HR0435 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0435 LRB103 34707 LAW 64554 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Mothers Trust Foundation (MTF) on the occasion of its 25th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, MTF, located at the Gorton Center in Lake Forest, is a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing immediate assistance to disadvantaged children in Lake County through collaborating with social workers and school counselors to identify children who may fall through the cracks of the social service system, focusing on children and their families who have nowhere else to turn; and

WHEREAS, MTF was founded by the late Barbara Monsor who, at 75 years of age, established the foundation in 1998 following an 18-year career as a social worker at Youth Guidance in Chicago, where she witnessed firsthand how a seemingly small amount of assistance could positively change an otherwise challenging situation for a child; and

WHEREAS, In order to qualify for aid from the foundation, a child must be at or below the poverty line and be between the ages of 0 and 21, and 96% of the households that the foundation supports have an annual income of less than $36,000; and

WHEREAS, MTF meets every Wednesday morning to review requests made on behalf of children in need received by social counselors, social workers, and agencies from around the community; once a request is approved, the foundation prides itself on fulfilling requests within 24 to 48 hours; and

WHEREAS, MTF assists children in fulfilling basic needs, including helping in paying rent, maintaining medical expenses, and providing clothing, shoes, and essential baby gear; the foundation also aids in covering enrichment opportunities and education-related expenses, among other circumstantial needs; according to its 2022 annual report, 35% of the foundation's spending typically goes towards providing kids with housing stability, 26% on sending kids to summer camp, 13% on covering the cost of clothes and shoes, and 9% towards enrichment programs, such as sports; and

WHEREAS, Beyond day-to-day services, MTF hosts many large events that are catered toward providing the underserved youth of Lake County with special experiences, including its Pop Up Prom Shoppe and its Classroom Enrichment Grant pilot program; and

WHEREAS, MTF is currently led by Executive Director Paula Turelli and made possible through the dedication and generosity of donors in the community and partnerships with corporations and other foundations who believe in its mission; the foundation depends on its staff, board, and hundreds of volunteers to make its vision a reality; and

WHEREAS, Since 1998, MTF has assisted nearly 50,000 children and their families in Lake County with 4.7 million dollars in grants, providing hope for a brighter future; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Mothers Trust Foundation (MTF) on its 25th anniversary of serving the children of Lake County, and we wish the foundation continued success in the years to come; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to MTF as an expression of our esteem and respect.