Illinois
Pleasant Home Foundation
Pleasant Home Foundation Volunteer Program
The Pleasant Home Foundation oversees the preservation and restoration of historic Pleasant Home in Oak Park, Illinois. Designed by noted architect George W. Maher in 1897, Pleasant Home is an excellent example of the Prairie School of architecture and is particularly notable for its intact lavish interiors.
Volunteers play a critical role in maintaining and interpreting Pleasant Home. Trained volunteer docents provide public tours for approximately 20,000 visitors annually. Volunteers also assist with special events such as Children's Day, an open house for the community that depicts what life was like for the families of Pleasant Home in the early 20th century. In 2010, the foundation is welcoming a new generation of volunteers for Children's Day with a student committee that will help plan the event. Other volunteer-led educational programs for youth include an architectural drawing class, partnership programming with the Oak Park Education Foundation, and tours for school groups.
Volunteer board members provide pro bono professional services in a variety of fields, including architecture, preservation, media relations, web site development, and community relations. Their efforts are instrumental in the successful design of educational programs, collaboration with other historic sites, and coordinating scholars for an annual lecture series on architecture and historic preservation.
Pleasant Home is owned by the Park District of Oak Park, which works in partnership with the Pleasant Home Foundation. A member of the Park District sits as a liaison to the foundation board, and the two entities work closely together on community initiatives.
Pleasant Home Foundation www.oprf.com/phf
Posted May 26, 2010