History
The concept for the agency originated with its founder and Executive Director, Lisa Boone, at the age of 13. After completing a Masters degree and working several years in child welfare, Ms. Boone created the project named in honor of her grandmother, Geneva. In 1994, she recruited the agency's first Board of Directors and received State of Illinois incorporation status. Board members spent the next four years fundraising and building relationships with state legislators and officials. In 1999, the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services agreed to contract for the Geneva program.
The next challenge was in gaining financial assistance for the purchase of a facility. With a sizable grant from Alberto Culver and generous financing from the Chicago Community Loan Fund, Geneva Foundation was able to purchase a small 2-story building on the corner of Grand Avenue and Hamlin in Chicago's West Humbolt Park. Geneva's Grand Opening was celebrated on September 19, 2000, and we've been serving Illinois youth ever since. In June 2006, Geneva expanded services to include a second site, doubling its capacity.
