Features | Aug. 2024
PHILANTHROPISTS, ASSEMBLE
By Michelle Crowe
PHOTOGRAPHY BY IAN MCLEOD
Emily Van Houtte and Kim Hart in the NICU at Hinsdale Hospital
One of the greatest joys of parenthood is guiding children towards their passions. From the first enrichment class through school, sport, and artistic pursuits, it is thrilling to help our young people develop through worthy endeavors.
TRADITION
For more than 60 years, parents of rising high school seniors have had the opportunity to support their children in an organization that encourages family time, strengthens the community, and instills a deep love of service.
The Hinsdale Assembly Board, comprised of a dedicated group of quiet movers and shakers about town, summons young women to be debutantes and young men to the honor guard via gorgeous, oversized invitations that confer the significance of joining this storied group. This extraordinary piece of mail and the Assembly Ball are the two gilded moments that bookend a year of extraordinary experiences.
“The invitations are beautiful because we hope each invitee knows how special we think they are and how deeply we are hoping the family will accept and be a part of our organization,” says Assembly President Emily Van Houtte.
SERVICE
The efforts of the Hinsdale Assembly have contributed over $3.4 million directly benefitting the Hinsdale Hospital Foundation. This much-appreciated total has funded the purchase of state-of-the-art medical equipment and special projects. Hinsdale Assembly has endowed the Wellness Garden, Digital Mammography Initiative, Third Floor Family Surgical Center of the Patient Pavilion, and contributed $1,000,000 toward the AdventHealth Cancer Institute Hinsdale.
In 2021, Hinsdale Assembly completed a timely and critical two-year commitment benefiting Hinsdale Hospital’s Behavioral Health Services.
This was followed by the 2022 announcement of a five-year, $250,000 commitment to help fund the very much-needed renovation of the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Hinsdale Hospital. This incredibly vital area of the hospital has not been renovated in over 20 years. The Assembly Board is determined to help directly impact the hospital’s, and our community’s, smallest and most frail patients.
COMMUNITY
In addition to the significant work on behalf of Hinsdale Hospital, the participating young adults work together on several community service projects throughout their year with Hinsdale Assembly. The group has cared for the land by clearing invasive plants at local forest preserves and gardening at the hospital.
There are several projects assisting at the Hinsdale Community Services Food Pantry, an organization that many Assembly members go on to support for a lifetime.
Debutantes and honor guards get to know neighbors of all ages as they play bingo with seniors at Bethlehem Woods Retirement Community and execute activities to cheer up children whose lives have been affected by cancer with a project for the Wellness House.
“Spending time improving places and making life better for people from all walks of life creates deep connections to the community and fosters a lifelong sense of responsibility,” says Assembly Past President Kim Hart.
FAMILY
Hinsdale Assembly also celebrates family and friends through special events and class bonding activities. At the Three Generation Tea, debutantes, their mothers and aunts, and grandmothers have an afternoon all to themselves. The years fall away as the senior generations tell tales from their own high school and college experiences.
The Father Daughter Waltz offers dads and debutantes time to themselves, a rarity in the whirlwind of adolescences. Harkening back to daddy daughter dances of years past, this occasion is a core memory maker for all. It also ensures that everyone is light on their feet when the year culminates with the magical Hinsdale Assembly Ball on December 23rd every year.
FUTURE
The best traditions last because they evolve. Hinsdale Assembly is a prime example of this truth. Over the years, the debutantes, honor guards, and their families have become evermore impressive. They are caring, committed to bettering the world around them, and devoted to excellence. The Ball is still highly anticipated and enjoyed by all, yet if you ask recent participants what made the year meaningful, they’ll say the friendships, time with family, the satisfaction of helping others, and their deepened connection to the community. “It’s a pivotal year for these young people as they move from high school to college, and we’re here to support them and hopefully grow their commitment to philanthropy,” Van Houtte says.
YES TO THE BEST
When one of those oversized envelopes lands in your post box, consider the and the enjoyment that accepting will bring. The time requirement is manageable, allowing for academics, essay writing time, college visits, sports, shows, and senior trips. The benefits will last a lifetime. “We are so looking forward to working with this year’s class, please join us,” says Hart.
