Dist. 207 Foundation to host April 10 Fundraiser

What do student cardiac screenings, a wind turbine, and a service trip to South Dakota have in common? They were all funded by the District 207 Educational Foundation with funds raised at its annual benefit dinner.

The Maine Township High School District 207 Educational Foundation will host its sixth annual fundraiser, "A Night For Our Stars," from 5:30 to 9 p.m. on April 10, at The Rosewood, 9421 W. Higgins Road, in Rosemont. The benefit dinner is the major fundraising event for the nonprofit organization, which provides monetary support for enhanced and innovative learning experiences for students attending the three Maine Township District 207 High Schools - Maine East, Maine West, and Maine South.

In addition to entertainment provided by the Maine East Jazz Band, under the direction of Luke Malewicz, and a delicious Rosewood dinner, attendees will enjoy a raffle and silent auction of items donated by local and Chicago-area restaurants, businesses, and community members.

Teachers who have received foundation mini-grants this past year will be recognized for their accomplishments, and a streaming video will let everyone see District 207 students and their teachers engaging in their granted programs. Emcee for the evening will be Pat Schreiber, foundation chairman and former District 207 Foreign Language chairman.

Through charitable donations from alumni, parents, staff, retired teachers, community members, and local businesses and civic groups, the District 207 Educational Foundation was able in 2013 to distribute almost $20,000 to teachers who applied for grants, but only because last year's benefit was so successful.

This past year, the foundation helped fund a wide range of programs, including sending students from all three schools to nation competitions, including the Maine South Constitution Team and DECA students from all three schools. Grants also helped send West and East students on service learning trips to South Dakota and Indiana.

Closer to home, the foundation sponsored Maine West's Spoken Word poetry slam, vaccine storage at the School-Based Health Center, U.S. History guest speakers at Maine East, a Great Gatsby project at Maine West, and support for COACH, a student-to-student tutoring program at West and South. Math and science programs were supported by the foundation, including equipment and supplies for the District Science Research Program, for a wind turbine at Maine West, and model roller coaster kits for AP Calculus students at Maine East. Student health, wellness, and cultural pride programs were also supported by the foundation- the Young Hearts for Life Cardiac Screening at Maine South and Maine West, equipment for athletic training camp for Maine West student trainers, innovative fitness software for students at Maine East, the Latino Student Summit for Maine West students, and a Special Education Prom for students at all three schools.

The foundation urges community members, retired teachers, alumni, and parents to join friends and neighbors at the dinner.

"Proceeds from the silent auction and the raffles are essential to our ability to continue funding innovative activities at Maine East, Maine West, and Maine South," Schreiber said, "Come and enjoy great food, great musical entertainment, and a great cause."

Tickets to "A Night For Our Stars" are $60 and can be purchased online at the foundation's website, www.maine207foundation.org. Donations to the District 207 Educational Foundation, which is a registered 501©(3) charitable organization, can also be made on the website.