Palatine Park Foundation Mission
It shall be the mission of the Palatine Park Foundation to contribute to the health and well-being of Palatine Park District residents by providing scholarship opportunities to residents with financial limitations, by assisting in funding Park District capital projects, by funding projects and events that provide physical accessibility to all, and to preserve open space throughout the Park District.
Palatine Park Foundation Vision
- To contribute to the health and well-being of the Palatine Park District residents.
- To provide program scholarship opportunities to residents with financial limitations.
- To assist in the funding of projects or events that provide physical accessibility to all.
- To preserve open space throughout the Palatine Park District.
Palatine Park Foundation was formed in October of 1994 to assist Palatine Park District in its continuing commitments of service to the community.
Since 1994, Palatine Park Foundation has:
- Assisted with the acquisition of Towne Square site and other properties.
- Provided funds for youth that enabled them to participate in the Palatine Park District activities.
- Began a partnering process with the corporate community.
- Incorporated the foundation as a not-for-profit entity.
Board of Directors
Kate McNally, President
A lifetime resident of Palatine, Kate has been a member of the Palatine Park Foundation since 2016 and currently serves as President. Prior to being President she served as Vice-President and Chairman of the Wine and Nine at the Hills Event for two years. Having grown up in Palatine and having benefited from a variety of Park District Classes made it an easy choice to get involved with this great group. Kate is a former President of the Palatine Jaycees and was awarded a JCI Senator in 2003. Kate teaches Spanish and French at Rolling Meadows High School, is an active member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Palatine, and stays busy raising two teenagers.
John Kurzatkowski, Vice President
Born and raised on the Northwest Side of Chicago, John has been residing within Palatine Township since 2012. John has always been involved with park activities…growing up playing football, basketball and baseball; and now watching his children flourish at Palatine Park District. He has been a member of the Palatine Park Foundation since 2023 and previously spent a decade volunteering at animals shelters in Chicago suburbs. John and his wife, Erin, reside in Palatine with their three daughters and three rescue pups.
Brian McGoldrick, Treasurer
Brian lives in the Whytecliffe neighborhood of Palatine with his wife of 20 years, three children, and has an adult son living in Austin, TX. When not shuttling kids to activities he spends his time running, biking, or swimming and has completed six marathons, an Ironman triathlon, and an ultramarathon. He also enjoys golfing, reading, and cheering on his favorite Chicago sports teams. Brian is Vice President of Customer Service at First Insurance Funding and graduated from University of Illinois and has an MBA from Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.
Monica Haun, Secretary
Monica has lived in Palatine since 2000 and has been a member of the Palatine Park Foundation since 2017 and currently serves as Secretary. She has a long history of community involvement including the Palatine Jaycees, Virginia Lake PTA, Palatine High School Booster Club, Legion Post 690 and Impact Makers of Palatine. Monica and her husband, Brad, are raising 2 children who have consistently been involved in & enjoy the Palatine Park District programs.
Eric DeBellis
Eric was born and raised in Palatine and moved back with his wife (also from Palatine) in 2021. They live with their daughter, within a mile of her grandparents on both sides. Eric has been a member of the Foundation since 2023 and previously served as Co-Chair of Unity Park Advisory Council and Treasurer of Friends of James Monroe Elementary in Chicago. He grew up participating in Palatine Park District youth baseball, basketball, and track programs. Eric works as the General Counsel for the Citizens Utility Board, a utilities watchdog and ratepayer advocate.
Fred P. Hall
Fred is a former Executive Director of the Palatine Park District. He retired in 2002 after 31 consecutive years in the position. He and his wife, Bunny, raised their two children in Palatine. Fred has been an active member of the Palatine American Legion and is the current chairman of the Annual Salute Charity Golf Outing. He is a past president of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association, past chairman of the Northwest Special Recreation Association and a proud military veteran, having served as an Army Drill Sergeant during the Vietnam War.
Janet Leigh
Janet has been a Palatine resident for 30 years. She was a longtime member of the Palatine Jaycees and served as President in 2007. She recently founded a women’s club focused on volunteer and community service called Impact Makers of Palatine. She is also the VP of Finance for a nonprofit, Warm Blankets Orphan Care International. In her free time, she loves to spend time with her amazing husband Dave and their incredible son.
Debbie Lemonidis
A Palatine resident since 1991 and Debbie has raised two sons who played on multiple park district teams. She had been a member of the Park Disk Foundation since 2017. She is a past commissioner with Palatine Youth Baseball. Her son spent many years also playing on Celtic Soccer Travel Teams. Debbie has also been involved in many other community activities including Paddock PTA, Palatine High School Booster Club. She has served as a trustee for the District 211 Foundation since 2011
Joe Pietrini
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation. All donations that we receive are fully tax deductible as charitable contributions.
Foundation Board Members do not receive any compensation for their volunteer service.