Ellen G. Young – Partnering for Peace – Board Member
Ellen Young’s journey from her Midwestern US roots began with a student trip to France in High School. She graduated from Smith College with a dual degree in Economics and Political Science. She holds an MBA from the University of Chicago (now Booth) Graduate School of Business. And, Ellenalso received a certificate in Non-Profit Management from North Park University in Chicago.
Ellen, now retired, was a Commercial Banker – working with multinational corporations at several international banks, including Continental Bank, Bank of America, First Chicago and Northern Trust, where she held positions as Vice President. She has held many volunteer leadership positions in local civic and non-profit organizations, including President of the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Chamber of Commerce, Lake Forest Library Trustee, Vice President and President; The Lake Forest International Club, as President, Treasurer, Philanthropy and Program Chairs; Interim Executive Director of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Lake County, and other posts.
Ellen joined the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Noon Rotary Club in 1991, and has held numerous club positions, serving as Treasurer and other positions, including President. She also served as Treasurer, Foundation Board Member, End Polio Now (EPN) chair and President of the Lincolnshire Rotary Club. After joining the Lake Forest/Lake Bluff Morning Rotary Club, she served on the board and as the Club President. In 2020, Ellen formed a new Passport Club, serving since its founding as its President.
Ellen’s Rotary leadership extends throughout her District6440, and beyond. At the District level she was Treasurer, a member of the Finance committee, the EPN Committee, District Foundation Chair and an Assistant Governor for 3 years. She was District 6440’s District Governor in 2014-2015. Currently, she is the Assistant Regional Rotary Foundation Coordinator for Districts 6420, 6440 and 6450 in Zone 29, all in northern Illinois.
Ellen’s connection with the Peace Corps arose from her daughter Sarah Young’s service during 2007-2008 in the Dominican Republic (DR). Sarah’s work identified the need to address the lack of reading materials for pre-school age students. Ellen’s Lincolnshire Rotary Club partnered with the Pimentel Rotary Club in the DR to provide books and build a library in a local school through a small International Grant. Eventually, literacy projects were launched throughout the country with the support of the Chicagoland-Korean Rotary Club, with additional funding from a district in Korea.
Ellen is a Multiple Paul Harris Fellow, a member of the Paul Harris Society, the Polio Plus Society, and, with her husband Chris, Level 3 Major Donors to The Rotary Foundation.
Ellen joined Partnering for Peace in November, 2019 to help expand and nurture these types of projects between Rotary International and the Peace Corps.