We are Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois

Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois helps motivated high school students rise above disadvantaged backgrounds. Our goal is to graduate young people who are physically, emotionally, and academically prepared for post-secondary education and productive life, breaking barriers so they can become community-minded leaders.

Boys Hope Girls Hope firmly believes that young people have the power to overcome adversity, realize their potential, and help transform our world. They create these successes when we remove obstacles, support and believe in them, and provide environments and opportunities that build on their strengths.

Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois is a proud member of the Boys Hope Girls Hope Network. Our Network Headquarters, located in St. Louis, Missouri, connects, provides leadership to, and offers signature college-preparatory programming to 15 affiliates.  Each affiliate is independently incorporated, governed by its own board of directors, and responsible for its own fundraising. Affiliation and services agreements link the Network to ensure mission and brand fidelity, quality operations, maximum functional capacity, and consistency in training, programmatic standards, and best practices.

OUR MISSION & DNA

MISSION

To nurture and guide motivated young people in need to become well-educated, career-ready men and women for others.

DNA

Boys Hope Girls Hope utilizes the following
approach to achieve our mission.

We are:

Academically Focused
Service Oriented
Family-like
Long-Term and Comprehensive
Faith-Inspired
Voluntary in Nature

LOCAL IMPACT

Since 1979, Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois has served young people who want to go to college and create successful futures for themselves. Young scholars have joined our program to receive support on their journey to college and beyond. They seek the academic resources, extracurricular opportunities, experiences, leadership development, and mentor relationships we provide.

See how Boys Hope Girls Hope is prioritizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

LEADERSHIP

The Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois Board of Directors and team leadership collaborate to ensure mission fidelity, financial stewardship and transparency. Together, this group of professionals is committed to continuous learning, effective programming and outcomes, and improvement through impact evaluation and innovation.

Karen Croteau

Karen Croteau

President

Jennifer Downs O'Shaughnessy

Jennifer Downs O'Shaughnessy

Vice President

DeAudrey Davis

DeAudrey Davis

Program Director

Richard Rivera Garcia

Richard Rivera Garcia

Residential Counselor, O'Donnell House

Martine Georges-Powell

Martine Georges-Powell

Residential Counselor, Healy House

Vernon Green

Vernon Green

Coordinator of Scholar & Collegian Services

Kate Harken

Kate Harken

Director of Philanthropy

Rosa Jones

Rosa Jones

Residential Counselor, O'Donnell House

Veronica "Ronnie" Krueger

Veronica "Ronnie" Krueger

Data Systems Manager

Lemone Lampley

Lemone Lampley

Donor Experience Manager

Kate Levy

Kate Levy

Events Manager

Robbi Lustig

Robbi Lustig

Business Manager

Kabelo Muhammad

Kabelo Muhammad

Residential Counselor, Healy House

Joshua Turner

Joshua Turner

Residential Supervisor, O'Donnell House

Jasmin White

Jasmin White

Residential Supervisor, Valenti House

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CHAIR

CHAIR

Jeff Lundal

Validity, Inc.

VICE CHAIR

VICE CHAIR

Dave Bryla

WasteZero

SECRETARY

SECRETARY

Christopher Crawshaw

Alamar Capital Management

Jamie Baisley

At Large
Frontage Search Partners

Daniel J. Baker

At Large
KeyBank Real Estate Capital

David Gibson

Nominations Chair
Comvest Partners

Mike Halkitis

At Large
RSM US LLP

Christine Hjorth

Events Chair
Civic Leader

Michael P. Kailus

Housing Chair
AMCC, Inc.

John Lafferty

At Large
Segall Bryant & Hamill

Christopher T. Tarzon

At Large
Savills Inc

Amy Ward

At Large
Civic Leader

John Zumski

Service Chair
Zurich North America

Lucien Carter

JP Morgan Chase & Co.

Donald Doan

Gallert Hospitality Group

Mary Beth Fahrney

Civic Leader

Rochelle Foster

Markel

Carrie Goesel

Zurich North America

Jack Hughes

Thompson Flanagan

Martha Idler

Civic Leader

Michael P. Leahy

Leahy IFP

Peter Lee

Summit Trail Advisors

Kelly Lomas

Junior Board President

Corinne E. McClintic

TrustConsult

Cyrus Oelerich

North Shore Country
Day School

Kristin Ostby

Boys Hope Girls Hope
Network Headquarters

Chris Penna

Loyola Academy

Timothy Reynolds

Clover Lane Patrons

George E. Sargent

Sargent Family Foundation

Elizabeth Schuster

Regina Dominican
High School

Andrew Shackelford

Ernst & Young

Matt Singh

META

Jamar Slade

Windy City Representatives

Rudolph Trebels

Wedgewood Investment
Group, LLC

ADVISORY BOARD
John W. Amberg

Evanston Educational Consultants

William L. Bax

Pricewaterhouse Coopers, L.L.P.

J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Company

J. Jeffrey Geldermann

Civic Leader

Ralph Gilbert

Civic Leader

F. James Heider

Civic Leader

Scott K. Heitmann

Wintrust Financial Corporation

Michael S. Meyers

Civic Leader

Thomas Morehead

Catalyst Inno Institute

Dave Morrison

William Blair (Retired)

J. Hobie Murnane

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

Daniel J. O’Donovan

Metal Parts & Equipment Co.

Dianne O’Donovan

Civic Leader

Thomas Pontarelli

Civic Leader

Chris Schuba

Civic Leader

Peter Spingola

Chapman & Spingola, LLP

Joseph E. Valenti, Jr.

Lifetime Trustee Valenti Builders

JUNIOR BOARD

President

Kelly Lomas

Treasurer

Ely Knepper

Kevin Ford
Nichole Johnson

Brian Kucera
Katie Lomas
Julia Luka
Faith Murphy
Jack Penn
Kiley Reardon
Larry Phillips, Jr.
Kiley Reardon
Katherine Ring
Ryan Ring
Andrew Seymour
Emily Seymour
ADVISORY BOARD
John W. Amberg

Evanston Educational Consultants

William L. Bax

Pricewaterhouse Coopers, L.L.P.

J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Company

J. Jeffrey Geldermann

Civic Leader

Ralph Gilbert

Civic Leader

F. James Heider

Civic Leader

Scott K. Heitmann

Wintrust Financial Corporation

Michael S. Meyers

Civic Leader

Thomas Morehead

Catalyst Inno Institute

Dave Morrison

William Blair (Retired)

J. Hobie Murnane

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

Daniel J. O’Donovan

Metal Parts & Equipment Co.

Dianne O’Donovan

Civic Leader

Thomas Pontarelli

Civic Leader

Chris Schuba

Civic Leader

Peter Spingola

Chapman & Spingola, LLP

Joseph E. Valenti, Jr.

Lifetime Trustee Valenti Builders

JUNIOR BOARD

President

Kelly Lomas

Treasurer

Ely Knepper

Kevin Ford
Nichole Johnson
Brian Kucera
Nichole Johnson
Brian Kucera
Katie Lomas
Faith Murphy
Jack Penn

Larry Phillips, Jr.
Kiley Reardon
Katherine Ring
Ryan Ring
Andrew Seymour

Emily Seymour
ADVISORY BOARD
John W. Amberg

Evanston Educational Consultants

William L. Bax

Pricewaterhouse Coopers, L.L.P.

J. Patrick Gallagher, Jr.

Arthur J. Gallagher & Company

J. Jeffrey Geldermann

Civic Leader

Ralph Gilbert

Civic Leader

F. James Heider

Civic Leader

Scott K. Heitmann

Wintrust Financial Corporation

Michael S. Meyers

Civic Leader

Thomas Morehead

Catalyst Inno Institute

Dave Morrison

William Blair (Retired)

J. Hobie Murnane

Northwestern Mutual Financial Network

Daniel J. O’Donovan

Metal Parts & Equipment Co.

Dianne O’Donovan

Civic Leader

Thomas Pontarelli

Civic Leader

Chris Schuba

Civic Leader

Peter Spingola

Chapman & Spingola, LLP

Joseph E. Valenti, Jr.

Lifetime Trustee Valenti Builders

JUNIOR BOARD

President

Kelly Lomas

Treasurer

Michael McCarthy

Dylan Brennan
Kevin Ford
Emily Therese Geiger-Medina
Joe Jedlicka
Nichole Johnson
Brian Kucera
Brianna McNamee
Juanita Mendoza
Kelley Monzella
Larry Phillips, Jr.
Ryan Ring
Ryan Sexton
Andrew Seymour
Tom Truss
Jack T. Wambach
Erin Wehmer

HISTORY

Boys Hope Girls Hope was founded in 1977 in St. Louis, Missouri by Rev. Paul Sheridan, SJ.  Since that time, the program has been replicated across the US and in Latin America. Below are key highlights from our affiliate’s history.

1979

Volunteer board developed a Jesuit Program for Living and Learning Incorporated in Illinois.

1980

Home location identified, zoning approved by the city of Evanston, and home is purchased.

1981

First house parents hired and scholars enter the program.

1982

Second home is purchased in Evanston.

1984

Boys Hope Women’s Board is founded.

1985

First scholars enter college.

1989

The first alumnus becomes a college graduate.

1990

From this year onward, all graduates of Boys Hope are accepted into 4-year colleges and universities.

1991

Boys Hope was awarded the first Northwestern University Evans Scholarship.

1993

The program mission was altered to focus on a leadership development model.

1994

Board commits to Girls Home in Chicago.

1995

Board authorizes name change and 6 months later, the first Girls Hope Scholars enter the program at a temporary facility.

1996

Girls Hope permanent home opened in Evanston.

1998

Boys Hope Girls Hope of Chicago Junior Board is founded.

2004

Women’s Board sets a fundraising record, and National Headquarters adopts a new mission and values statement.

2006

Began 2006-2007 school year with full houses and staff.

2007

Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois achieves the highest GPA of any affiliate in the country.

2009

First Boys Hope Girls Hope of Illinois Alumnus joins the Junior Board.

2012

Women’s Board Dinner Dance sets a new fundraising record.