SaLT IS THE BENEFICIARY OF
THE GREAT HIGHWOOD PUMPKIN FESTIVAL 2025

Celebrate Highwood is excited to announce SaLT (Service and Learning Together) as the beneficiary of The Great Highwood Pumpkin Festival 2025. With a focus on celebrating the power of community and local impact, Celebrate Highwood values SaLT as a volunteer-nonprofit led by passionate students and veteran educators, that support food-insecure families, provide academic tutoring, aid communities in crisis, and partner with local groups, while inspiring compassion and leadership through service-learning.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2016, Celebrate Highwood remains dedicated to giving back to the community. Over the years, Celebrate Highwood has partnered with a variety of charitable organizations, including Make-A-Wish Illinois, Autism Illinois, Highland Park Community Foundation, and more.

“SaLT has been such a steady, heart-forward presence in Highwood. You’ll see their student-led, adult-supported teams at just about every community event—quietly putting in the work and showing up with purpose,” says Jessica Ortega, President of Celebrate Highwood and owner of Giggles Play. “Their leaders have deep roots here, and their passion for building up the next generation is something I’ve always admired. It feels really special to give back to them this year.”

“As someone who grew up in Highwood, it’s incredibly meaningful to have SaLT selected as the beneficiary for Pumpkin Fest,” says Ida Fiore, SaLT Co-Founder and President. “This recognition allows us to continue uplifting others and give back to the community that helped shape who I am.”

SaLT brings an enthusiastic team of volunteers who will play a huge hands-on role in everything from set up to greeting guests and assisting vendors. Their volunteer efforts play a key role in creating a celebration that’s powered by and for the community.

It’s a true partnership,” says Jessica Ortega. “SaLT brings a volunteer model that’s not only organized and reliable, but also deeply rooted in service and leadership. The teams are driven, well-prepared, and united by the festival’s core mission: bringing people together to create something greater than ourselves.

Visit SaLT website for more information