Leadership & Community Engagement

Fund Leadership

​Distribution Leaders:
Elizabeth Davies and Valerie Kahan will be the two leaders in charge of distributions from the ECC Fund.

Leadership Team:
The charge is led by autonomous community members.

Val Kahan is a white woman wearing glasses

Valerie Kahan

Founder, Distribution and Fundraising Strategy Leader
About Valerie

Valerie Kahan

Founder, Distribution and Fundraising Strategy Leader

Founder; D65/D202 parent, owner of Evanston Art Maker’s Outpost, realtor with @properties; grew up in Evanston; and serves as a Community Connector to:
​City of Evanston, faith-based organizations, Community Partners, Evanston Fridges, Evanston Latinos, and Sanctuary Evanston.
​ETHS (District 202) and District 65, working directly with school counselors and leaders to provide aid directly and equitably to FRL students.

Elizabeth Davies is a woman with long hair

Elizabeth Davies

Treasurer, Distribution
About Elizabeth

Elizabeth Davies

Treasurer, Distribution

Elizabeth Davies is an accountant with 12 years of corporate experience who shifted her focus 17 years ago to supporting volunteer and nonprofit organizations.

Dave Bowen is a white man wearing a suit

Dave Bowen

Leader, Donor Engagement
About Dave

Dave Bowen

Leader, Donor Engagement

Dave Bowen is a serial entrepreneur and currently the Chairman & CEO of Purchasing Platform – an award winning supply chain technology business that supports the real estate sector.  Prior to Purchasing Platform, Dave was CEO of MM4 – a global eSourcing solution provider with offices in more than 40 countries – which was acquired by DXC Technology. He is a proud Evanstonian (and graduate of ETHS) where he has supported a wide range of community organizations such as the Justin Wynn Fund (former Board President) and the ETHS Booster Club (current Board Co-President). He resides in Evanston with his wife Ellie and two daughters.

Erin Claeys is outside wearing a red coat and pink hat

Erin Claeys

Volunteer Coordinator & Co-Food Drive Organizer
About Erin

Erin Claeys

Volunteer Coordinator & Co-Food Drive Organizer

Erin (they/she) has been with the Community Service Office at ETHS (District 202) since 2021. In their roles, first as an intern and then as the coordinator, Erin has worked to build consistency, accessibility, and solidarity among students at ETHS through service learning and community development education. This includes expanding the school’s food and resource distribution processes. Erin is a partner in initiative coordination and development, and is responsible for volunteer coordination for ECC.

Community Partners

Key Partners: Evanston Community Foundation, Community donors & Volunteers, faith-based organizations (including Rabbi Rachel Weiss of JRC) Evanston Interfaith Clergy & Leaders, City of Evanston, Mayor Daniel Biss, District 65 Evanston & Skokie Schools, ETHS District 202, Evanston Art Makers Outpost, Connections For The Homeless, C & W Market, Niles Township Pantry, Evanston Community Fridges, Evanston Latinos, Sanctuary Evanston, Faith Temple, Erin Claeys ETHS Community Service Coordinator.

​Community Support: Over 500 individual volunteers and thousands across Evanston and the surrounding areas who have supported food drives and mutual aid efforts thus far.

​Ongoing Goal: To continue to engage & collaborate with volunteers, community members, partners and donors to help all those in need in our community.

group of volunteers