About GYS
Glencoe Youth Services (GYS) provides recreational, educational, social service and leadership opportunities in a safe and supportive environment to high school and middle school age youth in New Trier Township. GYS also operates the Special Needs Adult Pals (SNAP) and the Young Adult Pals (YAP) programs, which provide social activities and support for people with mental and/or physical disabilities.
Glencoe Youth Services runs:
• After-school activities at our Field House near Glencoe Central School.
• Special Needs Adult Pals (SNAP) dinners every Tuesday.
• Young Adult Pals (YAP) dinners on alternate Thursdays.
• The Daniel Calhoun All-Star Scholarship for students in 5th grade and higher.
• Many other community events and fundraisers in New Trier Township.
GYS relies on volunteer work from good people like you!
GYS Field House
Open weekdays from 3 pm to 6 pm! Kids ages 10 to 18 are welcome to drop in to enjoy recreational and educational opportunities. We offer a safe space for young people to relax, grow, make friends, join a leadership board and more. Every year, hundreds of youth enjoy this nurturing, convenient, and fun environment. Our programs are free, and are always guided by trained professional staff who facilitate meaningful connections among all youth.
Special Needs Adult Pals (SNAP)
SNAP is a weekly dinner and meeting for adults with special needs. SNAP meetings are held n Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8:30 pm in the GYS Field House.
Young Adult Pals (YAP)
YAP meets on alternate Thursdays in the GYS Field House. YAP is similar to SNAP, but for students aged 15 to 22.
Daniel Calhoun Scholarship
GYS established the Daniel Calhoun All-Star Scholarship following the tragic death of one of its longtime supporters.
Daniel Calhoun grew up in Glencoe and participated in GYS programming as a teen, then served on its board of directors until his mid 20s.
Daniel struggled with his mental health his entire life and never felt like he fit in at school, but at GYS, he “found his tribe.” He graduated from New Trier and went on to graduate cum laude from Lake Forest College. But sadly, on Nov. 5, 2019, while at University of Michigan Law School, Daniel died. He was 32 years old.
The GYS Board, on which Daniel’s father Walter now sits, decided to establish a scholarship fund “to continue to provide quality experiences for youth, as we know this is something Daniel would have wanted.”
Students in fifth grade and higher are able to apply for the scholarship and put the money toward an activity of their choosing: summer camp, a new instrument rental, classes for a new hobby, or anything else they are interested in. At least one scholarship of $500-$1000 will be awarded each year.
(Text modified from an article in The Glencoe Anchor by Christine Adams, freelance reporter, 2020)
Meet the Team
Dedication. Expertise. Passion.
Katherine R.
Executive Director
Katherine is the executive director for Glencoe Youth Services. She has a lifelong passion for social service, and working with youth and diverse populations. She comes to GYS from a four-year leadership role with a Chicago scholarship and mentoring program serving high-school students. Her broad background includes serving as a non-profit consultant, communications executive, government policy advisor, speechwriter and journalist. Katherine has a Master’s in Anthropology from Northwestern University and studied at the London School of Economics. She raised her family on the North Shore, where she currently lives.
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Sammi Lynn W.
Assistant Director
Sammi is the GYS assistant director. Hailing from the Winnetka/Glencoe area herself she comes armed with a special knowledge of what it's like to be a middle-school aged youth in our little corner of the world. Bright and bubbly she creates a safe space for everyone around using her ability to connect with souls of all ages. She began volunteering at a young age through Am Shalom, her local temple, and began doing more and more work through many different organizations over the course of her life. Her work planning events, coordinating large numbers of people, and social media marketing to name a few come from her years in the music industry leading up to finding her home at GYS.
GYS Directory
Glencoe Youth Services Board 2025-2026
Kristin Jorgenson, President
(303) 503-1521
Highland Park
Sarah Staffilino, Past President, Central parent
513-218-9021
Glencoe
Debbie Seiler Jha, Treasurer and Secretary
312-835-7419
Glencoe
Walter Calhoun, Scholarships
847-732-9316
Highland Park
Megan Gray, Central Parent
773-216-8388
Glencoe
Elissa Hinden, Central Parent
847-278-5530
esacks44@yahoo
Glencoe
Jeanne Reed, SNAP resources and events, Snapper Parent
847-251-7973
Wilmette
Sara Wu, teen board and cultural programs (central and NT parent)
(312) 371-9815
Glencoe
Ryan Radke, Central Parent
440-227-3392
Glencoe
Katie Palay, Marketing
646.797.9989
Glencoe
Danielle Vanden Heuvel
203-383-0050
daniellefernandes32@hotmail.com
Glencoe
Nina Gallin, Central Parent
917-834-2030
Glencoe
Staff:
Katherine Rush, Exec. Director
director@glencoeyouthservices.org
847-309-6378
Evanston
Doris Klien, Bookkeeper
650-305-1396
Highwood
Assist. Dir. Samantha Wolfberg
gys.assistantdirector@gmail.com
(847) 287-6544
Winnetka
GYS
Youth Leadership Board
Join the Youth Leadership Board
Interested in gaining valuable leadership experience and giving back to GYS? The Youth Leadership Board empowers adolescents to become more active community members and leaders, and gives them opportunities to develop confidence in their own talents and skills. Please email director@glenceyouthservices.org if you would like to learn more.