About Uplift International NFP
We are a community nonprofit in River Grove, Illinois, formed around a simple idea: no family should face a wedding or a funeral alone because of what it costs.
Our mission
To help individuals and families through two of life’s most important and difficult moments, weddings and funerals, with practical financial and planning assistance for those who could not otherwise afford or manage them.
Our vision
A community where every family can celebrate a marriage or say goodbye to a loved one with dignity, whatever their circumstances, faith, or background.
What we hold to.
Compassion
We listen first and lead with care.
Dignity
Every ceremony honors the people at its center.
Community
Neighbors, volunteers, and donors make each moment possible.
Inclusivity
People of every faith, and of none, are welcome here.
Service
We show up with practical help, not only kind words.
Respect
We follow each family’s traditions, customs, and wishes.
A community-centered approach
Our work runs on people: donors who give what they can, volunteers who cook, drive, set up, and clean up, and local vendors who lower a price so a family can say yes. We coordinate that help and put it where it is needed most.
We keep arrangements simple and honest. The aim is not a spectacular event. It is a day that is well organized, affordable, and worthy of the people at its center.
Welcoming every faith and background
Uplift International NFP is multi-religious. We work with families of many faiths, and with families of none. We do not ask anyone to change what they believe or how they mark a ceremony.
Tell us the customs that matter to you, and we will plan around them. Where a family asks for spiritual support, we try to connect them with someone from their own tradition.
Leadership
Jobin John
President
Gokul Gopinathan
Secretary
Gregory A Martello
Treasurer
Registered address: 8101 Grand Ave, Apt 1S, River Grove, IL 60171
Help us reach 50 weddings and 50 funerals.
Every gift, one-time or monthly, helps a family meet a wedding or a loss with dignity and community support.