2019 Hemingway Foundation Gala, Party Like Papa
Party like Papa, the 2019 Hemingway Foundation Gala hosted by the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park at the Oak Park Public Library took place on Saturday, May 4, 2019. Guests were captivated by music from French Gypsy jazz artist Stephane Wrembel while enjoying French-inspired hors d'oeuvres and cocktails. Cocktail historian and author Philip Greene provided insights and the requisite gravitas for the night’s festivities. The 2019 Hemingway Scholarship and Hemingway Shorts award recipients were also recognized. Proceeds from this event benefit the foundations programming and student scholarship awards.
EHFOP announces the overall winner and finalists for the 2019 Hemingway Foundation OPRF Scholarship Essay Contest
The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is pleased to announce the overall winner and two finalists for the Hemingway Shorts OPRF High School Essay Competition.
In 2016, the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park, with the help of the OPRFHS English Department and the OPRFHS Scholarship Fund, introduced the Hemingway Foundation Scholarship, with the intent of discovering and fostering writing talent at Hemingway’s alma mater. The overall winner receives a $1,000 college scholarship award and a mentorship with the Foundation’s writer-in-residence during their senior year at OPRFHS. This scholarship reflects the Foundation’s belief in the importance of the written word and the value of thoughtful reading and writing.
This year marks the fourth annual contest; interested juniors with a GPA of 2.5 or higher were asked to write an essay of 300–600 words with the prompt, “what home means to me.”
The Foundation is pleased to name Bridget Pierce as the winner of the 2019 Hemingway Foundation Scholarship for her excellence in writing. We would like to also recognize Janine Pohlman and Ella Haas as our two scholarship finalists. These top three essays will be included in our fourth annual edition of Hemingway Shorts and we will recognize these three students at the Hemingway Foundation Gala Benefit on Saturday, May 4, 2019.
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The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, fosters understanding of the life and work of Ernest Hemingway, with emphasis on his Oak Park origins and his impact on world literature. Its mission reflects the Foundation's belief in the importance of the written word and the value of thoughtful reading and writing.
Can-do Cassin bids Oak Park adieu
By Ken Trainor
Staff writer
It's not easy saying goodbye to someone like Virginia Cassin. Great people produce great towns. Or is it great towns produce great people? Maybe it works both ways. Special towns make it possible for people with great potential to fulfill it.
That has certainly been true in Ginie Cassin's case.
Her family moved to Oak Park from Beloit, Wisconsin in the 1920s when she was 3. Except for three years in Dallas, Texas where her father was transferred, and three years at Lawrence College in Appleton, Wisconsin (psychology major, year-round during WWII), Ginie has been an Oak Park resident.
That ends this Sunday when she and her daughter, Sheila, who formerly headed Oak Park's Farmers Market and whom Ginie describes as "more like me than me," drive up to her new home in Brainerd, Minnesota.
It isn't easy for her to say goodbye either, even at the age of 94.
EHFOP announces the overall winner and finalists for the 2018 Hemingway Foundation OPRF Scholarship Essay Contest
The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is pleased to announce the winners and finalists for the Hemingway Shorts OPRF High School Essay Competition.
In 2016, the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park, with the help of the OPRFHS English Department and the OPRFHS Scholarship Fund, introduced the Hemingway Foundation Scholarship, with the intent of discovering and fostering writing talent at Hemingway’s alma mater. The winner receives a $1,000 college scholarship award and a mentorship with the Foundation’s writer-in-residence during their senior year at OPRFHS. This scholarship reflects the Foundation’s belief in the importance of the written word and the value of thoughtful reading and writing.
This year marks the third annual contest; interested juniors with a GPA of 3.0 or higher were asked to write an essay of 300–600 words with the prompt, “what home means to me.”
Our winning essayist expands her definition of home to include the streets she drives in Chicago: Lake, North, Chicago, State, Wabash, Michigan. The Foundation is pleased to name Anna Koritz as the winner of the Hemingway Foundation Scholarship for her excellence in writing. We would like to also recognize Eva Fuller and Anna Schoeny as our two scholarship finalists. These top three essays will be included in our third annual edition of Hemingway Shorts and we will recognize these three students at the Hemingway Foundation Gala Benefit on Saturday, May 19th.
EFHOP Announces New Executive Director
The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is pleased to announce, effectively immediately, the appointment of Keith Strom as the Foundation's new Executive Director. Mr. Strom, who previously served as a Principal and Director of Customer Solutions at MSI, will succeed Pam Lyons, who will continue as the Foundation’s Volunteer Coordinator.
“We want to thank Pam for her service and are very pleased that she will continue to have an essential role in her new position. Her commitment to the Foundation and its mission has been invaluable,” John W. Berry, Chairman of the Board, said. “Today, we are thrilled to welcome Keith as our new Executive Director and look forward to his leadership, as the organization embraces a new vision for our Foundation and its mission.”
Mr. Strom has over twenty-five years’ experience in the global meeting management corporate sector, having held management positions within the business development and customer service areas. A graduate of Michigan State University, he serves as a non-profit board member of the Oak Park Runners Club and Dance In The Parks, and serves as race director for two local community race events in Oak Park.
“I am grateful to the Board for the opportunity to lead this exceptional organization, which has been a cornerstone in our community since its founding in 1983,” Strom said. “I look forward to working with our talented board members, dedicated staff and network of partners as we embark on a new vision for the Foundation.”
EHFOP Congratulates Annette Gendler On Nomination For 2017 Book Of The Year
EHFOP is proud to announce that Annette Gendler, one of our former Writers-in-Residence, is a finalist for the 2017 Book of the Year Award, which is organized by the Chicago Writers Association. The title of her new book is "Jumping Over Shadows," a memoir of a German-Jewish love that overcame the burdens of the Holocaust. The book will compete for four awards to be presented in January 2018. Congratulations Annette! Keep us posted.
For more information, visit www.annettegendler.com
Annette's book can be purchased at Hemingway's birth home at 339 N. Oak Park Ave. in Oak Park, The Book Table - also in Oak Park - and at Amazon.
Local Press Celebrates EHFOP's Annual Fundraiser
EHFOP’s annual fundraiser which celebrated the 100th anniversary of Ernest Hemingway’s high school graduation garnered quite a bit of press coverage including “If Anyone Deserves a 100-Year Graduation Party, It’s Ernest Hemingway,” which was published in Chicago Magazine and “Hemingway Foundation takes a 'write' turn,” an article that appeared in the Wednesday Journal.
EHFOP Announces Winner And Finalists For 2017 Hemingway Shorts Competition
The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park extends its congratulations to the winner and 10 finalists of its second annual Hemingway Shorts 2017 writing contest.
This year’s winner is Rachel Sheridan from California. Her entry is titled The Size of Jupiter. The 10 finalists in alpha order are Hal Ackerman, Severe Tire Damage; Sarah Bregel, Everybody Loves Dolly; Bill Butler, Three Days in Havana; Molia Dumbleton, Op. 37, No. 1; Jeff Fleischer, Wheelbarrow; Margaret MacInnis, Deep Snow; Jonathan Mizgala, Moths; John Power, At the Lake; Dan Szczesny, White Like Marble; and Ron Yates, Incident at the Geemer Café. Our winner and finalists collectively represent a lot of talent from coast to coast.
The second annual Hemingway Shorts journal will be published soon and available for purchase. Details to be posted at a later date. This contest is about helping aspiring writers achieve their goals in the literary world.
The Foundation thanks David W. Berner for serving as the lead for this important program, as well as Annette Gendler for her support. David is our 2015-2017 Writer-in-Residence and Annette our 2014-2015 Writer-in-Residence. They both have recently published new novels, "October Song," and "Jumping Over Shadows," respectively.
Hemingway Foundation Announces New Writer-in-Residence: Cameron Gearen
The Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park is pleased to announce that Cameron Gearen is the Foundation's new Writer-in-Residence. Her appointment will run from June 2017 - June 2019. The Foundation introduced the WIR program in 2012 to support its mission statement, which encourages thoughtful reading and writing.
The Writer-in-Residence holds two primary roles: conducting educational programming and mentoring the winner of the Foundation's second annual student writing contest for incoming seniors at Oak Park/River Forest High School. The winner of the essay competition receives a $1,000 scholarship which is administered by the Oak Park River Forest High School Scholarship Fund. In addition, the WIR enjoys the opportunity to work in the attic space of Hemingway's birthplace home, which is specially designed with Hemingwayesque furniture from Thomasville and other inspirational features for writers.
"Hemingway struggled early in his career as many writers do," says John W. Berry, EHFOP Chairman. "As part of our objective to preserve and build upon his legacy, we develop programs that support emerging writers."
David W. Berner, the Foundation's 2015-2017 Writer-in-Residence, will turn over the reins to Gearen at the Foundation's annual fundraiser on June 17 at the Hemingway Museum in Oak Park. Previously named Writers-in-Residence also include Susan Hahn, 2012-2013, and Annette Gendler, 2014-2015.
Hemingway Foundation hosts 200 guests at first gala
By LEE A. LITAS PIONEER PRESS | AUG 02, 2016
The Event: "Ernest Hemingway: Alive in Oak Park," was the first annual benefit of the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park. It took place July 23 at the Oak Park Public Library. Among the 200 attendees were Hemingway fans, Foundation members, caretakers of both Hemingway's first and second Oak Park homes, as well as the Foundation's first scholarship winner.
The 2015-2016 Hemingway Birthplace Home Writer-in-Residence, David W. Berner of Clarendon Hills, presented the Hemingway Foundation Scholarship scholarship to Tamsen Cronin of River Forest. Dan Stout of Worthington, Ohio, received the Hemingway Shorts Contest award in absentia.
The EHFOP fosters understanding of the life and work of Ernest Hemingway, with emphasis on his Oak Park origins and his impact on world literature.
Cause célèbre: "(Hemingway) was born here in Oak Park, lived here until he graduated from high school and the foundation does a lot to celebrate his life and legacy," said David Seleb of Chicago, EHFOP board member and OP Library executive director.
"You can't walk in without imagining (Hemingway) running through the house as a boy," said Neumann. An acupuncturist by trade, she has set up her practice in the same room in the house where Hemingway's father, an obstetrician, had his practice.
"Oak Park is where (Hemingway's) mother taught him about the arts, his father taught him about nature. So he was really shaped by this town and our organization is here to help continue that and also to reach out to new writers," said Neumann.
Bottom Line: The benefit raised approximately $28,000 for the preservation and community outreach work of the Ernest Hemingway Foundation of Oak Park.