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SATURDAY AUGUST 10 | SUNDAY AUGUST 11 2019
SUNDAY BREAKFAST
Meet Wendy Serrino of Glencoe. P14
SOCIAL SCENE
SPORTS
History ‘Macher: New Trier’s Schumacher—first name Courtney— achieves baseball-program first at second base. P13
Ouilmette Foundation celebrates beach house. P9 FOLLOW US:
NO. 356 | A JWC MEDIA PUBLICATION
EVANSTON
ART
& BIG FORK
FESTIVAL August 16 17 18
Sherman & Church
Fantastic Art! Local food favorites! Live music all weekend! AmdurProductions.com
KEEPERS OF ZAC’S ZOO FAMILY, FIRST RESPONDERS, AND RAVINIA FESTIVAL UNITE TO RESTART THE LATE ZAC COHEN’S DRIVE TO COMFORT TRAUMATIZED CHILDREN. BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
Ellen Cohen was brushing her teeth one morning in 2005, when the Highland Park resident heard her son,Zac,crying in the next room. Zac,7 years old and getting ready for school, was watching a news segment on television. Hurricane Katrina had devastated New Orleans and surrounding areas. “He told me, ‘Mommy, all those kids lost their toys,’” Ellen recalls. “We talked some more in the kitchen, and I explained to Zac that Mother Nature sometimes does horrible things.” Her distraught, determined son still wanted to do something for those kids.Right away. The initial plan was to collect a few stuffed animals from neighbors and then send the comfort companions to dispirited children in Louisiana. Word got out about the plan. NBC News in Chicago aired a piece about Zac. “The Today Show spotlighted youngsters across the country helping young Hurricane Katrina sufferers. A couple of men in California called Ellen to express their wish to set up a website for Zac’s drive. “They asked me, ‘What would you like us to call it?’”Ellen says.“I had to come up with something quickly.I came up with ‘Zac’s Zoo.’” A few stuffed animals turned into 10,000 stuffed animals. “Zac,”Ellen says,“got excited.All he wanted
to do then was to help people any way he could. He was like that throughout his childhood. Wouldn’t it be nice if all kids had the spirit Zac had? Think of what the world would be like today.” The world suffered a significant loss last year, when Zac Cohen and his inspiring altruistic spirit died after a motorcycle accident. The young zookeeper—and the youngest “Point of Light”honoree—was 20 and about to begin a path to a career as an emergency medical technician. But Zac’s Zoo will continue to roar and bring joy to traumatized children, thanks to waves of local support that heartened the mother of a son with an enormous heart. Ellen Cohen and current Highland Park Mayor Nancy Rotering were schoolmates at Highland Park High School.Cohen arranged a meeting with Rotering earlier this year to discuss her vision of Zac’s enduring legacy. “Nancy said to me,‘You have to bring Zac’s Zoo back,’” Cohen recounts. It’s certainly back,and it’s teaming up with local first responders and Ravinia Festival to ease the fears of traumatized children. First responders will distribute donated stuffed animals to children after encountering them in scary situations, such as riding in an ambulance or testifying in court. The exclusive stuffed animals come in two styles—a panda bear and a floppy-eared puppy, each dressed in a T-shirt bearing the “Zac’s Zoo at Ravinia”logo.The animals are sold in Continued on PG 8
Ellen Cohen PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR
EVANSTON ART & BIG FORK FESTIVAL AUGUST 16, 4-9PM*
AUGUST 17, 10AM-9PM*
AUGUST 18, 10AM-5PM
*Art Fest till dusk • Sherman & Church Streets • AmdurProductions.com
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