Does MPHS have photographs: Yes
Address: 320 S. School Street, Moved to Schaumburg in 2022
Is building standing:
When was it built: 1958
What is at site:
When was business founded: 1891
Is business still operating: Yes
If no, when did it close:
Who runs business: Board of Directors, all 1891 Financial Life members
1891 Financial Life, previously known as the National Catholic Society of Foresters, was founded in Chicago by Elizabeth Rodgers in 1891. This not-for-profit fraternal insurance organization was originally based out of parishes in the Chicago area, but later expanded to seventeen states across the country. In the late 1980s they moved into their first official headquarters building at 320 S. School Street in Mount Prospect.
In addition to offering insurance, 1891 Financial Life is dedicated to serving the community. The philanthropic side of this business is organized into a system of courts. Each court consists of 1891 Financial Life members and is usually based out of a Catholic parish. Courts are often multi-generational, with some over 100 years old. Members of each court work together to plan events and fundraise for local charities. Additional service opportunities arise outside of the court system at pop-up events.
Over their many years headquartered in Mount Prospect, they have contributed to charitable organizations in and around town. Fundraising efforts have supported JOURNEYS the Road Home, the Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, the Wheeling Township Holiday Adopt-a-Family program, the Alzheimer’s Association, and Catholic Charities. In 2020 alone, Mount Prospect Local Impact Team 1255 raised over $7000 for the community. They also work closely with local Catholic churches. At St. Raymond’s in Mount Prospect, for example, they coordinated a canned food drive for the Backpack Ministry as part of Giving Tuesday events.
In summer 2022 they relocated their headquarters to Schaumburg.