NEWS BONDY. PARKER BONDY Cont. from PG 1 coaching or helping,” Bondy says. “The instructors get to showcase their talent; the kids benefit because they’re receiving valuable tips and advice in between the commitments to their teams or classes.” Bondy launched the venture—Talenthood’s first Midwest branch—in early January, mere weeks after running into the 16-year-old founder of Talenthood, New Yorker Cooper Cohen, while vacationing in the Caribbean territory Anguilla. “Cooper,” Bondy says, “worked with a young soccer player in New York and then, later in the week, went to one of the player’s games to cheer for him. Imagine how thrilled that kid must have been when he saw his new mentor supporting him from a sideline.” But there’s more to Talenthood than giving local youth the opportunity to become a better athlete, or a finer musician, or an ‘A’ student in math, or a more efficient video editor. Talenthood also features a philanthropic component.
Each student/mentee donates $2 of each $40 session to one of three organizations: the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation, which is committed to embracing life’s challenges through gastrointestinal cancer research and education; Fenix Family Health Center in Highwood; or Great Lakes-based Kids Rank, which provides military children with a sense of stability through interactive group learning experiences. Talenthood’s math: add or hone a skill or two in 60 minutes—and add a couple of dollars to an organization’s coffers. Bondy chose the trio of charitable entities. “We are honored and grateful that Parker selected our foundation,” says Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation President and Founding Board Member Peter Eisenberg, whose son Henry is a good friend of Bondy. “It’s not surprising; Parker has been dedicated to giving back through our foundation for years. He’s a natural, doing what he’s doing with Talenthood. He’s genuine. I’ve seen him interact with his young cousins and Henry’s young cousins.
Parker always takes time to find out what interests young people. “His communication skills, along with his maturity, allow him to connect with people … people of all ages,” Eisenberg adds. Each instructor receives $32 for each $40 session, with $6 earmarked for Talenthood’s marketing efforts and website design. Bondy had a stable of 40-50 instructors through January 31; he makes sure all of his instructors are competent in their respective fields. He has welcomed seasoned soccer, basketball, baseball, lacrosse, tennis, and volleyball players into the Talenthood fold, as well as experienced swimmers, gymnasts, pianists, drummers, guitarists, and singers. More than 120 local parents had inquired about Talenthood-North Shore Region in its first few weeks of operation. Bondy’s administrative staff? Bondy. Just Bondy. “I’ve learned a lot since starting this,” says Bondy,
Judge Veronica M. O’Malley with students.
United Way of Lake County. tional career. United Way brings trained volunteer She is one of fourteen Lake County Judges reading tutors into Waukegan Public Schools who participate in the program, and it is through weekly to tutor students, giving them individualthe efforts of these generous volunteers (68 in ized help to develop reading skills and improve total) that Reading Success—which celebrates its performance. The most recent Reading Success results dem10-year anniversary this year—has effectively changed the lives of local children. onstrate that first grade students in the program Judges are charged with giving back to the improved 33 percent more than their non-tutored community and modeling for students how to be peers at the same reading level. According to good citizens,” says Judge Winter. “Even though Jennifer Chang, North Elementary first grade we only read for a half hour each week with the teacher, “My students who participate in the students, we see so much improvement from the Reading Success program always make substanbeginning of the year when they can barely rec- tial growth from fall to spring. Not only does their ognize sight words to the end of the year when reading get better, but they thrive from the extra they are reading confidently and really enjoying attention, which boosts their self-confidence.” the stories. It’s very gratifying for all of us.” To date, Reading Success has helped more than “I have always believed being able to read well 1,200 at-risk Waukegan students with low litallows a person to take control of their life and eracy skills get on track to become proficient be a self-reliant, informed citizen,” adds Judge readers. In 2019, the United Way expanded the initiaLuis A. Berrones, 19th Judicial Circuit Court. “Not being able to read or not being able to read tive by creating Early Reading Success: Kinderwell deprives a person from being truly indepen- garten (ERSK). The sister program exposes dent.) kindergarten students to the basics of reading Reading Success targets first through third through trained volunteers, who read to small grade students testing in the 20th to 40th per- groups and then engage the participants in a short centile in their class for reading and comprehen- activity related to what they have just read. For sion. Research shows that most students who are the 2019-2020 school year, ERSK is available at not proficient readers by fourth grade will con- four schools in Waukegan. “This initiative is a critical platform for early tinue to remain behind throughout their educa-
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For more information, visit talenthood.com or download the Talenthood app (App Store or Google Play). school success,” says Kristi Long, President and CEO of United Way of Lake County. “We applaud and appreciate each volunteer involved. Their magnitude of commitment and tenacity to contribute to our literacy programs demonstrate that the momentum for this initiative will continue to grow.” “Children come to kindergarten with varying levels of development, so small group instruction and support is very helpful to their learning,” adds Jean Dames, an Early Reading Success volunteer. “These programs engage the children and also help them use what they are learning in the classroom in a new way with a different teacher.” Sue Baehr, Reading Success Program Manager, extends an invitation to anyone interested in improving the lives of our community’s children. “We encourage anyone who loves to read and loves children to join us in helping kids be on a path to success in school and life.
UNITED WAY Cont. from PG 1
Judge Jorge L. Ortiz with student.
an A-B student and a shooting guard on the Giants’ sophomore basketball team. “Marketing, more than anything else. I now have a better understanding of how to handle money. And I have been able to establish so many relationships through Talenthood. “My goal is to get the word out, to get all of Highland Park High School and all of Highland Park to know about Talenthood.” The proudest parents in Highland Park might very well be Craig and Elliana Bondy, a pair of HPHS graduates. “I’ve seen the energy Parker has put behind Talenthood,” Craig Bondy says. “He loves the concept of building a business. But he loves the opportunity to give back more than that. There’s hope that this will spread to other communities. Talenthood can have such a positive impact. Everybody wins— the kids, the kids’ parents, the instructors, the charities, and the community.”
BACK: Circuit Judge Jorge L. Ortiz, Associate Judge Stacey L. Senezcko, Associate Judge Elizabeth M. Rochford, Chief Judge Diane E. Winter, Associate Judge Janelle K. Christensen, Associate Judge Jacquelyn D. Melius, Associate Judge Luis A. Berrones, Circuit Judge Mitchell L. Hoffman, Associate Judge Veronica M. O’Malley. FRONT: Jennifer Chang, first grade teacher North Elementary. PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNITED WAY OF LAKE COUNTY
| SATURDAY FEBRUARY 15 | SUNDAY FEBRUARY 16 2020
THE NORTH SHORE WEEKEND