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Open Doors

Does Helping Out Help You

New York Times; January 7,2011

EVEN the most altruistic applicant wants to know how community service looks to colleges: would admissions officers prefer a summer of health care work in Africa, or three years of Sundays spent at the local senior citizen center? Would creating a charitable Web site impress more than campaigning for a local politician?Read More

Open Doors, now in its sixth year, gives Lake Forest High School students the unique opportunity to explore different careers by job shadowing with a mentor in a career –related field or volunteering at a social service agency with a career-oriented mission. This "hands-on" approach to career exploration enables students to experience what a future profession or career might be like. In conjunction with Lake Forest High School, this program has given more than 350 students a window into the non-profit world since 2006, and assisted between 10-14 social service agencies per year.

The 2011 Open Doors program took place April 27 - 29, 2011. We would like to thank the following agencies for opening their doors and providing students with an opportunity to explore:

Bennu Legal
Center for Economic Progress
Cool Ministries Transitional Housing
Family Service
Fenix Clinic
Garden at Elawa Farm
Heller Nature Center
Holy Family Food Pantry
Kids Korner
Lake County Forest Preserves

Note from a Participating Agency:

The Lake Forest High School “Open Doors” day, in case you didn’t hear, was a great success!! Our three students (Marisa, Nicole and Annie) all gave us outstanding feedback on their experience with Family Service that day. And we had a great time working with them! This is something we will definitely want to participate in again next year. Best regards, Paul (Executive Director, Family Service)