“Celebrate endings— for they precede new beginnings.”
-Jonathan Huie
Find out what's happening in your
Lake Forest HS hoopster Charlie Axus is everyone's ally pg10
Add these Swedish Orange Cookies to your New Year's Eve spread pg16
Nancy Economou shines a light on a solution for the world’s most impoverished communities with her nonprofit organization— Watts of Love. pg6
BY ANN MARIE SCHEIDLER
In 2009, Nancy Economou was visiting the Philippines when she encountered a young girl whose face was burned and scarred from an accident with a kerosene lamp.
“I was watching her mother put toothpaste on her wounds when I asked how the burn happened,” Economou says. “I learned that these types of injuries were common because families were using candles and kerosene to light their homes. Families were completely dependent on highly flammable kerosene because, without it, they had no light.”
When Economou returned to her Chicago-area home, she felt compelled to do something. Her goal was to develop a safe, sustainable lighting source for those living in extreme poverty without basic access to electricity. “As a mother [to five boys], I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to raise my children in the dark. And then to have to continually risk and/or relive the trauma of having your child burned because you need to have kerosene in your home to survive.”
With LED technology just emerging at the time, Economou’s options for light were limited. But with patience and perseverance, she was able to develop a user-friendly, solarpowered lamp that could be used in any environment. She raised money to purchase 1,000 lights and returned to the same village where she had first met the little girl with the burned face.
“The community was very rural—it’s like traveling back in time 200 years,” she recalls. “Twenty thousand people living in thatched homes with thin roofs and kerosene lamps. I wanted everyone who wanted a light to be
able to have one. But all the lamps, except for the three I had brought on the plane, got held up in customs.”
This didn’t hold Economou back from what she traveled to the Philippines to do. She went to a village and tried to give a lamp to an elderly woman. The woman initially refused it, saying she didn’t feel worthy of such a gift. After Economou insisted that she take it, the woman shared that the light made her feel seen, loved, and valued.
“The next light went to a mother of seven,” Economou says. “I visited the following day to see how they did with the light. The mother said her children had a hard time going to sleep because they were so excited.
Once they were settled, the mother stayed up and made 1,000 bamboo barbecue sticks that she could sell. She instinctively became an entrepreneur because of the light. And now she had both savings from not needing to buy kerosene and a new source of income from selling the sticks.”
This family’s story, as well as countless others, showed Economou the connection between having light and having hope. “We realized quickly that if we were going to make a transformational change in the lives of the poorest people, we needed to start within the home.” Eventually, the remaining lights were released from customs and distributed as Economou had hoped. The experience inspired Economou to form Watts of Love—a global nonprofit with a mission to end generational poverty by providing families and individuals with a solar light. Each gifted light is also accompanied by financial education that teaches saving, earning, and investing—no small task when most of these families were living on 90 cents a day.
“We work with local leadership to gather an entire community,” she says. “We hang a banner with a picture of our light that invites people to come and see us. Everything we do is a teaching opportunity. The box the light comes in doubles as a bank, and we show the people that if they save their kerosene money in their box, at the end of seven days, they have enough money to buy a small chicken. Then in another seven days, you repeat that process. Someday, they can take 10 chickens and buy a goat. Or a pig. And, with more light after the sun goes down, recipients can do more—study, cook, craft. This is the
beginning of entrepreneurship. There are so many possibilities.”
The data proves that Watts of Love’s approach works. Even among families who may no longer have the light they were originally given, 80 percent of them are still saving.
“It’s a privilege and an honor to be welcomed into these communities,” Economou reflects. “We want them to know that we are interested in their success, and we believe that they can do it. When I see the generational impact we’re having, I can’t unsee it. I can’t unknow that we have a solution that is actually working.”
Now, Economou hopes to upscale the work of Watts of Love.
“I want to move the needle on a grand scale,” she explains. “I looked at a map of the whole world and identified areas with high kerosene consumption. I determined that we need to get to Malawi, one of the least electrified and poorest countries in the world. Education is low, and it is the youngest nation in the world with more people under the age of 25 than anywhere else. I need good partners to get this done—ones with a mind like General Patton and a heart like Mother Teresa. That’s who we need.”
Economou is tireless in her goal of bringing light to those living in darkness and encourages others to be part of the solution. She’s a firm believer that if she could take on something like this, anyone can.
“Just get involved,” she says humbly. “See a problem and find a way to help.”
To learn more or to make a donation to Watts of Love, visit wattsoflove.org.
Steven was born in Chicago, Illinois, where he was deeply influenced by art, fashion, architecture, shapes, and music from an early age. Fascinated by the intricate details of nearly everything around him, Steven developed a keen eye for precision and creativity.
He pursued his passion for hairstyling at the John Amico School of Hair Design in Chicago. Upon graduation, he worked tirelessly to hone his skills, building a reputation for excellence that continues to this day. Over the years, Steven has earned numerous hair industry awards, and has been featured in more than a dozen prominent hair magazines.
Steven’s specialty lies in his meticulous attention to detail. He takes pride in crafting personalized styles for each client, incorporating unique features that others might overlook but that make all the difference in his artistry.
Now a proud member of the Pascal pour Elle artistic team, Steven is excited to bring his expertise and passion to new clients. He looks forward to meeting you and helping you achieve your dream look in this New Year.
EDITED BY CHEYANNE LENCIONI THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
DECEMBER 28 TO 29
GRAB & GO: PAPER STRIP
POLAR BEAR
WHERE: Highland Park Public Library
Children ages 5 to 14 can create a beautiful winter scene fit for any polar bear. Using paper strips, create a polar bear friend and its colorful home. Materials will be provided. Pick up a kit at the Youth Services desk while supplies last. hplibrary.org
DECEMBER 28 TO 31
GAME OF GNOMES SCAVENGER HUNT
WHERE: Downtown Wilmette
Set out on a fun adventure throughout Wilmette. Twelve holiday gnomes are hiding among the window decorations of 12 stores throughout Wilmette. Fill out the game card with names as the gnomes are found. Once you have all 12, turn in the game card at the Game of Gnomes drop box at the Wild Child Toy Shop. Entries will be eligible to win a Shop Wilmette Gift Card. A new winner will be picked each week. Share your finds on social media for a chance to win extra prizes. wilmette.gov
DECEMBER 28 TO JANUARY 1
HIKE THE HOLIDAYS
WHERE: Greene Nature Preserve
The gates will be open for all to enjoy Lake Forest Open Lands Association’s beautiful Greene Nature Preserve. lfola.org
DECEMBER 28 TO JANUARY 5
LIGHTSCAPE
WHERE: Chicago Botanic Garden
Chicago Botanic Garden’s annual Lightscape event is back. The gardens have been transformed into dazzling
light displays to enjoy this holiday season. Beautiful first-time installations and returning favorites like the light chapel decorate the trail nightly. Tickets can be purchased on the garden’s website and slots are available on first-come, first-served basis. Drink and food will be offered within the gardens along the trail. chicagobotanic.org
DECEMBER 28 TO JANUARY 31
HOLIDAY LIGHTS RECYCLING
WHERE: Northfield Community Center Northfield’s Village Hall and Community Center will be providing bins where holiday lights and extension cords can be recycled. Clean out your decorations stash and make room for new lights and supplies by recycling the old. northfieldparks.org
DECEMBER 28
THE GENERATIONS CHARITY PERFORMANCE WHERE: 28 Mile Distilling Company
From 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., The Generations, led by Rob Stepen, will host a special charity concert to benefit Joey’s Song, supporting epilepsy research. The band will perform tracks from their debut vinyl album, Alternate View, produced with Steve Albini, along with other rock 'n' roll favorites. The event will be emceed by Lisa Fielding of WBBM Radio. Tickets are available now. robstepenmusic.com
DECEMBER 31
WINTER CLASSIC BLACKHAWKS DAY WHERE: Weinberg Family Recreation Center
From 1:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., celebrate the Blackhawks on New Year’s Eve with open skating, hockey, special activities, and
Blackhawks-themed prizes. All ages are welcome and this event is free to passholders. Non-passholders have an admission fee of $20 per person. glencoeparkdistrict.com
DECEMBER 31
MIDNIGHT AT THE MANOR
WHERE: Deerpath Inn
Deer Path Inn is transforming its English Room and Courtyard into a winter wonderland. Guests will enjoy a New Year’s evening of glamour, fine dining, and live music. Cocktail hour begins at 7 p.m., followed by a lavish buffet dinner. Tickets are available now. thedeerpathinn.com
JANUARY 4
FUNKY MONSTER FRIEND
WHERE: Winnetka Public Library
From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., teens ages 12 to 18 can learn hand sewing basics and own their creativity while creating a felt monster. Registration for this program is required. wnpld.org
JANUARY 9 & FEBRUARY 6
BRUSH IT OFF
WHERE: Winnetka Public Library
From 4 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., youth ages 9 to 18 can enjoy light beverages and unwind while making art with friends. Registration is required. wnpld.org
JANUARY 11
NATHAN GUNN AND FRIENDS: BELOVED BROADWAY
WHERE: Nichols Concert Hall
At 7:30 p.m., Grammyaward winning baritone
Nathan Gunn joins the 35-piece JAM Orchestra for an unforgettable evening of iconic Broadway classics by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Sondheim, Bernstein, Weill, and more. Featuring vocalists Lara Brooks, Lisa Buhelos,
and Eldon Warner, this concert at Music Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Concert Hall, conducted by Artistic Director Aaron Kaplan, promises a night of musical brilliance. Tickets are currently available for purchase at jamorchestra.org
JANUARY 10 TO 11 STUFFED ANIMAL SLEEPOVER
WHERE: Lake Bluff Library
Children ages 3 to 8 can drop off one Library-loving stuffed animal for a night of fun until 5 p.m. on January 10. The stuffed animals will enjoy a movie, treats, crafts, and of course, a bedtime story. Live updates will be posted to Instagram during the slumber party. Kids can pick up their special friend at 10 a.m. on Saturday morning, and see photos of their exciting night. lakeblufflibrary.org
JANUARY 11 & 25
CHOO-CHOO AND CHEWCHEWS HOT CHOCOLATE PARTY
WHERE: History Center
Lake Forest-Lake Bluff
The History Center of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff will host three hot chocolate parties from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Hot chocolate, cookies, and desserts will be served and
scavenger hunts, coloring stations, and other kid-friendly activities will be available. Everyone is welcome to attend this free event. lflbhistory.org
JANUARY 24 TO 25
MOUNTAINFILM ON TOUR
2025
WHERE: Gorton Center
As part of its annual Winterfest, the Gorton Center will show Mountainfilm on Tour. The festival will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday with the film starting at 7 p.m. and continues on Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Mountainfilm will show a collection of documentaries curated from Mountainfilm Festival in Telluride, Colorado. Dress in your coolest apres-ski apparel, grab a warm drink, and hang out with friends in the lodge during this winter event. gortoncenter.org
JANUARY 30 TO MARCH 16
FOOL FOR LOVE WHERE: Steppenwolf Theatre
Sam Shephard’s dark and beautiful tale comes to Steppenwolf Theatre’s Downstairs Theatre. It features Cliff Chamberlain, Tim Hopper, Caroline Neff, and Nick Gehlfuss as the ensemble
cast. Tickets are on sale now. steppenwolf.org
FEBRUARY 7
DADDY DAUGHTER
DANCE
WHERE: Sunset Ridge Country Club
Join the event of the season where fathers and daughters can share in an evening of dinner, dancing, and making memories. Each girl will receive a goodie bag. Pre-registration is required for this event and early bird registration is open now through January 29. All registration after that window will have a 20 percent increase. The final registration date is February 5 at 5 p.m. northfieldparks.org
FEBRUARY 9
CHORALE GATHER YE ROUND
WHERE: Nichols Concert Hall
The Chorale joins forces with multiple choirs and instrumental ensembles for an celebration at the Music Institute of Chicago’s Nichols Concert Hall. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. and is free for attendees. musicinst. org
To submit your event for consideration, please email events@nsweekend.com.
BY BILL MCLEAN THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
PHOTOGRAPHY BY GEORGE PFOERTNER NORTH SHORE SPORTS
Lake Forest High School junior guard Charlie Axus leads the girls’ basketball team in scoring and assists.
If Mensa International had a basketball wing, Charlie Axus would be a viable candi date for membership.
“Her IQ on the court is super high,” Lake Forest High School girls’ basketball coach Stacey Leach says of the 5-foot-6 Axus, a junior guard who paces the Scouts in points (10 per game) and assists (3.5 per game).
“But she’s more than a smart player,” adds the coach. “Charlie puts in the time and works hard at improving her game. And she’s got the best attitude; if something doesn't go right in a possession, she shakes it off, moves on, and gives it her all the next time we have the ball.”
Axus poured in a game-high 18 points against a formidable Lake Forest Academy (LFA) team at last month’s Vernon Hills Tournament, with nine of them coming from three-point territory in a 62-46 loss. She scored half of her squad’s 12 firstquarter points and netted four points in a 16-second stretch late in the fourth quarter.
LFA captured the round-robin tourney title with the victory.
Leach’s crew trailed 48-28 after three quarters but outscored the Caxys 18-14 in the final eight minutes. Reserve sophomore guard Hallie Bodine tallied all eight of her
We spotlighted a female New Trier High School fencer a week ago in this space.
Meet senior Franklin Cui, an on-point Trevian for New Trier’s boys’ fencing team this winter. His discipline is epee.
He, like Lucy Canel, took time to field a handful of questions before the start of the New Trier-Stevenson High School road dual in Lincolnshire earlier this month.
How did you get involved in fencing?
FC: A friend of mine, Alex Bozarth (New
Trier HS, Class of 2024), asked me to join the team when he was a sophomore and I was a freshman. He’s now majoring in Engineering at Virginia Tech.
What are the keys to succeeding in fencing?
FC: Like any sport, you have to be willing to devote hours of hard work to it if you’re interested in getting good at it. I also like to watch videos of professional fencers and analyze them. What helps a lot is the people
in the fencing community—they’re supportive and nice.
Do you like to participate in another sport? If so, what’s your strength in it?
FC: I play recreational tennis. My overhead smash is pretty good.
What separates you from other fencers?
FC: I’m a quick thinker, with plenty of tricks up my sleeve.
What’s next for you in fencing?
FC: I might join a fencing club in college.
Through December 25, Lake Forest split its first 10 games and had a 3-1 record in the highly competitive North Suburban Conference (NSC).
Lake Forest High’s best early-season win, Leach notes, was its 46-37 defeat of NSC foe Mundelein HS on December 5.
“We played solid defense the whole game,” the coach recalls. LFHS guard Lauren Richards, a 5-8 senior, ranks second to Axus in scoring (eight points per game) and second in rebounding to 5-8 sophomore guard Annie Acello, who came down with a team-high five rebounds—one off her season average—
The Scouts’ lone forward on Leach’s center-less, guard-laden varsity is 5-10 junior Camilla Gauthier.
Lake Forest High School was scheduled to face Fenwick High’s Friars in a DundeeCrown holiday tournament opener on
“We’ll emphasize defense in practices before the tournament,” says Leach, whose brother Nick Leach, Village Engineer of Gurnee, serves as her assistant coach. “We like to use our defense to create our offense.”
North Shore Country Day boys’ basketball team features a pair of state champion soccer players.
Henry Gallun and Kaeden Ackley can’t get enough of nets at North Shore Country Day (NSCD).
They play soccer in the fall and basketball in the winter for the Winnetka school.
Gallun, a senior, stood out for the Raiders’ Class A state championship soccer team in 2023, netting 16 goals and providing eight assists. The forward/midfielder struck for a goal in a state semifinal and scored another goal in NSCD’s 2-0 defeat of Normal University High School in the title match.
Ackley was a freshman forward for the champs and contributed three goals and an assist in 16 games.
Each versatile athlete had to use his hands to score in the basketball team’s loss at Lake Forest Academy earlier this month. Gallun tallied four points and Ackley hit a free three in a 57-24 setback.
Yes, Gallun and Ackley earned their state medals in an outdoor sport, but it certainly can’t hurt having them around in an indoor sport.
Their past success, along with their enduring competitive spirit, might even be contagious.
NSCD boys’ basketball coach Rashid Smith appreciates being able to deploy such personnel on the hardwood.
“They battled; we all battled, especially early,” said Smith, whose Raiders trailed only 9-6 after one quarter. “We’ll be fine. We’re inexperienced, but we have players who have some very good tools.”
Senior Luke Ryan paced NSCD’s offense, scoring nine points—all from beyond the three-point arc. Junior team mate Quentin Tao added six points, including a pair of historic ones.
Tao’s two-point field goal doubled as the first points scored in a boys’
basketball game at LFA’s new athletic complex.
“That’s a tough, well-coached team that competes hard,” LFA coach Kyle Koncz said of Smith’s Raiders.
“It’s a team,” he added, “that won’t beat itself.”
Ryan and junior Gerald Kalotis each grabbed four rebounds for NSCD.
LFA’s Caxys, who held a 29-10 lead at the half, were led by senior forwards Arnas Simaitis (15 points) and Mekael Mian
• North Shore resident with 20+ years of mortgage experience.
• $4,000 first-time homebuyer credit available for eligible buyers.
• Specialist in trust-based mortgage approvals for sophisticated asset portfolios.
• According to the Scotsman Guide's Top Retail Lenders list, CrossCountryMortgage is the #1 ranking retail mortgage lender in the nation. Call or email me anytime for a consultation.
#HASHTAG
EDITED BY LOLA EISERMAN
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
After receiving her master’s degree in Oriental Medicine in 1999, CHRISTIE JORDAN—a licensed and national board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist—founded Source Healing, a leading provider of acupuncture and holistic wellness services in the Chicago area. With established practices in River North and Winnetka, Source Healing opened its third location in Lake Forest in 2024. “This marks a significant milestone for Source Healing as we respond to the growing needs of our clients and extend our support to the northern suburbs,” says Jordan. “Our Lake Forest office will have our signature Source Healing treatments, a modern and intuitive approach to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to help identify root causes of disharmonies in the body.” Source Healing works with clients to treat chronic stress and pain, women’s health (including fertility), lymph congestion, immune health,
#ON MY NIGHTSTAND
Boundary Boss: The Essential Guide to Talk True, Be Seen, and (Finally) Live Free, by Terri Cole. I see the world from the lens of Qi/Energy, which TCM describes as life force or vital energy, in the concept of boundaries in all relationships. This book does an excellent job of explaining something that I feel that most “nice” people could use to reduce levels of stress and anxiety due to relationships. Many of us tend to unconsciously withhold true communication and carry responsibility for other people’s stuff. In my personal experience, as well as my observations of others, I know it can be a reason for physical breakdown in the body. This I witness regularly in the treatment room. Many of us could use a deeper understanding of personal and relationship boundaries to improve our well-being.
Watching tennis videos on YouTube. Tennis is an outlet where I can apply merging my internal practice of presence to the external connection with my physical body. During those very fleeting moments when I can merge mental presence with my body on the court, I call
biopic about Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie is visually excellent but disappointing in both its direction and script.
BY REX REED
ILLUSTRATION BY TOM BACHTELL
RUNNING TIME:
2 HOURS, 3 MINUTES
RATING: 2.5 stars
At the top of her fame, when Maria Callas lived in New York and potential opera singers would lie, cheat, beg, steal, or hock their rent money to gain admittance to one of her music lessons, the greatest soprano of the 20th century would close down every class promptly at 5 p.m.
It didn’t matter if you were in the middle of a difficult aria you had been working on for weeks. The class was dismissed and the door slammed shut when the clock struck five, so Diva Divina, as Callas was known, could rush home in time to watch re-runs of I Love Lucy
It's little unknown facts like this that would have made Maria—the lushly visual but dramatically listless biopic about her life by Chilean director Pablo Larrain—a more revealing and entertaining movie. Mr. Larrain has done the same “poor me” job on two previous bloated bios of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Princess Diana and it was up to Natalie Portman in Jackie and Kristen Stewart in Spencer to bring their characters to life where the screenplays deserted them.
Now it’s Angelica Jolie’s turn. She works hard to reveal the beauty and glory that made Callas world famous, even studying to duplicate that famous voice in some of the vocal segments. (An impossible task, to be sure, so Callas herself does most of the singing throughout. Be
grateful for small favors, or in this case, a hugely dynamic one.)
All three films are composed of the same elements—misery in life and a sad, wistful longing for the past. They’re all fragments of the same woman—sad, neurotic icons who climbed their way to the top of the ladder and found it lacking. There was so much more to all three of them that I personally find this trio of outlines lacking.
In Maria, what we already know from her turbulent life and talent should have guaranteed a saga of passion, but the plot fails to exist. The film begins and ends with Maria’s death on the floor of her palatial apartment in Paris in September 1977, gone at only 53. What fills the two hours in-between are the last days of her tortured final week, rambling around in panic and fear through the empty rooms—her once-illustrious voice gone, her Mondrian eyes ghosts of their former expressiveness, addicted to prescription drugs, ignoring the ringing phone, talking unpersuasively about a comeback. The excuse for devoting more than two hours of luxury and time to such an unhappy, unfulfilled woman is simply an interview with a reporter from a TV show with the name Mandrax, which is the name of the pills she pops that contribute to her eventual demise. (Talk about pretentious symbolism!
To make up for the film’s basic lethargy, it must be said that there is always plenty to look at. The visuals are gorgeous—from Ed Lachman’s sumptuous cinematography to lavish sets by Guy Hendrix Dyas and awesome costumes by Massimo Cantini Parrini, each contributor an artist of inestimable value.
Every element helps to distract from the clinkers Stephen Knight’s script forces Ms. Jolie to say. A troubling combination of agonized self-doubt and unconquerable narcissism, she actually tells a waiter who comes to take her order: “I’m not hungry. I come to restaurants to be adored.”
Scarce mention is made of either her cold, loveless marriage or her mysterious role as the mistress of Aristotle Onassis, who dumped her for Jacqueline Kennedy. Her best friends, sole confidantes and only reliable companions were her loyal maid Bruna (Alba Rohrwacher) and strict, paternal, adoring butler Ferruccio (Pierfrancesco Favino), both excellent.
Much buzz fills the air and the gossip columns about Angelina Jolie’s shoo-in nomination for an Oscar, which she richly deserves, but she’s proved on several occasions to be a more meticulous director than Pablo Larrain. Too bad she didn’t direct this film as well as enhancing it with her beauty. Maria is not a terrible movie, just a big disappointment.
BY MONICA KASS ROGERS FOOD EDITOR THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND
If you’re like me and celebrate the holidays through the New Year, one of my seasonal favorites are these Swedish Orange Cookies. In Scandinavia, Saint Lucia’s Day means girls in white dresses with lighted wreaths on their heads, processionals, and lots of singing. Skipping the typical Swedish Pepparkakor (spice cookies) or Spritz (cookie press treats), I opted to make these lovely orange and walnut stars (Apelsinkakor) to finish out 2024. Flavored with both fresh orange zest and juice they are both fragrant and bright. The chopped walnuts make little dimples in the stars.
• ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• Zest from 2 large oranges
• 3 to 3 ½ Tbsp fresh-squeezed orange juice
• ½ cup toasted walnuts, chopped
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour, sifted
• 2 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
METHOD
With stand mixer fitter with paddle attachment, cream butter. Add sugar and continue beating until fluffy. Add orange zest and juice and beat in. Stir in nuts.
Sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Blend into butter/ orange/nut mixture.
Flatten dough into two disks; wrap and chill for ½ hour.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough out to 1/8-inch thickness. Cut with sharp cookie cutter into star shapes. Place cookies on parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 375 for 7 minutes until golden brown on edges. Remove to a cooling rack. Serve as is, or with a dusting of powdered sugar.
THINKING OF BUYING OR SELLING?
With nearly 20,000 bone marrow transplants performed across our national system, City of Hope® is one of the largest and most successful hematologic oncology and bone marrow transplant programs in the United States, making major breakthroughs in the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma and multiple myeloma, and personalizing a treatment plan right down to a patient’s DNA.
Now the experts striving to make the impossible a reality are closer to home with locations in Lake County, Downtown Chicago and our newest North Shore location in Morton Grove, which opened in November 2024.
Appointments available in as little as 24 hours. cityofhope.org • 847-857-6216
Lake Forest siblings James and Katie Gildersleeve launched the nonprofit “Treats for Troops” in 2018. Their cousins Charlie and John Fleming of Barrington pilot the organization’s mission now.
BY BILL MCLEAN
ILLUSTRATION BY BARRY BLITT
The philanthropy baton is in good hands with siblings Charlie and John Fleming. Their cousins James and Katie Gildersleeve of Lake Forest handed it to them earlier this year.
“Our cousins built an amazing foundation, and we are excited to continue the mission while adding new ideas and our personal touch to connect local families with solders overseas,” Charlie Fleming, a Barrington High School freshman, says of co-chairing the nonprofit “Treats for Troops” with her brother John, a seventh-grader at Station Middle School in Barrington.
The Gildersleeves started it six years ago. James is a senior at the University of Georgia; Katie is a sophomore at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee.
“We’re carrying on a legacy of support for our deployed troops,” Charlie continues. “We believe in the power of personal connection, especially during those holidays when being away from loved ones must be the toughest time of the year for them.
“We believe ‘Treats for Troops’ has the potential to inspire others to get involved and show their love and support for our military heroes.”
The “Treats for Troops” transition from the Gildersleeves to the Flemings began in New Jersey this past summer, when Charlie and John discussed it in a living room with their aunt Catherine.
The eager rookies’ first event, held at the Starbucks in Highwood on November 3, was a smash hit. The grandchildren of men who served in the U.S. Army, Charlie and John Fleming assembled 2,500 care packages—each containing a sweet treat, a pair of Bombas socks (donated by Bombas), and handwritten messages on cards—in about two hours amid coffee drinkers on a Sunday morning.
The Fleming sibs combined to pen heartfelt messages on approximately 100 cards. The packages wound up in the hands of
smiling Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marines personnel all over the world.
“We couldn’t believe how many Starbucks patrons took the time to write thank you notes to troops,” Charlie, still stunned and grateful, says nearly a month later. “One of them wrote, ‘Thank you for risking your life so we can have a safe life.’”
a point man for “Treats for Troops” after the event.
Baird’s military contacts handled the shipping end of the sweet philanthropic enterprise.
and crayons for children of military personnel stationed abroad.
Charlie Fleming was born on Christmas Day. Some of her most meaningful birthday cards have come from John.
John Conatser FOUNDER & PUBLISHER
Jennifer Sturgeon ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER
Gaven Conatser ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE
TheNSWeekend @ TheNSWeekend
“I saw customers draw wreaths on cards,” John says. “I saw a smiley face on another can make a big impact on those who receive them.”
But the Gildersleeves’ successors didn’t roll their sleeves down after putting a bow on the Highwood event. They had more work and brainstorming to do. They happily looked forward to carving out more time in their
I saw customers draw wreaths on cards. I saw a smiley face on another card. One thanked a troop for protecting his city. A small thing like a card can make a big impact on those who receive them.
The ever-popular Mikey Baird, a barista at the Highwood Starbucks near Fort Sheridan and an annual threat to win the “Friendliest Human in Western Civilization” accolade, helped the Flemings from there, serving as
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
Michelle Crowe, Erin Donaldson, Dustin O'Regan, Kemmie Ryan, Megan Weisberg
FOOD EDITOR
Monica Kass Rogers
“We want to show troops that we’re thinking about them year-round, not just during the holidays,” Charlie says, adding she and her brother would deploy a “Treats for Troops” spin-off—“A Colorful Christmas”— at various spaces in schools on three dates in December, collecting donated coloring books
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Cheyanne Lencioni, Mitch Hurst, Bill McLean, Ann Marie Scheidler
DESIGN
Linda Lewis PRODUCTION MANAGER/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Natalie Phillips ADVERTISING COORDINATOR/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
But you’ll never find any of them in a store.
“My brother is such a great artist,” Charlie says. “He makes birthday cards for me; they’re the greatest gifts because they’re always thoughtful and creative. John knows what I like and spends a lot of time drawing those things on cards.
“I always look forward to receiving John’s cards on my birthday.”
Charlie plays softball (pitcher/first base) and volleyball, volunteers for Barrington Area Council On Aging (BACOA), and serves as a small group leader for youngsters at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington. John plays baseball (pitcher/catcher/third base) and basketball (power forward) and already appears to believe that giving back off the fields of play beats hitting a walk-off homer or draining a clutch three-pointer at the buzzer.
“Our parents are brilliant and passionate about life,” Charlie says of Mike and Jennifer Fleming, who are also parents of eight-year-old son Sam, a second-grader. “Mom and Dad are born leaders. Mom is active at church, and Dad, through his work, is introducing some amazing learning tools to colleges all over the country.”
Neighbors of the Flemings needed to have their trees pruned one day but were unable to do so. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming gladly took care of the removal and asked for exactly nothing in return.
Charlie and John witnessed the good deed.
“Our parents,” John says, “do things for others all the time.”
“Both say, ‘Putting time into doing something for others is much more important and meaningful than giving money.”
To donate to “Treats for Troops” or inquire about the nonprofit’s upcoming events, email treatsfortroopsorg@gmail.com.
PHOTOGRAPHY AND ART
James Gustin, Monica Kass Rogers, George Pfoertner PHOTOGRAPHY
Tom Bachtell, Barry Blitt ILLUSTRATION
S a v e u p t o $ 1 2 0 0
w i t h a F e d e r a l
Ta x C r e d i t o n
s e l e c t H u n t e r
D o u g l a s e n e r g y
e ffi c i e n t s h a d e s *
