JPF is a Non-Profit

A little while ago I published a quick announcement on our Facebook page notifying our members that Jefferson Park Forward had its non-profit Articles of Incorporation approved by the State of Illinois. I posted this as a hurrah for all the work that people in the organization have done but I think it might be time to step back a little and take stock of where we are, where we are going, and what this means for JPF.

The fact that JPF exists is a story well told in the Chicago Reader, though there is certainly more to our story. The bottom line is that a group of neighbors got together and said, “Enough!”. People in Jefferson Park want positive change. They want to be part of something. They want to make a difference in their community. This is the foundation that JPF is built upon. Through hard work and perseverance and through the support of our neighbors, JPF is already making a difference in the community. To wit:

• JPF has raised money for art through Arts Alive Chicago.
• JPF has supported local businesses through the hosting of its association meetings at businesses around the neighborhood.
• JPF has supported its neighbors by hosting social events that bring the community together, including the Holiday Sparkle, Sunday brunch and a pub crawl.
• JPF has supported the environment through the upcoming Spring Clean and Green and the Twitter campaigns for a cleaner Metra station.

These are the small things that add up to something big. And we don’t plan to stop and rest.

What’s Next

We’re building our organization’s governing documents to set JPF up for the long-term and to achieve favorable 501c(3) tax status through the IRS. We’re identifying local businesses, charitable groups and like-minded partners that we can work with to provide other social events, fundraising opportunities and chances to bring people together. And we’re making sure that we continue to increase our outreach to as many people as possible in Jefferson Park. Through your help, we will be an organization with the power to get things done.

Ryan Richter

Co-Founder and Director

Jefferson Park Forward