He earned $3.85 per hour and was thrilled, especially when he progressed to lifeguard, swimming teacher and, eventually, pool manager. Hilborn worked at the pool for nine years.

Today, he's swimming with some really big fish—including someone with an enormous worldwide impact, not just a local celebrity or an Uptown neighbor, where Hilborn now lives.

Hilborn is the manager of special events at Chicago House, a local non-profit organization that provides housing and various levels of support to people affected by HIV and AIDS. Chicago House's inaugural Speaker Series is Wednesday, Nov. 11, featuring President Bill Clinton.

And guess who is the point of contact now between Chicago House and one of the most powerful men in the world? You got it—Hilborn, 32, a 1999 University of Illinois graduate who has been working at Chicago House for seven years.

"I'm overseeing the event in its entirety, from venue selection and contract negotiation, to marketing and publicity, timeline, volunteer management, event production, printing, ticket sales, and corporate sponsorship," said Hilborn. "I'm excited to try my hand at something new, and to be working with such a highly visible and highly respected world leader to bring Chicago House's programs to the forefront of people's minds, and to help create a dialogue about HIV and homelessness.

"My role [ at Chicago House ] is to oversee the planning and execution of any public means of fundraising from beginning to end. Chicago House hosts four signature events each year, plus anywhere from five to 20 cooperative community events, which collectively make up about 10 percent of the agency's annual operating budget. Though special event revenue is just a small part of the budget, it's an important piece of the pie because events are often a donor's first introduction to the organization. If I do my job well, event attendees will hopefully return to future events or become long-term friends of Chicago House."

Chicago House is Hilborn's second job since graduating from college, where he earned a journalism degree and then immediately started working for WBBM-AM, Newsradio 780. He remained at the radio station for three years, working in the newsroom and the production department.

"For me, [ working at Chicago House ] is multilayered," Hilborn said. "Working on events gives me an opportunity to dream big and use my imagination to create something tangible and memorable. Chicago House's events generally give donors something to remember, and at the end of the day, seeing that amount to funds raised for people in need is really gratifying. On top of that, I think beyond the money raised, the events can leave a lasting impression on our donors and attendees, educating them about HIV and homelessness and bringing attention to these urgent issues in a fun and creative way.

"On a personal level, I love having a job that's so intertwined with my own community. I feel like I've been very fortunate in my own life, and it's really great to be able to do something for the community. [ Chicago House CEO ] Stan [ Sloan ] and our senior staff and directors really do a great job of allowing us to grow in our positions. They encourage personal and professional growth. Just as the organization has grown to meet the needs of the people who come to us for help, our staff has to adapt to new challenges and try new programs, fundraising techniques, and develop new ideas to keep things fresh and cutting edge on every level."

When he is not at Chicago House, Hilborn does freelance event- and conference-planning jobs on the side, and he recently started working on the event/hospitality team with a LGBT travel company as well. "I like having a full plate," he said.

Hilborn also, for the past eight years, has been a member of the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus.

"There are so many [ memories from my time at Chicago House ] ; it's tough to select one that stands out above the rest," Hilborn said. "I'm always humbled, sometimes to the point of tears, when I take a step back and remember why the staff and I do what we do. Too often, I get stuck in the minutia of throwing an event, focusing on a theme, or the printing deadlines, or the entertainment elements, or getting models or drag queens lined up, or getting an auction thrown together. So, I don't take a step back to think about the big picture. The memorable moments, for me, occur every time I see the impact our hard work has on someone who has lived or died in Chicago House's care. It brings me back to reality and I remember why I'm doing this.

Here's more about Jeremy Hilborn…

—Favorite TV show: "There are too many to choose from, but my TiVo is filled with episodes of Will & Grace, Oprah, Desperate Housewives, Survivor, Brothers & Sisters, Ugly Betty, and basically any MTV Reality Series geared toward a teenaged female audience."

—Coming out: "The entire process took a few months in early 2000. Looking back, I wish I had done it all at once, but I felt more comfortable coming out in phases. I've gotten nothing but love and support on every level; I don't know why I thought it would have ended any differently. My family and friends are amazing. I'm very lucky and very grateful."

—Hobbies: "I love to travel, sometimes as far as Europe or the Middle East, and sometimes as close as a camping trip to Saugatuck. I'm crazy about being in nature, and being on the beach or in the water … swimming, boating and waterskiing."

—Your role as within the LGBT community: "My role, along with my entire team of staff, board, and volunteers at Chicago House, is to create memorable event experiences that raise funds while creating a platform for dialogue and discussion of issues that are still urgent to our community. I don't remember a world without AIDS, and I think that together, that ideal is something we can strive for. A lot of young members of the community, me included, didn't see firsthand the devastating effect AIDS has had on our friends and neighbors. I hope, in some small part, the events I work on will remind us all that we still have a lot of progress to make."