Awards

Barbara Monsor Receives Rotarian Award

Barbara Monsor, MTF Founder and Executive Director Emeritus, was honored by the Libertyville Sunrise Rotary Club with the club's "Service Above Self Award."

Barbara was selected based on her service efforts on behalf of children and families in Lake County; her hard work and efforts improved the quality of life of thousands of children. For more than 10 years, she served as the volunteer Executive Director of Mothers Trust Foundation who sought to make a difference to children in need or crisis. Barbara saw a compelling need and decided to do something about it. Her vision, commitment and dedication to the cause of underprivileged children made Mothers Trust Foundation the vital organization it is today. 

Barbara's daughter, Allison Pasquesi, spoke at the ceremony to honor her mother. This is her story.

It started with a phone call. My sister said: "Mom has an idea, it's a great idea and we're doing it!"  The idea seems so simple now, 10 years later: people in desperate need connecting with people who want to provide help where it will truly make a difference. It was not so simple then. It seemed incredibly new.

Bill Rickert presents to Barbara Monsor
the "Self Above Service Award".

Many important pieces needed to converge to realize this idea. In Barbara we had critical abilities: a career in a social service agency, long-term involvement in local politics, a knowledge of who's who in Lake County and an intuitive understanding of the underserved in desperate need.

All she needed was people to help build the organization.  In MTF lore there is a kitchen table. Mine. Around that table were a handful of women we grabbed. Some were people we barely knew but had a degree in social work. Some were friends we knew well. All of these women brought excellent skills: a willingness to work hard, a broad range of board experience, agile minds and a commitment to the idea. 

The idea that if only people knew the individual stories they would immediately step forward to give. If they could know how little was needed and what an overwhelming difference it could make they would be relieved to know that the money they gave really mattered. We needed to bring them together... to close the gap.

These first MTFers got it. Many of them are still involved today, 10 years later.

Pictured behind Barbara Monsor left to right;
Larry Neal, Theo Figliulo, Jim Monsor, Allison Pasquesi,
Mike Monsor, Joannie Keller and Cheri Richardson.

We had Godmothers, too. One of them was The Honorable Margaret J. Mullen, at that time a Family Court Judge. In the first years we had breakfast with Margaret regularly. She offered critical advice, affirmation, connections and support.  

Word spread that we were not your average suburban charitable group and we attracted some incredible women (and men). We wrote by-laws, built boards, held benefits, applied for grant money and read incredible thank you notes. And ten years had gone by. The statistics speak for themselves.

We have had the pleasure of meeting and working alongside wonderful people we would never have otherwise met.

Over the years, many moments have taken our breath away. It has changed each and every one who has become involved. The simplicity of a desperate need quickly met. 

Central to the magic  of MTF is Barbara. Her vision, energy, commitment and inspiration.

For me and for so many involved with MT, perhaps her most enduring gift aside from the thousands of lives she has helped over the years, is that she has transformed for all of us what we expect of ourselves as we grow older.  Barbara started this organization at age 75.  We are changed by her example of who we can be, what we can do and when we can do it. Quite a gift.  

To her this was obvious, to us: a brilliant lesson. I join you in honoring Barbara.

Because of Barbara Monsor, Mothers Trust Foundation continues making a difference in the lives of children, one child at a time.

	Mothers Trust Foundation was the recipient of a 2009 Special Recognition Award from Catholic Charities. The award recognized Mothers Trust "For Your Dedicated Support of Catholic Charities" and was presented to Cheri Richardson, Mothers Trust Foundation Executive Director, by the Catholic Charities Lake County Services Board of Advisors. Partnerships with organizations such as Catholic Charities allow Mothers Trust to provide the requested assistance. MTF alone does not have the staff, time or ability to vet the families and children in need as do those who work directly with them.
Pictured above, left to right are: Father Michael Boland, Catholic Charities Administrator, President and CEO; Cheri Richardson, Mothers Trust Foundation Executive Director; Nancy Wells, MTF Service Committee Chair; and Ray Swaback, Catholic Charities of Lake County Services Board of Advisors, Chair.

Mothers Trust values the collaboration with our service partners in our efforts to help clients receive the best possible result. Referrals from, and cooperation among, agencies allows us to serve our clients more thoroughly and efficiently.

Lake Forest / Lake Bluff Volunteer Center Award

	In 2007, the founder of Mothers Trust Foundation's founder Barbara Monsor was honored with a Lifetime of Service Award from the Lake Forest / Lake Bluff Volunteer Center. NBC-Channel 5 in Chicago selected MTF founder Barbara Monsor as one of eight local finalists for a 2007 Jefferson Award for public service.
Debra Brown, NBC representative, Barbara Monsor and NBC Anchors Allison Rosati and Warner Saunders at the Jefferson Awards presentation event, "Celebrating Chicago."

Although we have many accomplishments, there is much left to do to achieve our goal of providing emergency assistance to the children of Lake County. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to help -- an opportunity given us by our donors.

Thank you for your support.