Our Board

Glen Ellyn

Brenda Bickett, Founder of Local Glass Studio and Local Glass Studio Foundation

Ron Farnum, Founder and President of Damen Jackson and Forge Brandworks

Brad Hutchins, Principal Consultants in Association Philanthropy

Andrea Leppert, Manager, Business and Employee Communication at Rush University Medical Center

About Our Foundation

Local Glass Studio Foundation was founded in on October 1, 2022 by glass artist Brenda Bickett.

When her partner was diagnosed with cancer in 2020, Brenda urged him to work on something creative while going through treatments. The creative outlet helped him manage the stress and anxiety caused by his diagnosis and treatments and improved his quality of life, inspiring Brenda to create Local Glass Studio Foundation.

Brenda said, “Experiencing how creativity can help heal unseen wounds is inspiring. Local Glass Studio Foundation will use our art as a means to aid in healing, to provide students with a wholesome creative outlet, and to provide aid to disadvantaged children who may not have this exposure in their everyday lives.” Local Glass Studio Foundation serves Glen Ellyn and the surrounding Chicagoland area. We are the only openly collaborative, community-focused glass art studio in the western suburbs.