Board Of Directors

Officers:
Co-Chairman – Pablo Alvarez
Co-Chairman – Julie Williams
Secretary – Amy Bloom
Treasurer – Eric Ephraim

Pablo Alvarez works as a school counselor at Highland Park High School and has been an educator for over twenty years and enjoys working with youth during their formative years.  He is involved with the school in many capacities including working in the school’s Drop In Center leading counseling groups, coaching the chess team and advocacy work with first-generation and Spanish-speaking families. He desires for students to actively participate in athletics and activities that provide healthy physical and social outlets for teens during a critical time in their lives.  Outside of school, he is deeply involved in the community and currently serves as a trustee for Moraine Township.  In this capacity, he works with township trustees and staff to ensure that our residents in need are adequately served particularly in the area of food insecurity. Pablo lives in Highland Park with his wife Sofia and two daughters who attend Highland Park High School and Northwood Junior High School.
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Amy Bloom has been a resident of Highland Park since 2002, raising her children and getting involved in the community. She is an information technology professional and has brought her technical and project management skills to PTO boards at Edgewood Middle school, Braeside Elementary School and Ravinia Nursery School.  She has experience as Secretary, Treasurer and Fundraising Chair. Amy has adopted the love of football from her husband and three boys and has enjoyed the sidelines at HPHS Soccer, Tennis, Cross Country, Track, Lacrosse, Basketball and Football games. Her boys are Benjamin HPHS ‘17, Jared HPHS’19 and Evan HPHS ‘22.

Eric Ephraim is CEO/President of First Bank of Highland Park/First Bank Chicago.  In the community, Eric has previously served as President of the Board of Education of North Shore School District 112.  He currently serves in various leadership roles with local nonprofits including the Highland Park Community Foundation, the 112 Education Foundation, Rotary Club of Highland Park/Highwood, and previously served both Family Focus and Community Family Center.  Eric spent many seasons coaching youth tackle football, baseball, and soccer.  He grew up in Highland Park and graduated  from Highland Park High School earning a varsity letter in football.  Eric and his wife Kim reside in Highland Park. They have 2 adult sons. Jake is HPHS ’19 and lettered in varsity basketball. Ben is HPHS ‘22 and a former captain of the Giants varsity football team. Ben has been a two-way starter playing DIII college football and a volunteer football coach for HPHS when in town.
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Barbara Finfer works as a physical therapist and athletic trainer who specializes in elderly care and improving her patients’ quality of life. She is a Highland Park native who resides here with her husband, Raymond, and her kids, Emma, Jack, Joey and David.  Her three sons (Jack ‘18, Joey ‘20, and David ‘24) are all members of the Highland Park football team. Barbara has lent her expertise to various leadership roles including the Falcons Hockey Association Board of Directors, the Board of the Highland Park ‘Giants Club,’ and the Board of the Parent Teacher Organization of Solomon Schecter Day School. She serves as the Highland Park Football event coordinator, in charge of all fundraising and she served as the team manager for her children’s sports including hockey, football, baseball, and skiing. She is also the tennis coach at Rochelle Zell Jewish High School.

Jonathan Graham has been an active member of the Highland Park community since moving from downtown in 2015. Originally from Kansas City, he attended the University of Wisconsin before beginning his career in Chicago. Growing up, Jonathan played football, basketball, baseball, and soccer, gaining lifelong lessons from the teamwork and discipline that sports provide. He and his wife are proud parents of three energetic children, future HPHS classes of ’32, ’33 and ’36 who attend Edgewood & Ravinia. His two sons participate in the Little Giants Football Program, where Jonathan has seen firsthand the positive impact the sport has on both kids and the broader community. Outside of his professional role at BMO Bank, Jonathan dedicates his time to volunteering across several organizations in addition to the Giants Football Fund. He serves as Treasurer for AYSO Highland Park Soccer and is an auxiliary member of the Parks Foundation of Highland Park. He also enjoys coaching youth sports, including HP travel baseball, HP basketball, and girls’ softball. Jonathan is passionate about expanding youth sports in Highland Park and is committed to ensuring equal access and opportunities for all participants in the community.

Emily Hales has been a resident of Highland Park since 2014. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and graduated from Alma College (MI) in 2001 where she was a member of the swim team. Emily began teaching in Highland Park (North Shore School District 112) in 2007. During this time, Emily has served as the Librarian for Wayne Thomas Elementary, Braeside Elementary and Northwood Middle School where she is the unofficial school recruiter for HP football. Emily and her husband Chris have twin sons Jacob and Charlie (HPHS class of 2031) and daughter Grace (HPHS class of 2032). Emily has a lengthy involvement with Highland Park youth athletics as either team mom/organizer/fundraiser through her children’s participation in Little Giants football, HP travel baseball, HP travel basketball, HP AYSO Extra soccer, HPAC, and Deerfield travel softball.

Julie Knotek has been a part of the Giants Football family for over 20 years as the wife of longtime HP coach, Jimmy Knotek and daughter in law of legendary HP coach, Andy Knotek. Highland Park athletics became such an important part of their lives that Julie and Jimmy decided to raise their own family here. Julie has two sons, JT-HPHS class of 2030 and Jordy-HPHS class of 2032 . Along with being a proud coach’s wife, Julie is a Giants’ mom with Jordy playing Little Giants football, baseball, wrestling, and basketball for the Park District of Highland Park. Julie played a large role in program communications when the Little Giants Football program made its return in 2024. Julie was an active volunteer for the HPAC swim program while JT was a swimmer. Julie has also been teaching 3rd grade since 2003. She joined the North Shore School District 112 in 2007. She finds it so rewarding to watch her students over the years that decide to take advantage of their opportunities and play HP sports. Many of them she follows from youth sports, to high school, college and beyond. She strongly believes that lessons learned on the football field go far beyond the aspects of the sport and help to create well-rounded, dedicated, and driven individuals.

Elliot Richardson and his family have been deeply engaged in the Highland Park community for years.  Elliot has coached football, baseball and basketball.  Elliot’s wife Sherri was an Executive Board member for both Edgewood and Braeside schools.  Elliot is a partner with the firm Korey Richardson and the President and Co-Founder of the Small Business Advocacy Council.  Elliot has also been engaged in other non-profit organizations, including serving as Board Chair of Kids Above All.  Elliot believes that youth sports provides so many benefits to children.  Along with the activity provided by youth sports, children learn essential communication and leadership skills that can foster success later in a youth athlete’s life.

Julie Williams came to Highland Park in 2015 and immediately began building friendships through sports, HPHS orchestra and her church. Julie is a client executive for bswift. While building her career, Julie has made time to get involved in her kids’ schools and interests through volunteering in the classroom, supporting various PTOs, cheering on many games, matches, tournaments over her kids’ athletic lives and finding many ways to get involved in her church families. Julie was also the HPHS football and HPHS wrestling “mom”. In the “mom” role, Julie was responsible for supporting both programs, coaches and athletes, with communication as well as planning special events. Julie and her husband, Court, have 2 kids, Maggie HPHS ’18 and Joe HPHS ’22, who was a member of the football, wrestling and lacrosse teams.