About Us

Founded in 1907, the Northbrook Civic Foundation is a non-profit volunteer organization made up of your neighbors and friends who care about the betterment of the Northbrook community. Since 1950, the foundation has given back more than $3.6 million to the community in the form of college scholarships for students and grants to worthwhile organizations that serve Northbrook. The foundation provides a great opportunity to help raise funds and give back to our community, enhancing Northbrook as a great place to live and work.

northbrook sign

The Northbrook Civic Foundation was originally established in 1907 as the Shermerville Improvement Club. The Civic name was adopted in 1925. The purpose of the Northbrook Civic Foundation is to support, through active participation and funding, projects that enhance the quality of life in our community. Civic’s primary fund raising event each year is Northbrook Days Festival held in early August, the five-day festival includes a carnival, games, entertainment, food and beverage. One hundred percent of the profits from Northbrook Days are funneled back into the community.

How has Civic contributed to the Northbrook Community?

Among the beneficiaries of Civic donations are the Northbrook Public Library, local schools, Northbrook Park District, the Village of Northbrook, the police and fire departments, local high school seniors, and many community groups and organizations that serve Northbrook residents. Examples of the Civic Foundation’s support include:

  • Building Northbrook’s first Village Hall/Fire Station
  • Building Northbrook’s first Public Library
  • Rebuilding the Village Green Playground
  • Funding local social service agencies
  • Sponsoring area arts programs
  • Supporting Glenbrook North High School programs like Grad Night
  • Over $400,000 in scholarships since 2016
  • Total $3.7 million in community grants & scholarships since 1950
Read More

Officers & Board of Directors:

  • Steve Amberg – President
  • Steve Satkiewicz – Vice President
  • Michael Daly – Treasurer
  • Dan Westel – Past President
  • Connie Fuller – Director
  • Michael Furby – Director
  • Tracy Katz Muhl – Director
  • Stacy Oliver – Director
  • Anastasia Gonzalez – Director

Civic Foundation membership is open to the general public; the main requirements are that you be a resident of Northbrook and volunteer at Northbrook Days.

Application
northbrook sign

The Northbrook Civic Foundation was originally established in 1907 as the Shermerville Improvement Club — referring to the original name of the village of Northbrook. The organization adopted the Northbrook Civic Foundation name in 1925.

The Northbrook Civic Foundation was originally established in 1907 as the Shermerville Improvement Club. The Civic name was adopted in 1925. The purpose of the Northbrook Civic Foundation is to support, through active participation and funding, projects that enhance the quality of life in our community. Civic’s primary fund raising event each year is Northbrook Days Festival held in early August, the five-day festival includes a carnival, games, entertainment, food and beverage. One hundred percent of the profits from Northbrook Days are funneled back into the community.

How has Civic contributed to the Northbrook Community?

Among the beneficiaries of Civic donations are the Northbrook Public Library, local schools, Northbrook Park District, the Village of Northbrook, the police and fire departments, local high school seniors, and many community groups and organizations that serve Northbrook residents. Examples of the Civic Foundation’s support include:

  • Building Northbrook’s first Village Hall/Fire Station
  • Building Northbrook’s first Public Library
  • Rebuilding the Village Green Playground
  • Funding local social service agencies
  • Sponsoring area arts programs
  • Supporting Glenbrook North High School programs like Grad Night
  • Over $400,000 in scholarships since 2016
  • Total $3.7 million in community grants & scholarships since 1950

Members of the Board of Directors:

  • Dan Westel – President
  • Steve Amberg – Vice President
  • Rhandi Weinstock – Secretary
  • Mike Daly – Treasurer
  • Leslie Pinto – Director
  • Mike Furby – Director
  • Mike Marzigliano – Director
  • Bruce Brown – Director

Civic Foundation membership is open to the general public; the main requirements are that you be a resident of Northbrook and volunteer at Northbrook Days.

Application
 

Northbrook days

A five-day festival that includes a carnival, games, the grand prize raffle, food from local restaurants, beer & wine, and live music.

The Northbrook Civic Foundation has one major fundraising event each year Northbrook Days – held each summer in downtown Northbrook.

All of the proceeds from Northbrook Days are funneled back into the community through Civic Foundation grants and scholarships.

Northbrook Days wouldn’t be possible each year without countless volunteer hours from members of our community.

Visit the Northbrook Days Website Photo Gallery
Northbrook Days logo
 
CPR donation

Pictured above is a demonstration / class on CPR techniques by the Northbrook Fire Department

project funding

The Northbrook Civic Foundation supports the community through active participation and funding projects that enhance the quality of life in our area. For instance, a Civic Foundation grant to the Northbrook Fire Department in 2016 allowed the department to purchase all new CPR mannequins so the department could restart free classes for members of the community.

The Foundation has only one fundraising event each year – Northbrook Days – held each summer in downtown Northbrook. Revenue from the five-day festival is put back into the community through grants to local organizations that serve the community and scholarships to graduating high school seniors from Northbrook.

Civic Foundation members love this community and want to actively help improve it. Many members also volunteer their time with other organizations in Northbrook. Membership is open to the general public. The main requirement is to volunteer at Northbrook Days.

The Northbrook Civic Foundation has made the following grants to local organizations.

North Shore Senior Center $5000
Northbrook Historical Society $5000
Grad Night $4000, $4000, $1000, $4000
Northbrook Community Nursery School $4000
American Legion Post $200
Special Gifts Theater $2000, $1435, $250
Center on Deafness $3055, 250
Northfield Food Pantry $2500, $5000
Hunger Resource Network $2500, $1250
Youth Services $10,300
Glenbrook North Broadcasting $7684
Jocelyn Center $12,515
Farmer’s Market $2205
TotalLink 2 Community $1000, $4000
Chabad of Nbk, Wellness Initiative $1000
Family Service Center $1250
Catch, Inc $1000, $2200, $1500
GBN Senior Send-off $2500
Nbk Speedskating $2600
JCFS Chicago $2500
Elyssa’s Mission $2500
Better Habitats $1300
North Suburban YMCA $2500
Northbrook Public Library $25,000

read more / grant request form
 

Civic Awards

In 1969, the Civic Foundation Awards were created to recognize those members of our community who have made significant personal contributions to Northbrook, through service and/or individual achievement.

The various awards offered by Civic include:

  • Special Service Awards

    Given to a member of Civic Foundation for their volunteerism.

  • Outstanding Volunteer Award

    Nominated for outstanding service within their organization

  • Civic Award

    For volunteer service to more than one organization

  • Foundation Award

    For outstanding service to the community

rebecca dedo award recipient

Civic Award Recipient

The person(s) who receive these awards each year are those who, over a number of years, have made a difference in our community. Civic looks for those who demonstrate leadership and through their efforts help make their organization or community something special.

The acceptance of the Outstanding Volunteer Award by the community of Northbrook has been overwhelming. Each year we seem to find more worthy candidates that can now be properly recognized.

Nomination Form
 
scholarship winners photo (6 young adults)

2025 Scholarship Recipients

scholarships

Civic Foundation scholarships are for Northbrook residents who are entering college, university, junior college, trade, vocational or technical school. The primary criteria of the scholarships is need, after which academic, school and community accomplishments are taken into consideration. The amounts of the scholarships vary at the discretion of the committee.

Applications are available each spring at the Glenbrook North High School Guidance Office. Students from other local high schools (Loyola Academy, Regina Dominican High School, Ida Crown Jewish Academy) are also eligible, provided they are Northbrook residents. Applications must be completed by April of each year. Notification of scholarship awards will be made in late May.

Since 2016 we have given out $400,000 in scholarships to over 100 GBN students.

For more information about the Scholarship Program, please email us.

2023 Scholarship winners photo (7 young adults behind a Northbrook Civic sign)

2023 Scholarship Recipients

2018
Suyeon Hong, Maggie Li, Elena Eubanks, Anton Ivanchenko, Anna Dishinger, Matthew Severn

2017
Ellie Kim, Kamryn Abraskin, Samantha Heyman, Colin Werhane, Sahra Merchant, Samantha Myers, Alexandria Michalak, Michael Weller, Tenzin Thukka

2016
Suyeon Hong, Jeana Kim, Victoria Tu, David Dischinger, Lily Ruklick, Jonghwa Yun, Jungeun Lee, Eleanor Westel, Josiah Yoo, Nikhil Shah, Erik Karpinski, Tisha Joseph, Anna Wasilczuk, Ik-Jong Choi, Kelly Kuhlman, Nathaniel Whitfield, Milad Hosseini

2015
Marie Luc, Ashley In, John Van Treek, Toby Klein, Shaina Hakimian, Kelly Kost, Emma Ritz, Emma Praff, Ramsy Wehr, Don Min Han, Mary Boger, Peter Allen, Rachel Lee, Curtis Rotheiser, Roksana Ahmadzadeh, Konrad Plasota, Anne Spivack, Corey Snyder

2014
Matthew Bondy, Emily Westel, Kevin Lee, Sahar Merchant,
Naomi Won, James Hanley, Molly Karr, Kendall Hayes,
Anton Vazhinskiy, Claire Symington

2013
Ryan Salzman, Peter Szemraj, Patricia Hare, Casey Luc,
Cordelia Brand, Younglak Hong, Robert Krebs, Neeral Mehta, Shae Beckett

previous winners