The North Shore Board is an all-volunteer, working auxiliary board of the Northwestern Settlement.
WHAT WE DO
HISTORY OF THE NORTH SHORE BOARD
Originally known as the Junior Board, we became the North Shore Board of the Northwestern Settlement in 1995.
House in the Wood benefits have evolved with the times since our first Hand Work Bazaar in the 1930's, where members sold needlepoint, knitted and fine-seamed items. Events went on to include a fundraiser aboard the SS Roosevelt on Lake Michigan, a Fashion Show at Marshall Fields, a series of cocktail parties at private clubs, and a huge rummage sale.
In 1949, the North Shore Board began sponsoring the Chicago Antiques Fair at the Sheraton Hotel in Chicago, followed by an annual Tag Day in partnership with the Chicago Children's Benefit League from 1955 to 1979.
In 1977, we launched 'Guess Who's Cooking Dinner?' featuring dinners prepared by celebrity chefs, and the Glitter Ball Chicago charity auction debuted in 2006.
Commemorating the 125th anniversary of Northwestern Settlement, the board organized a special 'Camp Night' benefitting House in the Wood in 2016. And in 2017 we introduced the House In The Wood Gala.
The House In The Wood Gala returned in person in 2022, after being unable to hold Galas in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid.
SUPPORTING
HOUSE IN THE WOOD
Since 1936, our main mission has been to fund Northwestern Settlement, House In The Wood, established for at-risk youth in 1910. Because we are all volunteers, all proceeds from our annual House In The Wood Gala directly benefits this award-winning program, enabling more than 1,000 children from Chicago's most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods to experience outdoor education sessions with a STEM curriculum during the school year, and residential summer camp.
In addition to fundraising, the members of the North Shore Board volunteer at the Northwestern Settlement in Chicago's West Town neighborhood and the House In The Wood Camp in Delavan, Wisconsin.
VOLUNTEERING AT CAMP
Throughout the year, we collect clothing and outdoor supplies (bug spray, sunscreen, swimsuits, goggles) for summer and year-round outdoor campers (outerwear, hats, gloves).
The North Shore Board also coordinates Sunday Fun-Days at camp to share a wide variety of activities with the campers. Activities have included a workshop on Native Americans, large scale painting, cooking lessons, yoga and baseball clinics.
VOLUNTEERING AT
THE SETTLEMENT HOUSE
There are several opportunities to volunteer at the Settlement in the city. Some of the ways include working at the food pantry, unloading and passing out Thanksgiving dinners to Settlement families, organizing Golden Agers bingo with Settlement seniors, setting up the Mother’s Day room to help Head Start and Rowe Elementary School scholars select and wrap gifts for their moms, participating in the Holiday Adopt-A-Family program and providing toys and a Santa experience for the Head Start program. We also do collections throughout the year to donate gently used clothing and household items to Settlement families.
PART OF A LARGER WHOLE
As the North Shore Board is dedicated to supporting inner-city Chicago youth through camp programs, the House In The Wood Camp is only one of the many programs provided by the Northwestern Settlement.
Northwestern Settlement nurtures, educates and inspires children and families across Chicago through a multi-layered platform of formal and informal education, social services and the arts.
They focus their work on what is believed to be drivers related to poverty: isolation, negative influences, conflict management, decision making and consequences, and cooperative social skills.
More information is available on the Northwestern Settlement website.
The North Shore Board is always accepting new members.
If you would like to learn more or have questions
about the North Shore Board, please contact us.