District News

Mt. Prospect Parks Foundation 2025 Scholarship Award Winners

The Mt. Prospect Parks Foundation, the fundraising arm of the Mt. Prospect Park District, awarded four $1500 scholarships as part of the July 16 Park Board of Commissioners meeting. Held at the Central Community Center in Mount Prospect,  the meeting included the scholarship presentation from Foundation President, Janice Stone and Foundation Executive Director, Ruth Yueill. Yueill read excerpts from the required essays and letters of recommendation for each of this year’s recipients. The 2025 recipients are: Brandon Houghton, Emma Little, Anna Jarog and Laura Kate Waters. 

Since the program’s inception in 2005, the Foundation has awarded over $80,000 in scholarship monies.  Awarded to employees or children of employees under 25 years of age attending college or trade/technical school in the fall; applicants submit their grade-point average, a personal letter of recommendation and an original essay response to a specific question.  In 2025, applicants were asked to write about  the impact of a role model in their life, reflect on a time of personal challenge and growth or consider three wishes for themselves, their generation and the world at large upon discovering a magic lamp that would make the wishes come true.

A panel of independent judges score the applications and determine the winners. A fourth award was added this year in memory of resident Robert Cardella. His family has donated funds for five years of scholarship money as a tribute to his support of the park district and his belief in the value of education.  

Established in 1997, the Mount Prospect Parks Foundation is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. Its purpose is to enhance the quality of parks, facilities and recreation opportunities by raising funds through tax-deductible donations. The Foundation has purchased AEDs for all District facilities, renovated the banquet room and kitchen at the Friendship Park Conservatory in Des Plaines, replaced lost trees in District Parks, orchestrated the Annual Scholarship Program and hosted Cabaret Nights and special events to enhance all fundraising efforts. For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit mppd.org.