Local politicians, artists, educators and others gathered Wednesday night at Bella Via for YEA! Highland Park and the Highland Park Community Foundation's sevent annual grant awards dinner. 

About 30 local organizations, including the Highland Park Historical Society and District 112 School District, received $360,000 in grants at the event.

"We're very proud of what we accomplished," said Highland Park Community Foundation chairman Andy Livingston. "It's a phenomenal nonprofit experience."

According to Patty Pell, YEA! Highland Park president, the Highland Park Historical Society will use its grant to digitize its photo archive. Nuestro Center, another grant recipient, will use its grant to finance a dance program called "Ensemble Espanol." 

"It's a terrific community event where community builds community," Pell said.

Attendees of the event included Highland Park mayor Nancy Rotering, state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest), Ravinia Festival president Welz Kauffman and the Art Center of Highland Park's executive director Gabrielle Rousso.

"We have former mayors, current mayors," Pell said, "then little old me at the podium. How'd that happen?"

YEA! Highland Park was started 15 years ago by former Highland Park mayor Ray Geraci. The organization teamed up with the Community Trust years later.

"We work well together," Livingston said.

Check out the photos from Wednesday's event above.