Hamilton Wings Nonprofit Concludes After Decades of Impact

After over three decades serving the Elgin community, Hamilton Wings, an arts nonprofit, officially closed on September 30. The decision followed introspection and evaluation by the board of directors after the unexpected death of the founder and Executive Director, Risé Jones, in December 2024.

In August, the board announced the end of its operations. The announcement followed a summer where the organization experienced increased attendance and revenue from their 23rd student-performed opera, SCORE!. This event took place at Elgin Community College, where the nonprofit served as an artist-in-residence.

Despite success with events, improved donor engagement, the recruitment of five new board members, and streamlined operations, sustaining the organization presented a significant challenge. The board acknowledged the difficulty in continuing without the unique vision of its founder, alongside looming funding issues.

Despite these achievements, the board and leadership recognized the immense challenge of sustaining an organization so intrinsically tied to its founder’s unique vision, alongside an impending long-term funding shortage.

Board President Donna Anderson reported that around 40 children and 20 adults participated in staging SCORE!. The final after-school initiative by Hamilton Wings took place in the last academic year at Washington Elementary School. Danae Anderson led this program, ‘Girls in Motion’, which used arts and movement activities to foster self-esteem in students. Anderson, a friend of Jones and supporter of the nonprofit for over 20 years, highlighted the profound influence the initiative had on hundreds of children.

When I would hear alums speak it would bring tears to my eyes. They loved Dr. Jones. She changed so many lives over the years. She helped so many build their confidence and made them feel they were worthy of respect.

Jeff Meyer, a local attorney and Hamilton Wings Board Treasurer, emphasized the irreplaceable nature of Risé Jones and the nonprofit’s vital role in child development. Meyer, involved since 2009, underscored the importance of the arts in nurturing leadership skills uniquely.

Risé Jones, alongside her mother Ann Jones, founded Hamilton Wings in 1996, naming it after her father, psychologist Charles Hamilton Jones. In September 2025, Brittany Barber, the new Executive Director, expressed that the organization’s legacy of community and child empowerment will persist beyond its closure.

What Dr. Jones taught us lives on every time a child dares to create, every time an alum champions the arts and every time our community pursues a bold idea. Hamilton Wings lasted long enough to deeply impact this city, and that is a legacy we will carry forward.

Following its closure, Hamilton Wings ensured remaining financial assets and unused grant funds were returned, with costumes and stage materials donated to local partners. The partnership with Elgin Community College was also concluded.

At a board meeting encouraged by local philanthropists Mark and Robin Seigle, members aimed to allocate any extra funds to establish an arts scholarship at ECC, dedicated to the memory of Risé Jones and Hamilton Wings.