Who We Are
Mothers Trust Foundation (MTF), located at the Gorton Center in Lake Forest, Illinois, serves Lake County children who have an immediate need and no other options for funding. We provide service through social service professionals who come to MTF on behalf of their clients. We depend on the support from many. Our funding comes from the dedicated and generous hearts of donors who want to make a difference in our community as well as family foundations and corporations who belive in our mission. We depend on our volunteers, board and staff for making our vision a reality.
History
For over 25 years, since 1998, Mothers Trust Foundation (MTF) has provided immediate assistance to children in Lake County. Barbara Monsor founded the organization at a youthful 75 years of age following an 18-year career at Youth Guidance in Chicago, where she witnessed firsthand how a seemingly small amount of assistance might change a challenging situation for a child. Hers was a simple idea – connect people in desperate situations with those who want to provide assistance where it will truly make a difference. Barbara’s vision was to create hope where little existed. Focusing on individual requests, we ask what every child needs to stay on their feet, to maintain their dignity, to keep their family together, to make the impossible possible. From the first small grant in 1998 through the end of 2023, MTF has assisted nearly 51,000 children and their families with 4.5 million dollars in grants … providing hope for a brighter future.
Founder
Barbara Monsor
Barbara saw firsthand the problems schools, social workers and students faced due to the lack of funding to meet critical and emergency needs of children. Through Mothers Trust Foundation, she created a connection between willing donors and the professional social workers who identify children of families lacking funds to buy clothing, pay school fees, and cover other essential expenses needed to be successful in school and/or life.
Barbara was a leader at the Foundation for many years and served as a board member and member of our service committee until 2017. Barbara passed away in 2022 at the age of 99. She was the mother of six, grandmother of eight and great grandmother of two. Her legacy lives on in her children and the children impacted by Mothers Trust Foundation.