and quality of life. There are seven Senior Resources Commission members, four or five from Lake Forest and two or three from Lake Bluff. The Lake Bluff members are recommended by the Village President. The Senior Citizens Foundation considers requests for funding only when first thoughtfully studied and recommended by the Senior Resources Commission.

Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Dickinson Hall Senior Center: The mission of Dickinson Hall is to offer adults educational, social, and cultural opportunities as well as services fostering independence, involvement, and continued personal growth in a welcoming and dynamic environment. It serves as the hub of activity and services for older adults in the Lake Forest High School District 115. However, they welcome memberships from outside of that area.

An extensive variety of programs, classes, special interest groups, parties and trips are also offered that are designed to provide enrichment and social experiences. Social services designed to help older adults maintain their independence and remain in their own homes include transportation and a variety of support services.

Dickinson Hall is supported by The City of Lake Forest, The Village of Lake Bluff, the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Citizens Foundation, member fees, and generous sponsors.

Family Service of Lake County: Family Service provides programs, services, and referrals that respond to identified needs of the senior population. All are provided without out–of–pocket cost to clients. Family Service's clinicians and senior advocates understand that a lack of knowledge of and access to resources are serious barriers to independence. They address social service, social-emotional needs and medical care referral and linkage.

Family Service provides direct assistance by employing the full-time Senior Advocate at the Lake Forest Dickinson Hall Senior Center. The Senior Advocate is funded by a grant from the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Citizens Foundation made possible by generous donations from individuals, trusts, bequests, Shields Township, and the YMCA.

Southeast Lake County Faith in Action Volunteers: The mission of Faith in Action is to help older adults maintain their independence and improve their quality of life. Volunteers help with many forms of non-medical assistance, such as transportation to medical and other appointments, help with shopping, reading or bill paying, minor home repairs, friendly visiting and telephone support, and respite care for family caregivers.

Faith in Action is non-sectarian. There is no charge for services and they serve seniors of Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, and those residing within the Lake Forest High School District 115 regardless of their religious affiliation. This service is supported by a grant from the Lake Forest-Lake Bluff Senior Citizens Foundation.

City of Lake Forest

Village of Lake Bluff

Shields Township